Brawl for the Ball: Point Guard Report
Brawl for the Ball hosted a select group of Ohio programs from Northwest and Central Ohio. We honed in on each this weekend, often taking two looks at each one who traveled up to Grand Rapids. Point guard is where…
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Continue ReadingBrawl for the Ball hosted a select group of Ohio programs from Northwest and Central Ohio. We honed in on each this weekend, often taking two looks at each one who traveled up to Grand Rapids.
Point guard is where our recaps begin, before diving into wings, power forwards, and centers in the coming days. The PG is always the most crowded position of recruits in Ohio, simply because there are more 5-foot-6 to 6-foot-3 guys than anything else. And players like to handle the ball.
So, when there are three “point guards” on every team, standing out enough to make this recap means you showed something special. The bar is high.
Sleepers
unheralded college prospects
Zachary Szul (2020) | 6-3 PG | Anthony Wayne / Hopson Elite
Szul is a potential breakout prospect in the Toledo-area’s 2020 class. He has an athletically-built frame that could become stronger in college. Tremendous positional size. His improvement over the past few seasons indicates a strong work ethic.
Efficient offensive game that is predicated on getting into the lane and making floaters/runners or kicking to a shooter. We like the pace he handles the ball with. Active without the ball. His shooting stroke is promising.
Nate Griggs (2020) | 6-0 PG | Delaware Hayes / Mid Ohio Pumas (Staib)
Griggs’s ability to finish at the rim is pretty special. Scores it in traffic with patient moves out of the jump stop or on the run. Stays focused when he’s bumped and drops it in ambidextrously. Great rip-through and go. Efficient player who can also hit 3-pointers at a high-percentage.
Andre Irvin (2021) | 5-7 PG | Olentangy Orange / Nova (Lemon)
Because of his handle and changes of speed, Irvin consistently got to his spots on the floor. He’s able to keep his dribble alive and probe before delivering a pass or he can make shots with separation. Knockdown outside shooter from a stand-still but Irvin can also score two points on the move. Finds the open man.
Henry Hinkle (2021) | 5-10 PG | Olentangy Liberty / Nova (Lemon)
A smooth ball-handler who has the mental side of the game wholly figured out. Hinkle flashed the ability to go get a basket for himself this weekend. Using hesitation dribbles and his quickness, he was able to blow by and finish at the cup or size-up and launch triples. At the same time, he unselfishly delivers passes in transition and the halfcourt. Effective without the ball because of his catch-and-shoot threat and off-ball movement. Quick enough to defend at a high level.
Although Hinkle may not have a prototypical physical profile right now, he looks the part as an eventual Division II recruit.
Jerry Saunders (2022) | 6-0 PG | Pickerington North / Nova (Reese)
Saunders’ pure jump shot is his signature skill. The Pickerington product also displayed the tools — vision, unselfishness, poise, IQ, ball-handling — to be a true point guard. Saunders played hard on the defensive side of the floor, showing a level of care about winning. Jumped passing lanes for interceptions.
He can play off the ball, too, something we will see a lot of at in a loaded Pick North backcourt. Came off screens and turned in one-dribble pull-ups or catch-and-shoot buckets. Saunders finished in traffic with elusive, creative footwork.
Khalil Luster (2022) | 5-4 PG | Lima Senior / C2K Lima
A circuit player running with C2K’s local team, Luster clearly stood-out. Lima Senior’s future four-year starting point is such a skilled ball player who specializes in applying defensive pressure at the point of attack. Aggressively hunts steals against less-skilled and slow dribblers. Luster displayed elite court sense as a passer and impressively took over the game late as a scorer — connecting from range and skillfully finishing at the basket in transition.
New Names
first impression on a new discovery
Gabe Clement (2021) | 6-3 PG | Columbus Grove / Northwest Ohio Basketball Club
Clement capitalizes on his size advantage against point guards by being effective around the basket. Made a few eyebrow-raising drop-down passes in the lane while also finishing in traffic at times. Clement is a fan of the spin move, which highlights a strength advantage over small guys. Doesn’t turn the ball over.