#PHTop250 Top Guards (2021/2022/2023)
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. Here’s a look at the top guards from the Classes of 2021,…
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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. Here’s a look at the top guards from the Classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Isaiah Gilliam (2021 South Albany) – The surprise of the day was Gilliam. The last time we saw the 6-foot junior at Western Oregon Elite Camp, he struggled a bit with turnovers and really didn’t make a huge impression. Not the case at the Expo. He took good care of the ball and was flat out unstoppable getting to the basket, many times absorbing a ton of contact and still getting the shot to fall. A power guard, Gilliam was also surprisingly very effective on the boards, often hitting the defensive glass and quickly turning to start the break up court.
Brandon Hopson (2021 Roosevelt) – The Expo was a bit different for Hopson as he played a lot more off the ball than on it. But that seemed to suit the 6-foot junior just fine as he simply adjusted the way he played to fit in with the situation. Hopson really had the three-ball going and canned quite a few off of catch-and-shoot oportunities, but also nailed a couple from creating space for himself off of the dribble.
Dakota Sams (2021 Pendleton) – Sams looks a little stronger than we last saw him during the season although he’s still listed at 6-foot-2. He was able to utilize his size to create and shoot over defenders off the dribble and while we didn’t see him drain any threes, his reputation is as an outside shooter. There will be plenty of shots available at Pendleton this season with the graduation of Tyler Newson and Sams is sure to pick many of those up.
Noah Ogoli (2022 Tualatin) – Ogoli was one of the top finds of the Expo for us. We had seen the 5-foot-10 point guard in summer league play but he really stood out on Sunday. The sophomore was smooth with his handle and had a good feel for the game, looking to set up his teammates as a pure point guard. When left open, he knocked down the open shot – in one game he drained four threes. He’s definitely a guard to watch in the Three Rivers League.
Malik Ross (2022 Tualatin) – The future is looking bright at Tualatin as along with teammates Ogoli, Ross was to be honest quite spectacular. The 5-foot-11 combo guard was absolutely unstoppable going to the rack where he was able to use his strong body to score over often-taller opponents. He was also a bulldog on defense and made several plays with his feet and hands. A running back on the football team, Ross is an all-around athlete to contend with.
Esyah Pippa-White (2023 Gresham) – If there’s anything that we can take from the Expo it’s that Pippa-White will be prepared to play at the varsity level immediately at Gresham. The 5-foot-11 point guard did a credible job handling the ball against pressure and did a nice job of picking and choosing his spots on the offensive end. There’s no doubt there are areas he will need to improve upon but he played with a level of confidence on Sunday beyond his years.