2023 Guards Rankings (8-1)
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As we look at the first class of 2023 rankings in the state of VA, we will break down the positional rankings by guards, wings and big men. While we label prospects by six positions as far as point guards,…
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Continue ReadingAs we look at the first class of 2023 rankings in the state of VA, we will break down the positional rankings by guards, wings and big men. While we label prospects by six positions as far as point guards, combo guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers, I like to put some of them together to simplify things and do rankings based on the three main positions.
Today, we take a look at part two of the bigs rankings, looking at some of the top point guards and combo guards in the sophomore class.
8) Wesley Williams Wesley Williams 6'0" | CG Fairfax Christian | 2024 VA | 6’1” | Independence (#19 Overall)
Williams is heading up a new program at Independence who had their first year in existence last season, and he already is one of the top point guards in Northern VA and has them as one of the top teams in their classification in the early season. A highly skilled lead guard who can both score it and set others up, Williams sets the tone on both ends and is a natural leader, and he has a terrific IQ and a competitive streak about him you have to love.
7) Etienne Strothers Etienne Strothers 6'1" | PG Menchville | 2023 State VA | 5’11” | Menchville (#18 Overall)
Etienne’s older brother Allen is one of the top seniors in the state of VA and an ETSU commit, and Etienne is showing that he’ll be ready to take the program over once big bro is off to college. They aren’t the same players but they have similar traits, as he’s a high IQ guard who knows where his teammates are at all times, he’s sprout up about 3 inches over the past year and his long arms means he’s likely still growing and as he’s growing into his body he’s becoming a more explosive athlete and finisher as well. He has good confidence and can make shots from deep and the midrange as well.
6) Khalil Williams Khalil Williams 6'5" | SG Potomac (McLean, VA) | 2023 State VA | 6’2” | Potomac School (#17 Overall)
A combo guard who is coming off of a good freshman year and even better fall, Williams is set to have a breakout year and become one of the top scorers in the NOVA area. He’s a confident scorer that can play on and off the basketball and is able to create shots off the bounce at multiple levels and can score it in bunches when he gets it going. He’s a big time shooter from deep with a smooth stroke and deep range, he can make plays for others off the bounce and the way he’s shown improvement early in his career bolds well for him moving forward.
5) Yuri Manns Yuri Manns 6'3" | CG LC Bird | 2023 State VA | 6’3” | LC Bird (#14 Overall)
Manns was a standout as a freshman for a young Skyhawks team, and he’s improved a lot over the past year and is showing that improvement as he’s gotten out to a fast start for one of the best teams in Class 5. A combo guard with good size and still growing into his body, Manns is a guy who can create his own shot off the bounce and he’s a good shooter from deep with good range as well. He has a good IQ and can make plays for others, he makes good rotations defensively and as he continues to fill out and get stronger he’ll become a reliable scoring threat at multiple levels.
4) Trevor Smith Trevor Smith 5'11" | PG Woodside | 2023 State #267 Nation VA | 6’0” | Woodside (#11 Overall)
Playing alongside one of the best senior guards in the 757, Smith has had a great start to his high school career as he’s already seeing college suitors and is very poised for his age. He’s a lightning quick guard with a tight handle and he makes terrific decisions in the pick-and-roll, and he’s able to get in the lane at will where he can finish in the paint or find others for easy buckets. He’s a good on ball defender and he brings it on both ends as he plays with a great motor and will do the blue collar stuff as well.
3) Mason So Mason So 6'1" | PG DeMatha | 2023 State MD | 6’1” | Bishop O’Connell (#7 Overall)
Arguably the most skilled scoring guard on this list, So was a standout in the WCAC as a freshman for Bishop O’Connell and has had a good summer and fall as well showing improvements to his already impressive game. A shifty guard that can play on or off the basketball, So is a talented shot maker from multiple levels and can really fill it up in bunches when he starts to get it going. He’s a heady playmaker and has a good IQ for the game, he isn’t scared of big moments or tough matchups and he’s an underrated defender that brings it against the best on that side of the ball too.
2) John St. Germain John St. Germain 6'2" | PG St. Anne's Belfield | 2023 State VA | 6’0” | STAB (#6 Overall)
St. Germain has been a staple in the Charlottesville area on some very good teams for the past two years, as he was a pivotal rotation player as an eighth grader for Miller School two years ago helping them to a state championship appearance and was a full time starter last year at STAB as well. He’s the definition of a true floor general, as he’s a guy who has poise well beyond his years and he has a great IQ to go along with a phenomenal skill set that allows him to make the right plays in the right situations regularly. He can hurt you in so many ways as he can change speeds and directions well to keep defenders off balance, he’s a great playmaker with good feel and the ability to thread the needle and he’s a good shooter from multiple levels that can score consistently when he needs to.
1) Caleb Foster Caleb Foster 6'4" | PG Notre Dame | 2023 State CA-S | 6’4” | Oak Hill Academy (#1 Overall)
Foster came to Oak Hill from North Carolina just before the season started, and while I heard his name and knew that some very respected people said great things about him I found myself a little skeptical about a sophomore point guard being one of the go-to guys for a national powerhouse that has put close to a dozen point guards in the NBA. Well, after watching him play in a few high level matchups those doubts have been put to rest as he has all of the tools moving forward to play the game at the highest level and he’s just scratching the surface with how good he can be. He’s still very young and you can see it in his baby face, but he has a great frame at his position with good size and length and a body that should fill out nicely, and he has game to go along with it as he’s a smooth operator that can set the tone and take over the game on both ends. He has great poise and a good feel for the game, he doesn’t force things and lets the game come to him and he’s equally dangerous as a shotmaker from multiple levels as he is as a playmaker and defensive stopper as well.