New England Versatile Guards
The guard play this year has been nothing short of spectacular. Whether the players are lighting up the scoreboard with long-range bombs or playing shut down defense, these guards can impact winning in various ways. Here are some of the…
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Continue ReadingThe guard play this year has been nothing short of spectacular. Whether the players are lighting up the scoreboard with long-range bombs or playing shut down defense, these guards can impact winning in various ways. Here are some of the region’s most versatile players at the guard position.
Earl Tucker – Virginia Prep Sports Academy/Milton – 6’5’’ – SG/SF/PG – 2021
Tucker coming at you full speed in the open court is a defense’s worst nightmare. At 6’5’’ and built like an ox, Tucker uses his strength and ball-handling ability to power his way to the rim. He is a fearless competitor who has the confidence to beat any opponent one on one. Tucker’s ability to shoot from the perimeter efficiently keeps the defense off balance. When sizing up his defender, he has the opposition at his mercy. Tucker can explode to the rim, get into the mid-range and pull-up or create separation and hit a side step three-pointer. His body control on the drive is the most impressive part of his offensive game. Tucker’s ability to go full speed into the lane and then change speeds to maneuver around help-side defenders and still finish is a part of his game that will translate well at the next level. Knowing how to utilize his athleticism, Tucker can impact a game at three different positions. Whether he plays the 1, 2, or 3, Tucker can be an elite talent on both sides of the ball.
Tommy Mallinson – Wilmington High – 5’10’’ – PG/SG – 2022
Mallinson is a scoring machine who can explode for 20 points on any given night. One of the most confident three-point threats, the Wilmington combo guard needs little space to bury outside shots. He has shown the ability to hit threes coming off screens, but he has no problem unloading perimeter shots when he’s bringing the ball up the court. Mallinson has the ultimate green light, and if you give him the tiniest bit of daylight, he will make you pay. The junior sniper has supreme mental toughness. When facing adversity, Mallinson digs in more and takes his game up a level on both sides of the ball. Whether shooting the team back into the game if they fall behind or playing lockdown defense on the team’s best player, he accepts the challenge head-on. No stranger to high steal totals, Mallinson’s pesky nature on defense allows him to force the best handlers to turn the ball over. He can cut off the ball carrier’s penetration with quick, choppy defensive slides. Because he is so aggressive and an agitator, you can feel confident with him defending both guard positions.
Kevin Agyemang – Dracut High – 5’10 – SG/PG – 2021
Agyemang is one of the deadliest shooters in the Merrimack Valley Conference. With range that extends well beyond the three-point arc, the senior is not trigger shy when it comes to outside shooting. Agyemang sets the defender up perfectly before leading them into screens, and the 5’10 sniper does an excellent job running off picks hard, ready to shoot. Agyemang is such an exceptional shooter that his playmaking in transition gets put on the backburner. A tremendous break igniter, Agyemang can complete full-court passes to teammates streaking down the court as well as anyone. He also has great ball-handling skills to create offense in the halfcourt and weave in and out of the defense when leading the fastbreak. His wingspan makes him look a lot bigger than his listed height. It allows the coaching staff to get creative on defense because of the maximum effort Agyemang gives combined with his elite help-side defensive awareness.
Harrison Lien – Georgetown High – 6’3’’ – SG/PG/SF – 2022
Lien is a valuable all-around guard who, at 6’3’’, can impact the game in multiple ways. He has excellent chemistry with explosive scoring backcourt mate JT Murphy, and Lien is a great creator of offense for Murphy and the rest of Georgetown. The junior swingman can get into the teeth of the defense effortlessly. The lefty can penetrate the lane with either hand, and he does an excellent job locating shooters. Along with his playmaking, Lien can catch fire from three, proven by a 5 three-pointer game vs. Triton earlier this year. He is an intelligent player who understands spacing on offense and relocates well on the perimeter. Always moving on offense, Lien can impact his team’s offensive play without touching the ball. With his size combined with his accurate shooting, Lien can play the 1-3 positions, and in some instances, I see value in him being a stretch 4.
Trevor Mullin Trevor Mullin 6'0" | PG St. Sebastian's School (MA) | 2023 State NLG – St. Sebastian’s – 6’0’’ – PG/SG – 2023
Mullin is putting everyone on notice this year. The sophomore guard is a magician handling the basketball, possessing one of the quickest crossovers. On offense, he is a lethal weapon once he crosses midcourt. With so much confidence in his jump shot, he effortlessly walks into 25-foot jump shots. Mullin can catch the defense off guard with his rapid release, and his ability to bury three-pointers contested off the dribble at 6’0’’ is a fantastic skill. Mullin can control tempo better than a lot of point guards. He knows when to slow down the pace but is always willing to push the ball up the court and catch the defense napping. A reliable quarterback of the St. Sebastian offense, Mullin has a low turnover rate. You can see him getting more comfortable and confident, which is frightening for opposing teams. Considering how good his shooting is, you can also play Mullin off the ball. He can be effective running off screens and spotting up and dominating defenses from the wing.