Francisco’s Finest: Class of 2022 Improvements (Shooting Guards)
Francisco’s Finest: Class of 2022 Improvements (Shooting Guards) LONG BEACH, CA—After breaking down the Classes of 2020 and 2021, it is now time to dive into the Class of 2022. Unlike the previous classes where there were can’t miss prospects…
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Continue ReadingFrancisco’s Finest: Class of 2022 Improvements (Shooting Guards)
LONG BEACH, CA—After breaking down the Classes of 2020 and 2021, it is now time to dive into the Class of 2022. Unlike the previous classes where there were can’t miss prospects like Evan Mobley, Ziaire Williams, BJ Boston, Josh Christopher from the Class of 2020 and Peyton Watson from the Class of 2021, the Class of 2022 doesn’t appear to have “that guy” just yet, but they still have plenty of time. Kijani Wright is the most polished prospect thus far, but Amari Bailey and Koat Keat have the most upside in my opinion. Going forward it would not surprise me to see this list change in the coming seasons.
Chol Deng (Fairmont Prep)
6-foot-4, 165 pounds
Deng is a live athlete with ball skills and non-stop motorJoel’s Take: Deng is a wiry scoring guard who can slash to the basket with the best of them. He is a quick athlete with solid ball skills and his overall offensive game is evolving. His first step is quick and he knows how to manuever around defenders. Defensively, he has the length, lateral quickness, and active hands to be lock-down defender. Refining his all-around offensive game, especiall in the half court set (pull-ups/moving without the ball/shooting) will elevate his stock.
DJ Dudley (Fairfax)
6-foot-4, 165 pounds
Joel’s Take: This rangy wing-type has improved as much as any prospect in his class. Dudley has that prototypical wing frame with good length and a high dose of bounce and quickness. He has a knack of getting to the rim off the dribble and his scoring package is on the rise. He made better decisions with the ball in his hands (more efficient), but for him that High Major statue, he needs to become a more consistent shooter from deep.
Chance Stephens (Riverside Poly)
6-foot-2, 165 pounds
Joel’s Take: If you’re looking for one of the best shooters in So-Cal region look no further than Stephens. His shot is consistent off the catch and his release is smooth, albeit it is a bit low. His shooting prowess has opened up his much-improved attack game and he has the dexterity to finish over “bigs” in the paint. As he physically matures, that added strength will make him more explosive. However, overall his progress has been quite good.
Ben Shtolzberg (Sherman Oaks/Notre Dame)
6-foot-3, 170 pounds
Shtolzberg is a high IQ point guard who possesses a good balance between scoring and distributing.Joel’s Take: Shtolzberg has been on the radar for awhile due to his will to score. He has good ball skills against pressure, has a knack to score in the paint (solid pull-up game), and he can drain the 3-point shot. Going forward he needs to improve his quickness/speed with the ball in his hands to handle defenders that get into him because he has the feel to play some one in a pinch.
Khemanni Davis (Rancho Verde)
6-foot-3, 160 pounds
Joel’s Take: Rancho Verde is known for their strong guard-types who defend and Davis is no different. The bully-ball specialist utlizes his burst and bounce to get by defenders and finishing in the paint. He does a nice job of lowering his shoulder (taking on the contact) and finishing through and aorund length. To take his game to a new level, he needs to become a more refined shooter to keep his defenders from backing off.