2023 Rankings Update: Auspicious Guards
The 2023 class is an exciting one, but, a tough one to scope as there is PLENTY of talent, we just have not gotten the opportunity to see it on the biggest stage. Most of our freshman played on freshman,…
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Continue ReadingThe 2023 class is an exciting one, but, a tough one to scope as there is PLENTY of talent, we just have not gotten the opportunity to see it on the biggest stage. Most of our freshman played on freshman, and, JV but some got to swing as well as play strictly varsity. The guard spot is a difficult one and may need a bit more time for maturation purposes. With that being said, the 2023 class had guards that played on lower sub-levels and dominated. Here is a list of five of the top guards in the class to watch in our first rankings update for the class.
Rickey Mitchell Rickey Mitchell 6'3" | CG Smoky Hill | 2023 State CO – Smoky Hill
Rickey Mitchell Rickey Mitchell 6'3" | CG Smoky Hill | 2023 State CO is highly regarded as one of, if not the top point guard in the class. The young baller knows how to put the ball in the basket as a natural scorer and playmaker that has great court-awareness. The high IQ guard spent this year on JV, and it was too easy for him as he had 30-points on a few occasions. He gets to the rim with ease and cannot be contained in isolation situations. He shoots the 3-ball, and he also makes the right plays on offense. He steps into a great position next season at Smoky Hill, where if he puts in the work this summer can play some meaningful varsity minutes. He is the No. 11 player in the class right now, and that is without playing varsity so that should say enough.
Tarea Fulcher Tarea Fulcher 5'11" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2023 State CO – Regis
Fulcher is a quick guard that attacks off of the dribble and keeps the defense guessing. He is a playmaking guard that can create for himself and finishes well around the rim. He also dishes well and is a natural leader that understands where to be on the court. He gets the team in their sets, makes things happen like a true point guard is supposed to, and when the play breaks down, can go and get a bucket. Fulcher is a guard that can score it both inside and out and is a creative finisher around the basket that can get them going in bunches. He’s a player to watch, and one I think takes over by junior season.
Jaylin Hardwrict Jaylin Hardwrict 6'1" | CG Green Mountain | 2023 CO – Green Mountain
Hardwrict is a tenacious guard that is a nightmare for the defender as he is going at you for the entirety of the game. He is a competitor that is a down-hill runner and attacks mismatches with ease. He excels in isolation situations, can score in a variety of ways, and is probably the most explosive player in the class. Hardwrict is a problem with the ball in his hands and has a mission to score every time down. Hardwrict not only got his feet wet on varsity but, had a few blowup games. He scored 19 points against Lakewood, 16 points against D’Evelyn, and a career-high 21 points in a 60-50 win over Evergreen. He did not finish out the season with the team and only appeared in 13 games. But with a new year and a fresh start, he is a player that will undoubtedly help a Green Mountain team that surprised many last year and is returning a pretty solid core. He is the No. 6 player in the class, and I love his upside.
Terrell (TJ) Moorer – Mesa Ridge
Terrell(TJ) Moorer Jr. Terrell(TJ) Moorer Jr. 6'2" | PG Mesa Ridge | 2023 TX is not a player that we got a chance to see this season as he played on the lower levels, but that does not mean that the hype that followed him did not give out. There has been some argument about him being the top point guard by senior year as he has gone to a couple of elite camps and received top honors at these prestigious camps – we just have to see it translate. In videos that we have seen of the point guard, he seems to have elite ball-handling and is a shifty guard that pushes the pace and finds the open man. He is an unselfish guard that can alter the game with his passing abilities, and with the season that Mesa Ridge had last year will be a welcomed addition that can help. Pencil him in as a player to surely watch moving forward.
Jayson Lewis Jayson Lewis 6'1" | CG Smoky Hill | 2023 State CO – Smoky Hill
One of my favorites types of players to watch is a selfless leader who gets others involved but is willing to attack a defender for the duration of the game. Lewis is that type of competitor and is one of the most athletic small guards in the state. He dunks the ball in the open court and is bouncy. He works extremely hard defensively, and that will open up the rest of his game. He can pass the ball and shoot the 3-ball, but most of what he does and will keep him on the floor for the Buffaloes will have to be done on the defensive end as it will open up the rest of his game. Lewis is a balanced guard that does a bit of everything on and off of the ball. That versatility, along with playing with that chip on his shoulder, should set him apart and why he enters our first ranking for the class as the No.24 player in the class and one of the top guards.