Guards who stood out at Underground V Invitational
Underground run V happened this week, and it continues to get better and better. It was the most prospects in the gym at once with some new players in the gym and elevated play by some of the returners. Here…
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Continue ReadingUnderground run V happened this week, and it continues to get better and better. It was the most prospects in the gym at once with some new players in the gym and elevated play by some of the returners. Here are some of the top guards on the day.
Jameel Wright Jameel Wright 5'10" | PG Overland | 2021 State CO — Overland
Wright continues to impress me as a passer. He is an unselfish guard that sees the floor well and looks to make plays for himself and others. This week, he seemed to be more in an offensive flow, and with that, he showed himself as a scorer. Wright is a tough shot taker, but a tough shot maker. He was hitting step backs and trying to get the mid-range going. He was getting inside of the offense and hitting shots with both hands and had one of the highlight plays on the day on a double spin move. Wright plays well on both ends of the floor. He had multiple steals, pushed the pace on both ends, and he played with great energy despite the game coming to him differently.
Myles Purchase Myles Purchase 5'11" | PG Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO — Cherry Creek
Everyone knows the type of defender that Purchase is, so it was not too surprising that he got a steal on the first play of the game. Purchase is a guard that opposing guards despise. He is physical, he is in your grill, and he has his way with you on defense, but he is also a lethal offensive player as well. He was making no-look passes all over the play, blowing by defenders for easy layins, and is a high IQ guard that looks like he is toying with the defender. He takes advantage of smaller guards and is one of the best two-way players that the state has. He had a solid day.
Elijah Knudsen Elijah Knudsen 5'10" | CG Mead | 2022 State CO — Mead
Knudsen was surrounded by some of the top scorers on the day, so it was interesting to see him assert himself as an offensive weapon as well alongside them. We know that the jump shot is one of the purest in the state, and he hit his fair share of shots, but when the shot did not fall, it has been about affecting the game in other ways. I believe that Knudsen is starting to realize how quick he truly is. The speedy guard had the most blow bys on the day for left-hand finishes. He is a high IQ guard that understands that guys are playing his jump shot, so he started to use the pump fake and attack off of the dribble after. Knudsen moved without the ball and found holes in the defense; he made the right basketball play and showed that he also could score with the best of them.
Quis Davis Quis Davis 5'11" | PG Denver East | 2022 State CO — Denver East
Davis is arguably the most explosive guard in the entire state with his athleticism, and he showcased that as he had a couple of open court dunks. Davis plays at a pace that was different than any other player on the day as he remains on the attack on both ends of the floor. Davis is a willing passer that sees the floor well, and although he is not looking to score much, he excels in pick and roll situations. Davis rebounds well as a guard and is a competitor that is willing to do anything to win. He is shaking off an injury, but you did not see that as he still did all of the things that makes him one of the more exciting guards there is. Not a bad day.
Jaeton Hackley Jaeton Hackley 5'11" | PG Douglas County | 2022 State CO — Douglas County
Hackley is as tough as they come and is a player that has shined this summer. He has improved at every underground run, and you can see his competitive edge brewing. Hackley plays with complete control for the whole game. You can see the wheels turning mid-play as he is probing the defense and trying to find the right play. Hackley is an elite passer that sees plays develop before they happen, and he does a bit of everything. This week he scored the ball in every single way. He was knocking down his shots and scoring in bunches. He scored with ease from both inside and out, and he also seems to take every single matchup personally. I love that. Hackley is a player.