Top 5 Columbus City League Guards
The most important position in basketball is the point guard, they are the person that steady’s their team, gets their team into offensive sets and is hopefully the coach on the floor as the awfully overuse cliche goes. Point guards…
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Continue ReadingThe most important position in basketball is the point guard, they are the person that steady’s their team, gets their team into offensive sets and is hopefully the coach on the floor as the awfully overuse cliche goes. Point guards must be in control at all times and demonstrate the capabilities to distribute the ball to his teammates, break down defenses and at times score the ball themselves. The modern day point guard seems to be more of a scorer first with passing skills. The shooting guard of today is still the guy who can flat out get buckets, the big change is that the two guards are asked to focus on defending much more. Having high level guard play at either spot will increase teams chances to win. Each guard on this list exhibits the best traits of both traditional and modern point guards with enough skill to score on their own and hit the open man with ease.
5. Maurice Barnes- South High School: Barnes has been one of, if not the best, guards off the bench for the past few seasons and this year is his time to run the show. Barnes’ ability to shoot separates him from the pack of other point guards in the Columbus City League. “Buck,” as he is known, plays at his own pace, slowly dissecting the defense and making the correct decision when he must make it. This point guard has good length and seems to glide in transition, getting past defenders and finishing through contact and over big men. He consistently hits the kind of long range jumpers that frustrate opposing coaches, especially in big moments. The Bulldogs will lean on Barnes for his offensive production this season and if the summer is any indication, Barnes will make their trust pay off.
4. Eli Burke- Africentric: After a superb summer Burke gained another scholarship offer, this time from Central State, just an example of how much work he has put in up to this point in his high school career. Burke is an explosive athlete who uses that athleticism to bring the opposing offense to a complete stand still. Fast twitch muscle fiber runs through this kid’s veins, being able to turn defense to offense within the blink of an eye. On offense, Burke gets to the rim smoothly, gliding past defenders as if he’s dribbling with ice skates on, and he is able to finish through contact. A streaky shooter who can turn it on and catch fire with the best of them in the area. A natural born leader, Burke is the guy that the other players lean on in tough situations, and he is leading the most talented team in the Columbus City League south.
3. Javian Williams- Briggs: Maybe the player with the most untapped potential in the Columbus City League as a whole, Williams looks to stay eligible this season and make an impact. There is not a flaw to this young man’s game at first watch and he is still capable of getting better. On the perimeter, he can drive past his defender using his strength and explosive first step to get to the basket while being able to finish at the rim. He can also post up players his size and give them fits down low. Defensively, Williams can defend down low because he has the height and the rocks in his back pocket to hold up well. The next step in the game of Williams will be to become a better passer, but his one-on-one game is so refined that he has not been called on to do much passing just yet.
2. Chance Groce- Linden McKinley: Groce is probable the best in the Columbus City League at getting his shot off in every type of difficult way. His long arms make it difficult for him to block him in the half-court and in transition his quick release stops defenders from getting a good read on when he is going to shoot. Groce is steadily in control of the pace in the game, never getting sped up and always keeping his team relaxed in tough moments. He led his team to a Columbus City League championship game appearance with his playmaking, being an exceptional and creative passer. Over the summer, Groce got stronger and played in games where teams targeted ways to get the ball out of his hands and forced him to find new ways to get baskets and he adapted very well.
1. Makhale Massey- Northland: The most refined senior guard in the Columbus City League, Massey’s game could fit in at any school and with any college program. Massey’s size along with his ball handling skill separates him from the pack, he is able to see over the defense and zips passes to teammates. This young man can score at all three levels on the floor, finishing at the basket expertly, his mid-range jump shot is money and he can stretch the defense with his three point shooting. He is simply a scoring machine on offense. On defense, Massey gets his hands on the basketball in both man-to-man and passing lanes scenarios. A pure winner, Massey has led his team to big time wins at a school that can swallow its students with the pressure to get victories because of the success it has had the last decade plus.