Combo-guards that stood out at the Underground Invitational IV
Another week, another solid outing at the underground run. This was one of my favorite ones, so I was not able to do it by class but rather by position. Here are my top combo guards on the day. Colton…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAnother week, another solid outing at the underground run. This was one of my favorite ones, so I was not able to do it by class but rather by position. Here are my top combo guards on the day.
Colton Gillingham Colton Gillingham 6'0" | CG Greeley West | 2021 State CO – Greeley West
Gillingham is one of the hardest working guards in the 2021 class that has natural scoring abilities and gets in done in a variety of ways. Gillingham scored in bunches at the run as one of the newcomers, and it does not matter the situation he is going all out and has contagious scrappiness. Gillingham got to the rim and finished, blew by defenders, and showcased himself as a creative finisher, but he also stepped out and hit shots as well. He is a tenacious defender who stays in front of his man on the perimeter, forces the tempo on the defensive end and when he gets in the open court is tough to slow down. Gillingham is a guard that can certainly play at the next level.
Julian Hammond Julian Hammond 6'1" | SG Cherry Creek | 2021 State #209 Nation CO — Cherry Creek
It’s great to see Hammond in an open gym setting as you get to see all of the things that he excels in, but also, you get a look at some of the things that he is tightening up. Hammond can score the ball with the best of them, and he makes it extremely difficult for defenses to limit based on the fact that he scores from all three levels. Hammonds is just as liable to attack the rim as he is to show off his smooth shooting stroke. He has a great balance of going inside and out, and if you defend him with a smaller guard, he is going to take them to the post. If he gets a bigger guy, he will keep them guessing – it is a difficult decision to make. He also seems to be improving as a ballhandler and playmaker as well. He is making plays for others, moving without the ball, and even taking on the challenges on the defensive end. I will keep saying it; open gyms are great for him to keep progressing.
Cameron Lowe Cameron Lowe 6'5" | SF Lewis-Palmer | 2022 State CO — Lewis-Palmer
Lowe was the newcomer on the day, and although his shot did not fall as it usually does, he found other ways to affect the game. Lowe was getting inside and scoring with ease as he uses his 6’4 frame to take over, and that started to get the rest of his game going. He is not afraid to let it fly, and while he will have to work on reading the double, he is a player to build around. Lowe rebounds well, used his body defensively, and got out on the break for finishes. He has excellent size and a natural scoring ability, and he is a 2022 wing to know.
Tristan Smith Tristan Smith 6'4" | CG Elizabeth | 2021 State CO — Elizabeth
Elizabeth’s leading scorer was another player that stopped in for his first time. He was a relatively unknown player heading into the day but made his presence known as he seemed to be in the right place. Smith is always moving; he works extremely hard on both ends of the floor and made plays for others. He is a willing passer that makes the extra pass, had a few mid-range pull-ups, and the athletic lefty showed that he belonged—solid day for the 6’4 2021 wing.
Ben Hageman Ben Hageman 6'3" | PF Windsor | 2021 State CO — Windsor
The 2021 combo-guard/wing out at Windsor has been a regular fixture at the underground hoops run, which showcases that he is a hoops junkie that wants to get better. Each week he seems to be adding a new piece to his game. Two things that stand out every time is the ball control and the perimeter defense. Hageman is a player with strong and quick hands that times steals and baits guards into playing how he wants. He moves his feet well and defends without fouling while causing chaos on that end. On offense, the body control allows him to make some incredible finishes. He is a crafty finisher around the rim that makes tough shots with defenders around him, and now it is about showcasing the ability to step out and shoot it as well as become a lockdown defender that WANTS to defend the opposing teams best guard. I think he has the intangibles to be an elite defender, he just has to apply himself, but it was a day that he defended well.