Top 250: 5 Guards To Know

<p><strong>Dee Topps (New Manchester)-</strong> Probably the most athletic guard in the event, Topps' athleticism helps to negate his lack of size. He's only about 5'10” but is a powerful two-foot leaper who can explode above the rim in the blink of an eye. Topps possesses speed that makes him a problem getting downhill; hardly any defenders at camp could contain him off the bounce. He also uses his athletic ability to create perimeter shots. Topps elevates very well on pull-ups and gets good separation frequently because of his quickness with the ball. Whenever the ball was in his hands, it seemed like he was in attack mode. I consistently got comments like this from coaches about his play at camp- “He's a beast.” An offer from Coastal Carolina came in last week, if Topps runs the show effectively and leads New Manchester to a successful season then more should be on the way.</p> [caption id="attachment_841529" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dee Topps[/caption] <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Broc Bidwell (West Forsyth)-</strong> Bidwell started the camp hot and drew great reviews throughout the day, impressing with his well-rounded skills at the PG spot. After a summer with the loaded Game Elite 2021 team where he sometimes fell through the cracks, Bidwell seems to have a chip on his shoulder. An ultra-confident shooter with deep range, Bidwell connected early and often, opening other parts of his game. Coaches raved about Bidwell's decision-making at camp; he made great reads off PnR and penetration, scoring efficiently but also finding others. Bidwell already averaged 21 PPG last year as s sophomore and has progressed with his body and intangibles. He gives West Forsyth a fearless presence and a PG who has the skillset to succeed in most situations. West will be a top team in the county with him leading the way.</p> [caption id="attachment_841530" align="alignnone" width="300"] Broc Bidwell[/caption] <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Connor Thompson (The Heritage School)-</strong> Everything is in place for Thompson to have a big senior season this winter at Heritage. Similar to Bidwell, he played on an extremely talented travel team where he wasn't always going to be a featured piece. That is not the case at THS; him, Ebe Duwuona, and Maclean Hoekwater will lead the Hawks as seniors and be asked to do a lot. Thompson looked ready for such a role at camp, playing with a confidence and aggression to him that not many others showed. As expected, Thompson connected on perimeter shots, but looked much improved off the dribble also. He has a strong build that allows him to be effective inside and has added moves on the wing to get by defenders. Thompson utilized deception and change of speed quite well, which was helpful when being guarded by small, quick defenders.</p> [caption id="attachment_841532" align="alignnone" width="300"] Connor Thompson[/caption] <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Christian Chambers (Evans)-</strong> Chambers was one of the top performers at camp, producing each game and leaving the event with offers from Columbus State and Chattahoochee Valley. He regained some momentum at the end of the summer with a nice showing at the NCAA Academy, and seemed to be on a mission at the Top 250 as well. Chambers locked in on both sides, providing intense and aggressive play offensively and defensively. He's an athletic lefty slasher who uses his long arms well when finishing and can adjust in a variety of ways at the basket. Chambers is best attacking the paint but will keep defenses honest with his outside shot as well. He converted on multiple contact finishes at camp and made some impressive above-the-rim plays throughout the day. He ended the day with an exclamation point- ripping a ball-handler at mid-court and then sending home a dunk to win the camp's last game in sudden death. This can be seen below:</p> <p>https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsGA/status/1175866648965894146?s=20</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Cristian Willis (McEachern)-</strong> Willis isn't a guy who's going to pop off the page at first glance, but he does a lot of different things that helps your team win and he's one whose effort you never question. A savvy defender who collects his fair share of steals, Willis reads ball-handlers and anticipates well. He consistently made an impact on defense at camp and was often picking up guys well before half-court. Willis is no slouch on offense either, first making sure to set up others before looking for his own scoring opportunities. He has good vision and likes to hit guys with nice look-away passes. Willis has some strength and isn't afraid of contact in the paint, he has also made strides with his jumper over the last year. He is patiently waiting his turn at McEachern and should be well-known as his high school career moves along.</p> [caption id="attachment_841534" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cristian Willis[/caption]