Class of 2020 Top Point Guards
Point guard is the most important position in basketball. They are responsible for running the offense, getting people involved and making good decisions with the basketball. New Jersey is loaded with good point guards as the freshman and sophomore classes…
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Continue ReadingPoint guard is the most important position in basketball. They are responsible for running the offense, getting people involved and making good decisions with the basketball. New Jersey is loaded with good point guards as the freshman and sophomore classes are loaded with them. The Class of 2020 may have more big men in the rankings, but there are plenty of terrific senior point guards. Here are the top five point guards in the 2020 class.
1. Niels Lane, Roselle Catholic
The list kicks off with an out-of-state transfer as Lane played at Perkiomen School in Pennsylvania last year. The Florida commit has elite size at 6’5 and uses it to his advantage. Lane can scan the defense and defend multiple positions on the floor.
He has good handles and possesses a superb court vision. Lane rarely plays out of control and is at his best in transition. He is a good shooter who can make defenders pay for slacking off him. The Florida commit is an exceptional point guard and could help lead Roselle Catholic back to the Tournament of Champions.
2. Noah Farrakhan, Patrick School
Another out-of-state transfer, Farrakhan played his junior season at IMG Academy in Florida. The 6’1 guard is electric as he uses his elite speed in the open court. Farrakhan has great handles and is almost unguardable off the bounce at times.
His shooting is solid as he can knock down three-pointers on a consistent basis. Farrakhan is a good on-ball defender as he uses his elite quickness to keep his man in front of him. The Newark native is also a good passer which is important for a team loaded with Division I talent.
3. Raejon Figures, Bergen Catholic
He may be more of a combo guard, but Figures deserves a place on this list. The Bergen Catholic player is a good shooter and moves well off the ball. Figures is capable of leading the Crusaders’ offense, but does not need to as sophomores Will Richardson and Julian Brown are more traditional point guards.
He makes good decisions in the half court and is a superb defender. Figures may not have the same straight-line speed as Farrakhan, but the Bergen Catholic guard has the speed to push the pace in transition. The Crusaders are expecting a big season out of Figures as they need someone to replace Zach Freemantle and Doug Edert’s production.
4. Quadry Adams, St. Thomas Aquinas
Adams is not the biggest name in New Jersey basketball, but he should be.The Wake Forest commit is an explosive athlete that loves to attack the basket. Adams has good handles and understands how to create a shot for himself.
He is a solid passer, but is better at moving off the ball. Adams has good instincts on the defensive end and it would not be surprising to see him average more than two steals and a block a game. He averaged a little more than 15 points per game as a junior and should average over 20 points per game as a senior.
5. Zion Bethea, Montclair Immaculate
Bethea may be one of the more underrated players in the New Jersey. The Hofstra commit has good size at 6’3 and uses it to his advantage on the offensive end. He excels at getting to the rim and knows how to score around the rim.
Bethea made 27 three-pointers last season and will need to make more three-pointers in his senior season. He is a tough defender on the perimeter and is one of the best rebounding guards in New Jersey. Bethea can play with any point guard in the state and is due for a big senior season for Montclair Immaculate.
Other Names to Watch:
Richie Greaves, Roselle Catholic
Barra Njie, St. Benedict’s
DJ Watkins, Elizabeth
Myles Ruth, Linden
Kirk Parsons, West Side
Michael O’Connell, Blair Academy