Combo Guards: The Best I Have Seen this Season Part II
So far this season, combo guards have been the talk of the prep scene. Many of them have put on scoring and defensive performances that have been otherwordly. In this edition of The Best I Have seen, I will look…
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Continue ReadingSo far this season, combo guards have been the talk of the prep scene. Many of them have put on scoring and defensive performances that have been otherwordly. In this edition of The Best I Have seen, I will look at ten more combo guards who have been making it happen on the hardwood.
Devonte Austin Devonte Austin 6'0" | CG Wossman | 2021 State LA (2021 / Wossman) – The Wildcats are a very good team. However, they seem to be better when Austin is on his game. When he is on, he can fill it up in bunches. Austin has stretches where he can go on a mini-run of his own and take over a game. He can score at all three levels and any of the three can get him going. While he is a streaky three point shooter, if he is hitting them, the rest of his game will flourish. Austin makes acrobatic finishes as well. He is going to get the ball to the goal at all cost. Defensively, he is cat quick. His ability to move puts some teeth into the Wildcat press. Look for his ability to be a key difference in a championship run by Wossman.
Jason Perry Jason Perry 6'4" | PF Madison Prep | 2020 State LA (2020 / Madison Prep) – The Most Outstanding Player from the 3A state championship has picked up where he left off last season. Perry has been one of the Chargers best players all season leading them to a number three ranking this season. He has one of the best jumpers in the prep game and has added attacking the rim to his repertoire. Perry has also picked up his ball handling responsibilities as well and has helped facilitate the Madison Prep offense at various times during the season. The Chargers will need Perry to continue his playmaking evolution along with knocking down shots if they are going to have a chance to repeat this season.
Tim King Tim King 6'0" | CG Bossier | 2020 State LA (2020 / Bossier) – No player personifies the Bearkat identify more than Tim King Tim King 6'0" | CG Bossier | 2020 State LA . He is the heart and soul of the team. King is the most intense player on the Bossier roster. He also has game to match his intensity. His combo guard skills are what sets Bossier apart from other teams. King can play the wing and spot up in either corner and drop threes consistently. When Cody Deen Cody Deen 5'9" | PG Bossier | 2020 State LA sits, he picks up the point guard duties and gets them into all of their offensive sets. His basketball savvy is what makes him the top player he is. For a person small in stature, he is a big key to Bossier’s title hopes.
Chanse Robinson Chanse Robinson 6'1" | PG Lincoln Prep | 2020 State #238 Nation LA
Chanse Robinson Chanse Robinson 6'1" | PG Lincoln Prep | 2020 State #238 Nation LA (2020 / Lincoln Prep) – Combo guards at small schools have to have big game to get noticed. The game of Chanse Robinson Chanse Robinson 6'1" | PG Lincoln Prep | 2020 State #238 Nation LA will be one of legend when his career is done. Robinson is as explosive as they come. He is lightening quick in the open floor and will dunk on the opposition when he has an opportunity. Robinson is also an above average passer. He has become better at not just finding his teammates. Robinson gives them the ball when they are in scoring position. Mix this in with his ability to scoring from anywhere on the floor and Robinson is set to help the Panthers bring a state championship to Grambling.
Devonte Snow Devonte Snow 6'2" | CG Natchitoches Central | 2020 State LA (2020 / Natchitoches Central) – Snow has set the north Louisiana prep scene on fire with some of his performances this season. His thirty and forty point performances have shown that he is a combo guard who can light it up when given the opportunity. Not only can he score, Snow can fit whatever the Chiefs need on a given night. When they need a lockdown defender, Snow can do that. If he is needed to distribute more and score less, he is willing to do it. The only hole he might have is his set shot three that he makes with regularity. For the Chiefs to win a state title, Snow will have to continue to be the differene maker he has been.
Billy Francis Billy Francis 6'2" | CG Lafayette Christian | 2020 State LA , Jr. (2020 / Lafayette Christian) – Francis has one of the sweetest shooting strokes I have seen from a prep shooter. His form never wavers when he rises and fires. Francis has used that stroke to expand his game. He can now put it on the deck and get to the hole for expanded scoring opportunities. Because of the Knights lack of overall height, Francis has become a better rebounder as well. This is pretty scary for someone who was the Most Outstanding Player during last year’s state championship. Francis knew he had to pick up his game and has done so. LCA hopes they can reap the benefits of his growth.
LaDamien Bradford LaDamien Bradford 6'4" | SG Jonesboro-Hodge | 2020 State #235 Nation LA (2020 / Jonesboro-Hodge) – New classification, same player. When that same player is LaDamien Bradford LaDamien Bradford 6'4" | SG Jonesboro-Hodge | 2020 State #235 Nation LA , that one player can make a BIG difference. The Texas A&M signee is one of the better passers that I have seen since I began watching prep basketball in high school. His feel for where to make the pass and what pass to make is uncanny. What has been most impressive this season is the way he is shooting the ball. His form was always good. Now, he is making more and more outside shots. Bradford already had an impressive floor game. Add his shooting and rebounding to the mix and he may be the most complete player in the state. (pictured above)
Javon Ruffin Javon Ruffin 6'5" | CG Phhoenix Prep | 2021 State #239 Nation AZ (2021 / Isadore Newman) – Ruffin is a combo guard that is eerily similar to the player right above him. Bradford is an upper echelon guard and Ruffin’s game is right there with his. When it comes to knowing when to get his own or to distribute, Ruffin has it. His basketball IQ helps him make ordinary plays look routine and great plays look ordinary. Ruffin also has that old school persona. Other guards can not speed him up. He sees the game clearly and is in command at all times. With Coach Livingston as his mentor, the sky is the limit for Ruffin. He is the #1 player in 2021 and I do not see that changing.
Carvell Teasett Carvell Teasett 6'1" | SG Scotlandville | 2020 State LA (2020 / Scotlandville) – Playing backcourt mate to Reece Beekman Reece Beekman 6'2" | SG Scotlandville | 2020 State #45 Nation LA , Teasett has not gotten a lot of time to play the point guard position. Even though he does not get a chance to use the skills often, one can tell that they are there. Teasett now can lead the break instead of just running the wing and spotting up. He is more comfortable driving to the lane and finding players who spot up. Teasett was already a good “3 and D” player. Adding the point guard skills to his arsenal was just what he needed to complete his game. Scotlandville will definitely benefit from the improvements to Teasett’s game.
Jalen Qualls Jalen Qualls 5'10" | PG Rayville | 2021 State LA (2021 / Rayville) – There are not many 5’9″ combo guards in today’s game. Jalen Qualls Jalen Qualls 5'10" | PG Rayville | 2021 State LA is one of them. Qualls spent last year playing two guard and reserve point on a loaded team. This year, he is a leader on a very good team. One thing that has not changed is his intensity and ability to make plays. Not only does he make routine plays, he makes the big ones that will either break the other team’s back or keep his team in the game. Qualls is not afraid of the moment and takes big shots with confidence. If Rayville is in the position to make a legitimate run at a 3-peat, Qualls will be at the forefront.
As the season nears the end, most of these guards will be in high pressure games. One thing is for certain. Because they have a variety of skills to use on the floor, their teams will be able to use them in the best ways possible to win.