Updated 2021 Rankings: Guards Rankings (25-16)
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One of the coolest things about the new Prep Hoops Rankings is that they automatically rank the players by positions as well. Within the rankings you can see the rankings for point guards, combo guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers. However, I have a different way of thinking of the game now, and believe the positions in basketball are now just guards, wings and bigs.
So we’ll be breaking down the top 25 of each in those positions. Here’s a look at the guards ranked between 25 and 16 in the updated 2021 rankings for the class of 2021.
25) Jonas Sanker Jonas Sanker 6'2" | CG Covenant | 2021 State VA | 6’2” | Covenant (#75 Overall)
A two sport star that is also a standout on the gridiron, Sanker was quietly one of the best players in the Charlottesville area the past few years, but had his breakout year last season when he helped Covenant to the VISAA D3 Final Four. A strong combo guard that thrives in transition and when he can get downhill, he’s an athletic finisher who can play above the rim and finish through contact, and when he gets it going he can knock down shots from all over and get to his spots with ease. He uses his athleticism on the glass and on the defensive end as well, as he pretty much does a little bit of everything for his team.
24) Tye Thompson Tye Thompson 6'1" | PG Bishop Ireton | 2021 State VA | 6’1” | Bishop Ireton (#68 Overall)
Sometimes guys at Ireton get a little overlooked because of all the powerhouse programs in the WCAC, but year in and year out they have hoopers and Thompson is one of them this year with their group. A quick guard who can get in the paint at will and is a crafty finisher and good playmaker, Thompson can make plays for himself and others off the bounce, and he’s also a guy you can move off the basketball because he’s an excellent shooter from deep as well. He’s a gamer who doesn’t back down and has been productive in one of the most talented conferences in America against some very highly touted guards.
23) Jaylen Leftwich Jaylen Leftwich 6'3" | CG Liberty Christian | 2021 State VA | 6’3” | Liberty Christian Academy (#67 Overall)
Leftwich is part of the first recruiting class for Emory & Henry as they plan to move up to D2 next year and he’s a terrific starting point as he brings good size and a versatile skill set that translates to that level. The 6’3” lefty is a guy who can play on or off the basketball, he’s a good athlete and he’s able to get to spots easily and can score it from multiple levels. He’s a good playmaker with a great feel for the game on both ends and his rate of improvement over the past few years is promising for them as well.
22) Geremy Robinson Geremy Robinson 6'2" | CG Oscar Smith | 2021 State VA | 6’2” | Oscar Smith (#62 Overall)
Robinson is a new name to the VA area as he transferred to Oscar Smith this summer from Hawaii, and he’s already shown this fall that he’ll be a welcomed addition to Smith in an area that is loaded with guard talent. Robinson is a strong and stocky guard that can get downhill and play physical in the paint, and he has great range off the catch to make shots from deep. He can get hot quickly, he can play both guard positions and he competes on both ends of the floor.
21) Ricky Goode-Wright Ricky Goode-Wright 5'10" | PG James Monroe | 2021 State VA | 5’11” | James Monroe (#58 Overall)
There aren’t many guys on this list that have the resume of Goode-Wright, who has already scored over 1,200 points in his career and will likely go down as the top scorer in James Monroe history. A smooth guard that makes it all look so effortless, Goode-Wright is highly skilled off the bounce and he’s able to create space to make shots from deep, and he changes speeds well to get in the lane where he’s a crafty finisher that can shoot the floater or pull-up or attack bigger guys and get to the line. He’s a microwave kind of guy who gets hot quickly and can flat out fill it up when he gets it going.
20) Yusef Salih Yusef Salih 6'2" | CG Highland School | 2021 State VA | 6’1” | Highland School (#55 Overall)
Salih is a guy I forgot to add to our original rankings despite me liking him from the first time I saw him, and with some of their other guards down with injury he showed this fall that he’s a guy who can run the show and make an impact in a number of ways. He’s quick off the dribble and has good feel and vision in the lane, he’s a good athlete who rebounds well at the guard position and he’s a guy who can move off the ball and make shots off the catch too. His versatility and upside is a big reason that Idaho University came all the way to Virginia to sign him.
19) Grayson Honaker Grayson Honaker 6'0" | CG Hargrave | 2021 State VA | 6’2” | Hargrave (#52 Overall)
Honaker is a guy who I may still have too low, I just haven’t got to see him against very good competition, but that will change this year as he transferred from Honaker to Hargrave where he plays on the post grad team despite having another year of eligibility in the high school ranks. Honaker was one of the top scorer in VA the last few years, scoring over 2,000 points in three years at Honaker HS and last year he averaged just under 30 points per game and had a 62 point game where he hit 17 three-pointers. He’s a lights out shooter from deep with in the gym range, but he’s also a skilled ball handler and a guy who knows how to play the game the right way.
18) Cam Cormany Cam Cormany 6'0" | SG Radford | 2021 State VA | 6’0” | Radford (#46 Overall)
The biggest riser in this class, Cormany shot up the rankings from being in the 80s to a top 50 guy after a huge fall where he showed he can play against the best and is more versatile than I had given him credit for in the past. At Radford where his dad is a legendary coach, Cormany played off the ball his first two years showing he was one of the best shooters in the state, but when he moved on the ball last year he showed he can do more than just spot up and shoot, he can flat out hoop. He’s a high IQ kid with a great work ethic, he has good wiggle off the bounce and can stick it from deep regularly with a hand in his face and he’s much tougher than he’s given credit for. He committed to Navy after his big Fall where he’ll fit in perfectly.
17) Cam Edmonds Cam Edmonds 6'2" | CG Western Branch | 2021 State VA | 6’2” | Western Branch (#43 Overall)
Edmonds was another big stock riser after he had a breakout junior year at Branch last season and continued that momentum with a big summer and fall with Team Push and the Chesapeake Jaguars. He’s a fun guy to watch as he comes at you time and time again, gets hot quickly and can flat out fill it up in bunches once he gets it going. He’s a lights out shooter from deep who shot close to 50% in the CBG Fall Series, he’s a solid playmaker off the bounce and he plays with good energy on both ends of the floor too as he shows he’s one of the most underrated guys in the 757.
16) Chris Kuzemka Chris Kuzemka 5'11" | PG Centreville | 2021 State VA | 5’11” | Centreville (#42 Overall)
Kuzemka is a guy many people forgot about because he dealt with some injuries over the past few years, but he had a terrific fall and has shown that he could be a guy that Patriot and Ivy schools need to do some research on. He’s a super heady and smart lead guard who runs the show and makes everyone better, he’s a skilled scorer off the bounce who changes speeds well and lives in the lane and he’s a guy who will compete and strap up 94 feet on the defensive end too. He’s a standout wide receiver on the football field as well.