#PHTop250 Top Guards (2020)
The PrepHoops Oregon Top 250 Expo showcased much of the state’s talent on Sunday and as expected, the strength lay in the point and combo guards in attendance. Since there were so many, we will split up our look at…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe PrepHoops Oregon Top 250 Expo showcased much of the state’s talent on Sunday and as expected, the strength lay in the point and combo guards in attendance. Since there were so many, we will split up our look at the top guards by class – starting with the senior Class of 2020.
Matthew Levis (2020 Jesuit) – Levis might have been the top guard in the building on Sunday. The 6-foot senior simply came to compete and showed great intensity on both ends of the floor. He took the opportunity to play at the point for most of the time and showed great decision making when it came to looking for his own shot or setting up others, and dished out some very pretty dimes. His shot was falling and he was locked in on D as usual.
Jesse White (2020 Barlow) – One of last year’s shooting stars, White played a little differently in the action we watched out of him. The 6-foot senior wasn’t just looking to drop 30-footers, but instead he was diversifying his shot selection from long range to drives at the hoop. But most of all, he didn’t force things but instead was playing more like a traditional point guard and looking to get his teammates involved.
Jamison Guerra (2020 Sherwood) – It should be noted – Guerra wasn’t at the Expo at full strength. The 5-foot-11 senior had an injured shooting hand and you could definitely tell that it hampered his play. But despite the injury Guerra still put together an all-showcase level performance as he really played hard on both ends. As always, Guerra was a consummate floor leader and shined with his passing and defensively, was as tough as it gets.
Cobee Crawford (2020 Benson) – When it came to getting buckets, Crawford was the man on Sunday. The 5-foot-11 combo was extremely aggressive on the offensive end, scoring at all three levels but really excelling with pull-ups and getting into the lane and finishing. Crawford is a tough, physical matchup whose motor never ceases to stop and he created havoc on the defensive end as well.
Kobe Withers (2020 Sprague) – We are pretty convinced that the master of the mid-range pull-up in the Class of 2020 has to be Withers. The 6-foot senior had that shot going on automatic all day but wasn’t just limited to that as he spotted up and knocked down a couple of threes as well. Withers also did a credible job handling the ball against pressure and setting up teammates for scores.
Jacob Tompkins (2020 Summit) – Tompkins had a solid showing, hitting spot-up jumpers but also getting things done with pull-ups off the dribble. The 6-foot-4 senior also was able to showcase some of his improved ball-handling and passing skills and played good team basketball. Armed with a 3.8 GPA and 27 ACT, Tompkins is arguably the top high-academic basketball prospect in the class.
Braeden Sato (2020 Sunset) – Always a threat to pull-up from anywhere on the court, Sato did exactly that by creating off the dribble and sinking some long range bombs. His release is so quick and his movements are so shifty that he was very difficult to keep up with defensively.
David Gonzales (2020 Silverton) – Gonzales was his usual self as he was effective not only hitting shots from long range but also extremely tough getting to the basket and finishing whether in the half-court or full-court settings.
Blake Lambert (2020 Life Christian) – As showcased by Bruce Williams in his Under the Radar Players piece, Lambert came to compete at the Expo. As always, despite his size the 5-foot-4 didn’t back down from anyone and was one of the toughest competitors in the gym. He created well, found open teammates, and hit shots to keep defenses honest.