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.
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.
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
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)