Season Rewind: Best Backcourt Duos in DFW
Having a pair of talented guards who can coexist together on the court is an incredibly valuable asset for any team. There are so many different types of backcourt players in today’s game and an even wider variety of guard…
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Continue ReadingHaving a pair of talented guards who can coexist together on the court is an incredibly valuable asset for any team. There are so many different types of backcourt players in today’s game and an even wider variety of guard combinations, making it a fascinating aspect to observe and cover.
I got to see a ton of impressive guard tandems this past season and wanted to highlight a few of them. With that in mind, here are four of the best backcourt duos in DFW from the 2019-20 season.
Richardson
Cason Wallace Cason Wallace 6'4" | CG Richardson | 2022 State #6 Nation TX – 2022 6’3 Shooting Guard
Rylan Griffen Rylan Griffen 6'5" | SG Richardson | 2022 State #72 Nation TX – 2022 6’5 Shooting Guard
These two are both listed as shooting guards, but Wallace operates as the team’s primary ball handler and Griffen thrives out on the wing and off the ball. Their styles of play complement one another beautifully. Wallace can do a little bit of everything at both ends. He can rebound, pass, and efficiently score from all three levels. Griffen is a marksman from behind the arc. His ability to drain contested triples is next level. The fact that they both have two years of high school eligibility remaining is scary.
Lewisville
Kylin Green Kylin Green 6'0" | PG Lewisville | 2021 State TX – 2021 6’0 Point Guard
Keyonte George Keyonte George 6'5" | SG IMG Academy | 2022 State #4 Nation FL – 2022 6’5 Shooting Guard
This is a more conventional backcourt. Green is a brilliant pass first point guard with crafty handles and quickness to spare, while George is your traditional two-guard who can score in bunches at the basket or with jumpers. They are surrounded by long and athletic players that really round out the roster. Additionally, Green and George are excellent defenders who can force turnovers and convert them into easy buckets for themselves or their teammates. These two prospects understand their strengths and weaknesses which allows them to flourish on the floor together.
Waxahachie
B.J. Francis B.J. Francis 5'10" | PG Waxahachie | 2020 State TX – 2020 5’11 Point Guard
C.J. Noland C.J. Noland 6'4" | SG Waxahachie | 2021 State #129 Nation TX – 2021 6’3 Shooting Guard
Francis can nail shots of the dribble from mid-range or from deep. He can also exploit angles on the drive and deliver some pretty no-look dimes. He is a finesse player who is a lot of fun to watch when he gets in a rhythm. Noland, on the other hand, is a bulldozer of a shooting guard with a college-ready body who can overpower just about anyone who dares to take him on. His contributions on the glass and on defense also shouldn’t be overlooked. Francis was a senior this previous season and won’t be around next year, so I’m interested to see how 2021 prospect Jalen Lake Jalen Lake 6'4" | SG Waxahachie | 2021 State #245 Nation TX , a shooting guard with a pretty jumper, replaces him in the backcourt while Noland takes on more responsibility as a ball handler and facilitator.
Allen
Thailand Elder Thailand Elder 6'1" | SG Allen | 2020 State #439 Nation TX – 2020 6’1 Shooting Guard
Manny Obaseki Manny Obaseki 6'3" | SG John Paul II | 2021 State #47 Nation TX – 2021 6’4 Shooting Guard
This pair of two-guards could absolutely light it up from the field at any time last season. Elder is a sharpshooter from distance with tremendous off-ball movement. His catch-and-shoot skills in the half-court as well as in transition were exceptional. Obaseki showed that he can hit the three-ball too, but the Texas A&M verbal commit really shines when he is playing downhill. He is an explosive athlete at the rim. Elder is off to Louisiana Tech, but Allen has plenty of talented perimeter players who will have the opportunity to replace his scoring output such as Mason Gibson Mason Gibson 6'1" | SG Allen | 2021 State TX and Ian Motta Ian Motta 6'6" | SF Allen | 2021 State TX .