Updated 2021 Player Rankings: Baltimore Guards (1-50)
As September came to a close, we updated our player rankings for each class. For this series, we’ll take a look at the Baltimore prospects who appeared in those updated rankings. Since I cover the Baltimore area heavily, I’ll specifically…
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Continue ReadingAs September came to a close, we updated our player rankings for each class. For this series, we’ll take a look at the Baltimore prospects who appeared in those updated rankings. Since I cover the Baltimore area heavily, I’ll specifically be breaking down the guards, wings and forwards who made the cut.
Ryan Conway | 6’1 | Dulaney/Team Melo
Ranking: No. 2
Conway proved to the entire country just how dynamic of a scorer he can be after an impressive showing in the EYBL Circuit. The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 17.7 points per game through the 12 games on the circuit and 22.8 points in the four games during the Peach Invitational. He did with extreme efficiency.
His shooting splits:
EYBL (12 games): 45/87.1/41.4
Peach Invitational: 53.1/88.9/42.9
For a Dulaney team that lost significant scoring due to transfers, it’ll mean Conway will have to pick up the slack. Considering how effective he was this summer, I expect him to become not only one of the most prolific scorers in Baltimore, but in the entire DMV area.
Ahmad Harrison | 6’1 | City/Team Thrill
Ranking: No. 29
Harrison made the move from Gerstell to City after helping lead Gerstell to two-straight MIAA B championships. The 6-foot-1 lefty is a tough-nosed guard who can make plays off the dribble. He can shoot efficiently from 17 feet and in off the catch or off the dribble. Finishing around the hoop is one of his strengths, as he embraces contact along the way. Harrison possesses soft touch on his floaters when opposing bigs are contesting. It’ll be interesting to see how he fits in on this Knights team, who has a number of guards who require the ball to make an impact.
Ausar Crawley | 5’8 | Mount. St. Joseph/Team Thrill
Ranking: No. 31
Crawley is one of the toughest floor generals you’ll find in the area. The 5-foot-8 guard proved last season that he can step up and be a scorer when his team needs it most. Last season, the Gaels offensive attack operated completely around James Bishop (LSU), but when defense’s keyed on in the 6-foot-2 sharpshooter, Crawley would step in and bury big shots when needed. This season, the Gaels will be much more balanced scoring wise. However, Crawley will be expected to carry a more consistent load than last season. Defensively, he doesn’t allow his lack of height to make him a mismatch. When guarding a bigger player, he has the strength to hold leverage. Crawley already has great anticipation and foot speed, so guarding the more shifty players was never an issue for him either.
Byron Ireland | 6’2 | St. Frances/Team Melo
Ranking: No. 32
Ireland made the move to St. Frances after being a standout in Anne Arundel County his first two seasons. The 6-foot-2 guard brings another play maker and toughness to the backcourt that already includes VCU commit Ace Baldwin, LSU guard Jordan Toles and 2022 guard Carlos Alexander. No matter if Ireland starts or comes off the bench, his energy and scoring will play an important role throughout the season. The Panthers are set to take on an extremely challenging national schedule, so they’ll need all of the toughness and scoring they can get. Ireland provides that and should complete quite the four-man rotation in the backcourt.