Backcourt Duos: DMV’s Top-10 Guard Tandems

Wondering who the top guard tandems in the DC Metro Area are? You’ve come to the right place. This article breaks them down, in order, starting from 10 and counting down to 1.  *Editor’s Note: Baltimore area prospects are not included in this list. 10. CJ Lee CJ Lee 6'1" | CG Rock Creek Christian | 2022 State MD and Ryan Prather Jr. Ryan Prather Jr. 6'3" | CG Bishop Walsh | 2021 State MD | Clarksburg (MD) Lee, a rising junior, transferred from Northwest to Clarksburg midway through the past season. He’s a skilled guard who can fill it up with the best and will form a dynamic partnership alongside Prather, a rising senior who was one of the DMV’s top scorers last season. It would be a mistake not to mention Nurideen "NuNu" Taylor along with these two as he’s a valuable two-way contributor in the Coyotes talented backcourt. 9. Rasheed Dupree Rasheed Dupree 5'5" | PG KIPP | 2021 State MD and Saveon Jackson Saveon Jackson 6'0" | CG KIPP | 2021 State MD | KIPP (DC) Much of KIPP’s recent success can be attributed to the value that rising seniors Rasheed Dupree Rasheed Dupree 5'5" | PG KIPP | 2021 State MD and Saveon Jackson Saveon Jackson 6'0" | CG KIPP | 2021 State MD have added to the program. These two are tone-setters who a bit of everything on both ends of the floor and are proven winners. Their classmate Charles McClain Charles McClain 5'9" | PG KIPP | 2021 MD has recently emerged as another sneaky-good guard from this program.  8. Nasir Best Nasir Best 6'2" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2021 State MD and Miasiah Brown Miasiah Brown 6'2" | CG Woodrow Wilson | 2021 State MD | Woodrow Wilson (DC) Many wondered how Wilson would look this past season after their most dominant season in recent memory. The addition of rising senior Miasiah "Zay" Brown was welcomed as he paired in the backcourt alongside his classmate Nasir Best Nasir Best 6'2" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2021 State MD . These two combined to form a tenacious defensive backcourt. The development of 2021 Eric Morgan Eric Morgan 6'1" | CG Woodrow Wilson | 2021 MD Jr. should not be overlooked. He’s Wilson’s best shooter and is a fine complement to either Best, Brown, or both in any lineup.  7. Ryan Cornish Ryan Cornish 6'3" | CG Sidwell Friends | 2021 State MD and Cam Gillus Cam Gillus 5'9" | PG Sidwell Friends | 2023 State #134 Nation MD | Sidwell Friends (DC) Rising sophomore Cam Gillus Cam Gillus 5'9" | PG Sidwell Friends | 2023 State #134 Nation MD and rising senior Ryan Cornish Ryan Cornish 6'3" | CG Sidwell Friends | 2021 State MD impressed in their first season pairing together for Sidwell. These two get the job done on both ends of the court and should only improve with a full offseason to gel. Let’s not overlook the contributions rising junior Chris Gamble Chris Gamble 6'1" | PG Sidwell Friends | 2022 State MD has added to this team as well. Gamble’s ability to guard multiple positions and score in timely situations are underrated.  6. Shane Lancaster Shane Lancaster 6'4" | CG St. John's | 2022 State MD and Malik Mack Malik Mack 6'0" | PG St. John’s | 2023 State MD | St. John’s (DC) Rising sophomore Malik Mack Malik Mack 6'0" | PG St. John’s | 2023 State MD impressed with his ability to run a team throughout his freshman campaign. He and rising junior Shane Lancaster Shane Lancaster 6'4" | CG St. John's | 2022 State MD , who provides three-level scoring and solid defense, are expected to take a leap in terms of minutes and production next year.  5. Bez Mbeng Bez Mbeng 6'3" | CG Good Counsel | 2021 State #190 Nation MD and Antoine Jacks Antoine Jacks 5'10" | PG Good Counsel | 2021 State MD | Good Counsel (MD) Rising senior Bez Mbeng Bez Mbeng 6'3" | CG Good Counsel | 2021 State #190 Nation MD , a returning All-WCAC First Teamer, broke out this past season for a Good Counsel team that might have surprised some folks. Equally as impressive was the emergence of his classmate, Antione Jacks, who put the area on notice by holding his own against the top guards in this area each time he stepped on the floor last season.  4. Cole Hanin Cole Hanin 5'10" | PG Bullis | 2021 State MD and Erik Reynolds Erik Reynolds 6'2" | CG Bullis | 2021 State #197 Nation MD | Bullis (MD) Rising seniors Cole Hanin Cole Hanin 5'10" | PG Bullis | 2021 State MD and Erik Reynolds Erik Reynolds 6'2" | CG Bullis | 2021 State #197 Nation MD have been at it for 3+ years now, and they continue to improve over time. Rising sophomore Zane Adnan Zane Adnan 6'2" | CG Bullis | 2023 State MD exceeded expectations during his freshman season and is expected to take another leap as well.  3. Elijah Hawkins Elijah Hawkins 5'9" | PG DeMatha | 2021 State MD and Rodney Rice Rodney Rice 6'3" | CG DeMatha | 2022 State #49 Nation MD | DeMatha (MD) Rising senior Elijah Hawkins Elijah Hawkins 5'9" | PG DeMatha | 2021 State MD took a stranglehold on the starting lead guard position at DeMatha this past season with stellar play on both ends of the floor. The addition of Rodney Rice Rodney Rice 6'3" | CG DeMatha | 2022 State #49 Nation MD , a rising junior who is one of the best scorers you’ll find, made headlines this offseason and is expected to be a significant one. Let’s not ignore Jacoi Hutchinson Jacoi Hutchinson 6'2" | CG DeMatha | 2023 State #124 Nation MD , a rising sophomore who put together a series of solid performances during his promising freshman campaign, who is also expected to factor into the rotation once again.  2. Devin Dinkins Devin Dinkins 5'10" | PG Gonzaga | 2022 State MD and Judah Mintz Judah Mintz 6'4" | CG Gonzaga | 2022 #68 Nation VA | Gonzaga (DC) Rising juniors Devin Dinkins Devin Dinkins 5'10" | PG Gonzaga | 2022 State MD and Judah Mintz Judah Mintz 6'4" | CG Gonzaga | 2022 #68 Nation VA are a truly dynamic duo who will be fully unleashed once and for all next season. These two have waited in the wings for two years, but have gained valuable experience in the meantime. Expect these two to step up in a big way for the perennially powerful Purple Eagles.  1. Trevor Keels Trevor Keels 6'4" | SG Paul VI | 2021 State #18 Nation VA and Knasir McDaniel Knasir McDaniel 5'9" | PG Paul VI | 2022 State #156 Nation VA | Paul VI (VA) Rising senior Trevor Keels Trevor Keels 6'4" | SG Paul VI | 2021 State #18 Nation VA , a consensus Five Star recruit, is finally getting the national recognition he deserves. This comes to no surprise as his body of work speaks for itself. Rising junior Knasir "Dug" McDaniel, considered the most gifted passer in the area, will partner alongside Keels once again and form an exciting backcourt tandem that will be extremely fun to watch. Honorable Mention (Listed Alphabetically By School) Paul Lewis Paul Lewis 6'1" | PG Bishop O'Connell | 2022 State VA and Mason So Mason So 6'1" | PG Bishop O'Connell | 2023 State VA | Bishop O’Connell (VA) Jalen Miller Jalen Miller 6'2" | PG Bishop Walsh | 2021 State #151 Nation MD and Jordan Rayford Jordan Rayford 6'5" | SF Bishop Walsh | 2021 State MD | Bishop Walsh (MD) Jayden Harris and Shamar Sisco | Christ Chapel (VA) Amare Curtis Amare Curtis 5'9" | PG Springbrook | 2022 State MD and Kyle Gaskins Kyle Gaskins 5'11" | PG Coolidge | 2022 State MD | Coolidge (DC) Ifanieye Lewis Ifanieye Lewis 6'0" | PG Eleanor Roosevelt | 2022 State MD and James Rice James Rice 5'11" | CG Eleanor Roosevelt | 2022 State MD | Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) Jamiyl Kirkland Jr. Jamiyl Kirkland Jr. 6'2" | CG Friendship Tech | 2021 State MD and DaJuan McMillan DaJuan McMillan 6'0" | CG Friendship Tech | 2021 State MD | Friendship Tech (DC) Bryce Sewell Bryce Sewell 5'9" | PG Georgetown Prep | 2022 State MD and AJ Thomas AJ Thomas 6'3" | CG Georgetown Prep | 2022 State MD | Georgetown Prep (MD) Mike Gray Mike Gray 5'10" | PG Landon | 2022 MD and Kino Lilly Jr. Kino Lilly Jr. 6'0" | CG Landon | 2021 State MD | Landon (MD) Rashid Abudu Rashid Abudu 6'0" | CG Magruder | 2021 State MD and Mike Myrie Mike Myrie 6'2" | CG Magruder | 2021 NC | Magruder (MD) Kordell Lewis Kordell Lewis 5'10" | PG Richard Montgomery | 2021 State MD and Jabril Robinson Jabril Robinson 6'1" | CG Richard Montgomery | 2021 State MD | Richard Montgomery (MD) Chace Davis Chace Davis 6'2" | CG St. Andrew's | 2021 State MD and Dylan Edwards Dylan Edwards 6'1" | CG St. Andrew's | 2022 MD | St. Andrew’s (MD) Garrett Brennan Garrett Brennan 6'2" | SG St. Stephen's St. Agnes | 2022 State VA and Devin Ceaser Devin Ceaser 6'0" | CG St. Mary's Ryken | 2022 VA | St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes (VA) Mark Aiken Mark Aiken 5'10" | CG Thurgood Marshall | 2021 State MD and Michael Aiken Michael Aiken 5'9" | PG Thurgood Marshall | 2021 State MD | Thurgood Marshall (DC) Daemond Ford Daemond Ford 6'2" | CG Wise | 2021 State MD and Trey Thomas Trey Thomas 6'3" | PG Wise | 2022 State #200 Nation MD | Wise (MD)