New England Guards to Watch: Class of 2022
There are many talented players in the backcourt who represent the class of 2022. They have gotten off to a great start this year, and it should be fun to watch them continue to develop as we head into spring.…
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Continue ReadingThere are many talented players in the backcourt who represent the class of 2022. They have gotten off to a great start this year, and it should be fun to watch them continue to develop as we head into spring. Here are some of the guards who should be on everyone’s radar.
Eoin Morrissey – Catholic Memorial/Middlesex Magic – 6’3” – SG – 2022 (pictured above)
A terrific slasher in the half-court, Morrissey shows excellent burst when attacking the basket. The athletic wing is very aggressive when he penetrates and will challenge any defender who tries to deny him a layup opportunity. He initiates contact and is so strong he can finish through the foul. A right-handed wing, the 6’3” junior can successfully get by defenders and finish with his left hand making him a difficult one-on-one cover. Not only a slashing wing, but Morrissey is also valuable as a spot-up shooter. His ability to open up the floor with his three-point shooting makes the combo wing a significant piece to any team’s offense. Morrissey’s maximum effort, hustle on defense, and rebounding stick out. He does a great job hawk sliding and cutting off angles which leads him to take charges. He never fails to sprint back on defense and make an impact, whether it be a chase-down block or a deflection. A relentless rebounder at the guard position, Morrissey has the tools to be one of the best two-way players.
Kyle Murray – Westwood High/Middlesex Magic – 6’2” – SG/PG – 2022
Murray is a very efficient shooter who can snipe threes with the best of athletes. So calm, cool, and collected behind the arc, Murray never looks rattled when he confidently hits contested long-range shots. When Murray gets his perimeter game going, it opens up other elements of his game. He sells his pump fakes and has an automatic two-dribble mid-range pull-up that he comfortably goes to when run off the three-point line. A smooth finisher with either hand, the 6’2” combo guard can put the ball on the deck and get to the basket. Coming off a season shooting 57% from the field and 42% from downtown, Murray is a reliable scorer and a handful to defend. Despite being a potent three-level scorer, Murray has the ball-handling and playmaking ability to find success running the point. Always under control and poised, Murray can initiate the offense and shows his unselfishness by kicking out to shooters when the defense collapses on him.
Tristan Herry – Taunton High/BCRI – 5’10” – PG/SG – 2022
A fearless floor general, Herry is one of the most dynamic point guards in the open court. An intelligent point guard who recognizes when to push the tempo and when to slow the pace down and initiate the half-court offense. Lightning-quick on the break, Herry keeps his head up, leading his teammates with crisp passes up the court for easy transition points. His pinpoint passing is also put on full display in the half-court with accurate baseline hammer passes to shooters spotting up in the corner or finding the right passing angle to deliver entry passes in the post. Herry is a point guard who prides himself on getting his teammates involved in the flow of the game before creating offense for himself. The 5’10” junior standout has a quick first step and easily gets by the first line of defense. Despite being a smaller guard, Herry does an excellent job leading with his body to initiate contact and shows the concentration to finish the layup for impressive and-1’s. Capable of scoring at all three levels efficiently, Herry is extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands.
AJ Lesburt – Bradford Christian Academy/Mass Rivals – 6’5” – SG – 2022
Lesburt is a physical force and one of the most intimidating players with the ball in his hands in the open court. Using his elite athleticism, he can effortlessly weave in and out of the transition defense and finish the play with a loud dunk. Outside of dunking, Lesburt uses his leaping ability for his polished mid-range game. His strength and speed allow him to get into the paint where the 6’5” wing can elevate over any defender challenging his shot and bury it comfortably. Lesburt has the ultimate green light from three and does not hesitate to let it fly. His quick trigger release and ability to shoot well behind the line make Lesburt one of the game’s most lethal gunslingers. His size and athleticism allow him to guard multiple positions at a high level. Lesburt can smother smaller point guards on the ball, and he has the strength to muscle up with bigger wing players.
Preston Murphy – St. Andrews/ DePaul Commit – 6’1” – PG – 2022
Murphy is one of the most polished offensive guards in the region. His hesitation dribble to get the defense off-balance before exploding to the rim is jaw-dropping. The DePaul commit’s finishing ability is elite, and with either hand can control his body and spin the ball off the backboard with the softest touch. An efficient three-level scorer is shooting 60% from the field and 44% from three; Murphy is an automatic 20-point scorer and a gifted passer. He is always looking to push the tempo and frequently catches the defense off guard with his impressive outlet and lead passes on the break. He threads the needle beautifully to the bigs rim running and giving them easy opportunities at the basket. Murphy is a point guard you want to play with. His unselfish nature and ability to maximize the ceiling of the rest of the players on the floor is an intangible that many players do not possess. That quality will become extremely valuable when he plays at the next level.