Top Playoff Guards
The playoffs are finally over and with that the season is officially over. These are the guys that continued to tear it up into the playoffs. These are the top guards from the 2018-2019 playoffs: Nico Mannion (6’2 G Pinnacle…
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Continue ReadingThe playoffs are finally over and with that the season is officially over. These are the guys that continued to tear it up into the playoffs. These are the top guards from the 2018-2019 playoffs:
Nico Mannion (6’2 G Pinnacle 2019)
If you are shocked Nico Mannion is on this list then you must live under a rock. This kid has showed why he is the top player in Arizona and the top guards in the nation for the class of 2019. He led Pinnacle to their second straight state championship and he put up some huge numbers while he did it.
Trent Brown (6’2 G Pinnacle 2019)
Of course, leading a team a team to the state championship is very hard and this guy provided all of the help that Mannion could ever ask for. Brown is a very smart guard and has one of the purest jump shots in AZ. Brown doesn’t do anything but play smart basketball.
Jovan Blacksher (6’0 G Shadow Mountain 2019)
Jovan Blacksher ends his historic high school career with another state championship. He provides so much for that Shadow Mountain team. Jovan is always cool, calm, and collected. In the state semifinals, he looked unguardable from the perimeter. He knocked down shot after shot.
Jaelen House (6’1 G Shadow Mountain 2019)
Jaelen House also ends his high school career with another championship. This guy plays with so much heart. He is a true grit and grind type of player that any coach loves to have on his roster. House once again demonstrated why he is one of the top players in the class of 2019 and he is definitely one of the best defenders in the nation.
Justus Jackson (5’11 G Millennium 2021)
Justus Jackson came alive in this year’s playoffs. He had a great regular season, don’t get me wrong, but he really showed up in the playoffs. He showed a great feel for the game, knowing when to push the pace and when to pull it out and set up the offense. He hit some big time shots against Ironwood, in one of the best games this playoffs.
Alem Huseinovic (6’3 G Chaparral 2020)
I’m very excited to see this guy play next year. I hadn’t heard much about him coming into the season but quickly did as he and his team got off to a great start in the season. Alem had a great regular season and carried that over into the playoffs. He showed off his clutch gene as well, knocking down big time shots in their title game. While Chaparral lost, I think they will be back next year and be a heavy favorite.
Doc Self (5’10 G Gilbert 2019)
Mr. Clutch is his new nickname. Despite struggling to shoot the ball in the championship game, it was Self who sealed the victory for his team. Last in the game, he knocked down two huge, highly contested, three’s that gave his team some much needed momentum. Momentum that carried them to victory and named them 5A State Champions.
Jalen Williams (6’4 G Perry 2019)
While Williams is a very talented player as around, his true role is scoring the ball and he does that so well. If you need a bucket, you give the ball to this kid and let him go to work. He had great high scoring performances all season long and that continued into the playoffs.
Josh Baker (6’3 G McClintock 2019)
Another pure scorer is this guy! Josh Baker is one of those players that I think is best in a role as a pure scorer. He did not play as well as he had demonstrated during the regular season. However, there is no way McClintock has the level of success that they had in the playoffs without him.
Johnny Diaz (5’10 G Deer Valley 2019)
I absolutely love this kid’s game. Maybe it’s because he’s and undersized guard and I will always have love for those types of players, being an undersized guard myself. I love watching this guy play. He plays with so much emotion, passion, and a pure desire to win. He was the main reason that Deer Valley had so much success this season and made it to the championship game.
Evan Nelson (6’2 G Salpointe 2020)
Evan Nelson does so much for that Salpointe team its ridiculous. Look at the semifinals again Shadow Mountain. Majok Deng barely played due to some horrible calls but Salpointe remained in the game. Nelson handled the high pressure traps and defense of House pretty well. He has a great feel for the game and can score the ball at a high rate.
Ty Ty Washington (6’3 G Cesar Chavez 2021)
Washington gains a lot of comparisons to Carmelo Anthony’s game and honestly, I see it. Washington is tall, has a super smooth jump shot, loves the mid-range, and can drop a 30 point game any given night. Cesar Chavez came up a bit short as they missed the buzzer beater to advance past Chaparral, but they will be back next year.