2020 Rankings Breakdown: Top PGs (10-1)
With the release of our updated 2020 rankings comes the opportunity for in depth breakdowns of our rankings. We’ll start by looking at our positional breakdowns, ranking the players by position. To start here’s a look at the point guard…
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Continue ReadingWith the release of our updated 2020 rankings comes the opportunity for in depth breakdowns of our rankings. We’ll start by looking at our positional breakdowns, ranking the players by position. To start here’s a look at the point guard rankings, going from 10-1.
10) Andre Bottoms | 6’0” | Oscar Smith (#40 Overall)
Bottoms is a guy who continues to grow on me. He’s always been able to beat pressure and get you into your stuff, find guys within the flow of the game and guard the best player on other team, and now he’s starting to shoot and score the ball much better. He’s best around other talented players that he can help make better, but he’s showing he can be a viable scoring option himself.
9) Elijah Seward | 5’11” | John Marshall (#39 Overall)
It’s hard to call Seward a point guard when you watch him because he’s very successful off the ball as a shooter, but he’s shown he has the ability to beat defenders off the bounce and handle the basketball against the press. He’s super bouncy at his size and moves his feet well defensively, and he’s a lefty that makes him harder to guard. He’s shown this year that he’s became a very good shooter as well and he’s been productive all season.
8) Ed Slaughter Jr. | 6’0” | John Paul the Great (#37 Overall)
“DJ” as he’s known by people has had a terrific junior season at JPG so far. A smooth scoring guard, he has the ability to get to his spots at all three levels and is adept at creating space off the bounce to get his shot up. He’s a good athlete who brings it on both ends, he has good vision and passing ability and he’s able to move off the ball as well.
7) Javon Swinton | 6’2” | North Stafford (#31 Overall)
A two sport star who is seeing high major interest in football, Swinton looks like a legitimate division one basketball player at his age as well. He has great length, he’s a true elite athlete with fluid movements and an extra gear others can’t get to and he’s improved his shooting immensely. He’s best in pick-and-roll and isolation situations where he can get by at will and finish with the floater or layup, and he’s a great on ball defender as well.
6) Tyler Henderson | 5’8” | LC Bird (#29 Overall)
The only thing that really is the issue with Henderson is that he doesn’t pass the eye test at about 5’8”, but he can control a basketball game like very few can. He sets the tone and tempo on both ends, he rarely turns the ball over at all and he’s able to get in gaps and force the defense to collapse where he’s poised and able to find his scorers. He shoots the basketball well off the catch, he’s a relentless defender on the basketball and he’s a competitor and winner as well.
5) Zyrail Mitchell | 6’2” | Lake Taylor (#28 Overall)
One of the most naturally gifted guys in this class I’ve seen, Mitchell has the physical tools and talent to be a good division one recruit, he’s just a late bloomer. The leading scorer in the Hampton Roads area, Mitchell is a three-level scorer off the bounce with natural ability to create space and make shots. He’ll be a guy to watch moving forward because he’s just now tapping into how good he can be.
4) Xavier Lipscomb | 6’3” | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes (#24 Overall)
Lipscomb is on one of the deepest and best teams in the state of Virginia, and you see in the way he plays that he knows that. He’s a good shooter with good size at the point guard position, and while he’ll make shots he’s also a very good distributor and defender as well. He’s able to push the ball in transition and find guys with the easy play to get easy buckets for his team.
3) Amir Nesbitt | 6’0” | Virginia Academy (#18 Overall)
A natural scoring guard, Nesbitt has the whole repertoire off the bounce and is able to get a bucket against almost anyone in isolation situations. He’s a very good shooter off the catch and off the bounce, he changes speeds well and he has great body control in the paint and is able to finish with the floater/pull-up and at the rim against bigger players. He’s a capable distributor but his natural scoring ability is very impressive.
2) Evan Johnson | 6’1” | Oak Hill Academy (#11 Overall)
Playing with two of the top guards in the country in Cole Anthony and Cam Thomas, Johnson is often forgot about as the fifth Oak Hill starter, but he’s earned it. The NC native can play on the ball and handle pressure and get you into your sets, but he’s also a knock down shooter from deep who can move off the ball and space the floor. He has a good IQ and consistently makes the right play, and his mix of athleticism and shooting ability makes him a very impactful player.
1) Jeremy Roach | 6’0” | Paul VI (#1 Overall)
Unfortunately, Roach tore his ACL right before the regular season started and he hasn’t played at all his junior season. However, he maintains his spot at the top of our rankings because there may be no guard in the entire country with a better resume regardless of class. As a junior, Roach has already been a state champion, an EYBL Champion and a gold medalist with USA Basketball. He’s being recruited by everyone in the country and is considered among the top guards in the nation. He’s gritty, skilled and athletic. He plays on both ends, he understands the game and he impacts the game in every way when he’s on the floor. Some people may have forgotten this since he’s been hurt so long, but Roach is legitimately one of the best guards in the country when he’s healthy.