2023 Player Rankings: Baltimore Guards (Part 1)
The freshman class is always the most difficult to rank given their young age and untapped potential. There’s a good chance our list will look drastically different by the time these players are heading into their senior seasons, if not…
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Continue ReadingThe freshman class is always the most difficult to rank given their young age and untapped potential. There’s a good chance our list will look drastically different by the time these players are heading into their senior seasons, if not sooner. However we did get the opportunity to see a handful of freshmen in the Baltimore area who contributed consistently for the respective school at the varsity level, while others earned a ranking by dominating at the junior varsity level. For this series, I’ll break down the prospects featured in our top 50 who play in the Baltimore area starting with the guards.
Mike Williams Mike Williams 6'3" | CG Bishop Walsh | 2023 State #141 Nation MD | 6’3 | Calvert Hall
Current ranking: 3
Williams comes in as the top ranked guard in the DMV and showcased his elite athleticism this season as he was the primary offensive option for a young Calvert Hall team. The 6-foot-3 guard can finish above the rim when his team is in transition while also pin opposing player’s lay up attempts when on the defensive end. Playing with the ball in his hands more helped Williams gain confidence as the season progressed as a play maker. While areas such as his jump shot and ball handling still need development, Williams will have plenty of time and opportunity as he looks to maintain his top spot at his position as time goes on.
Mathani Paul-Swinson Mathani Paul-Swinson 5'11" | PG McDonogh | 2023 MD | 5’10 | McDonogh
Current ranking: 6
Paul-Swinson started from day one as the point guard on a McDonogh team that had high expectations. When their rotation was cut in half as two key starters had season-ending injuries, the 5-foot-10 guard saw his opportunities increase. Learning how to facilitate an offense came slowly, but Paul-Swinson made steady improvement with experience and became a much better decision maker by the end of the season. He consistently got in the paint where he would finish with soft touch on floaters or make solid passes to open teammates on the perimeter. He progressed defensively as well both on and off the ball. He cut down on his gambling and became more determined to keep the ball in front of him. Where he impressed me most was his willingness to crash the glass. Paul-Swinson was an above average rebounder for his position and class.
Jahnathan Lamothe Jahnathan Lamothe 6'3" | CG St. Frances | 2023 State #204 Nation MD | 6’3 | St. Frances
Current ranking: 8
Lamothe appeared in 39 games for the nationally ranked St. Frances Panthers and once he settled in, proved his worth as an outside shooting presence. The 6-foot-3 guard doesn’t get great lift off his jumper yet, but has a quick release to make up for it. He played alongside VCU commit Ace Baldwin, which made him the beneficiary of a ton of open three’s, especially from the corner. He also did a nice job of finishing around the basket in transition. Lamothe’s defense is still a work in progress and probably the weakest area of his game, but every freshman seems to make significant strides in said area from their first to second year.
Jeannot Basima Jeannot Basima 6'3" | CG John Carroll | 2023 State #200 Nation MD | 6’3 | John Carroll
Current ranking: 13
Basima provided a slashing guard presence from the perimeter, something that was valuable to John Carroll’s lineup filled with outside shooters. He was very much a catch and go guy that put his head down and attacked the basket. Very rarely would you see him pull the trigger from three, however I did witness him knock down a few over time. Basima is a useful defender given that he has the athleticism and quickness to guard smaller, shifty players and the length to hold his own against wings in the MIAA A Conference. Footwork will be a big area of focus for the Congo native, as he often times got called for traveling when his defender force him to pick up his dribble. As he adjusts to the speed of the American game, I expect that aspect to improve quickly.
Tjay Beckles Tjay Beckles 5'10" | PG Overlea | 2023 State MD | 5’10 | Overlea
Current ranking: 17
Beckles likely had one of the best freshman seasons statistically that no one talks about. The 5-foot-10 point guard is an elite shooter with range for his age and stage of development. Beckles averaged 18 points a game for an Overlea team that lacked significant talent. However because of his ability to fill it up in the scoring column, Beckles led the Falcons to wins and kept them within striking distance against a few tough opponents. As a freshman he took on many more responsibilities than others in his class, but becoming a better defender and play maker for those around him will be areas for improvement going forward.