Grind SZN Guards under 6-Feet
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Height is usually a players best asset when playing basketball. Fans love to see the dunks and exciting plays from the players who can play above the rim. However, there are always ballers who are short in stature that blow…
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Continue ReadingHeight is usually a players best asset when playing basketball. Fans love to see the dunks and exciting plays from the players who can play above the rim. However, there are always ballers who are short in stature that blow fans away as well. During the Grind SZN Kickoff, a group of guards below six foot stood out amongst the trees. We will take a look at five of the better guards from the weekend who stood below the six foot mark.
Zander Baker Zander Baker 5'10" | PG Norman | 2023 State OK (5’10″ / RSE Basketball 2022 / 2023)
Baker was the floor general for the team that competed in the 17U portion of the tournament and was not out of place one bit. He is not swift but uses his handle to probe the defense effectively. Baker is a very good passer and found teammates spotting up for corner threes or on dives to the basket. He can let if fly from three himself and made several from 24 feet. Baker is a heady guard who controls the game with a strong sense of maturity. He is a definite asset at the one and makes teammates around him better.
Zack Kublanov (5’8″ / Arkansas Takeover / 2023)
This pint sized guard was one of the highlights of the weekend for Arkansas Takeover. Kublanov ran the show for his team and did his best to get his teammates involved. What he proved he could do better than a lot of guards throughout the weekend was shoot. Kublanov drained jumpers from distance with ease. Some were even from college distance. He does not have any wasted motion when he is moving on the floor or when he shoots. Kublanov is a solid guard who will only get better.
Braeden Clinton (5’10″ / Oklahoma Swift 2023 / 2024)
Clinton may be a freshman playing up with the ’23 team. However, he played like a grizzled veteran during game play at the Grind SZN. Clinton likes to drive to the rim and is very good at getting his shoulders ahead of the defender. He can finish with either hand at the rim which makes him dangerous driving with either hand. What I like most about Clinton is that he takes contact well and finishes at the rim. He keeps eyes on the rim when he finishes. The way he plays through contact is next level stuff.
Tre Richardson (5’10″ / Kansas 94×50 / 2023)
When a guard is quick at changing end-to-end with the ball, you know he is fast. Tre Richardson exemplified quickness during the Grind SZN Kickoff in the halfcourt as well as the full court. Richardson had a sequence where he grabbed a rebound and was a one man blur in transition beating some of his players down the floor. His first step from the wing is tough to guard and he gets to the rack easily. Richardson was not phased by any defender and had an easy time blowing by guys. He is a guard who is definitely hard to guard.
Keegan Bass Keegan Bass 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2023 OK (5’10″ / Rogue 2023 / 2023)
Rogue 2023 had some good play from their guards and their floor general was at the forefront. Keegan Bass Keegan Bass 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2023 OK definitely helped himself during weekend play. Fading to areas and making one’s self visible for spot ups is a lost art and Bass seems to be good at it. He can also rebound well for a smaller guard which helps on the defensive end. If Bass keeps getting those opportunities for open shots because of his movment, it should pay off for him, and Rogue 2023, this summer.
Players under six foot can flourish in today’s game because of how it is played behind the arc and in the open floor. These guards showed that they can handle themselves during game play in Oklahoma. Look for them to continue to improve as the spring grassroots season evolves into summer.
* Keegan Bass Keegan Bass 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2023 OK was edited to reflect the proper name from previous version of the article.