Jerry Peters Memphis Summer Classic: 5 best guards
Guard play is very important to a team’s success. If a team, at any level, wants to make a championship run, it has to have strong guard play. For three straight days at the Jerry Peters Memphis Summer Classic, I…
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Continue ReadingGuard play is very important to a team’s success.
If a team, at any level, wants to make a championship run, it has to have strong guard play. For three straight days at the Jerry Peters Memphis Summer Classic, I paid attention to a lot of guards. Big men are rare in Tennessee, but guards are all over the place.
I handpicked five guards that will play pivotal roles in their team’s success this upcoming season. Summer league is a start for spectators to see the potential in each player with a jersey on, especially the ones with aspirations of playing basketball beyond high school.
Each guard I’m about to name has to have three characteristics: consistency, mental toughness and physicality on both ends of the court.
Ronald Berkley, MAHS: Berkley is a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, but has had to play the point guard position at times while his head coach Vernard Watkins searches for a solid floor general. Berkley has a nice shooting touch with nice ball handles. The senior led the classic in scoring with 131 points.
Chandler Jackson, Christian Brothers: Jackson is a monster at 6-4 and still isn’t done growing heading into his sophomore season. He’s a headache for a lot of teams because of his height and upper body strength. Every guard that tried to guard him had a difficult time keeping him out of the paint. Slashing to the basket is his bread and butter. Jackson scored 94 points in the classic.
Tadarius Jacobs, Memphis East: Mustangs head coach Javonte Holmes has Jacobs, 6-1, in the starting lineup, and he’s earned the right to be there. Jacobs plays hard on both ends of the court and is gifted offensively. He’s a shifty point guard and shimmers his way into the lane without being touched most of the time. Some of Memphis East’s success will depend on Jacob’s production. The junior had 110 points in the classic.
Braxton Morris, Center Hill: The 6-1 point guard is a playmaker with solid court vision. If the senior needs to score for the Mustangs, Morris will either drive or shoot a mid-range jumper. He’s the engine for Center Hill’s path to a repeat. The 81 points he scored in the classic highlights the beginning for Morris as he tries to lead the Mustangs back to Jackson, Mississippi to defend their MHSAA 5A state title.
Kennedy Chandler, Briarcrest: Chandler has all of the attention on him after having a solid summer in the Nike EYBL. The 6-foot point guard kept things going with a solid outing at MUS. He finished with only 76 points due to head coach John Harrington limiting his minutes. Chandler will not have to lead the Saints in scoring this upcoming season with Marcellus Brigham Jr., Michael Malone Jr., Rodney Newsom and Omari Thomas on the floor. Playing beside those four, Chandler could easily average 10 assists a game. Add in his scoring abilities, the junior could be one in a few point guards in the state to average a double-double.