Run n’ Slam: Landon’s Standout 2023 Guards
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After a long weekend of top-level talent at the Run n’ Slam in Fort Wayne, here are the top 2023 guards that stood out to me throughout a great weekend of hoops that did not disappoint. Luke Almodovar Luke…
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Continue ReadingAfter a long weekend of top-level talent at the Run n’ Slam in Fort Wayne, here are the top 2023 guards that stood out to me throughout a great weekend of hoops that did not disappoint.
Luke Almodovar Luke Almodovar 6'2" | SG Noblesville | 2023 State IN – 6’2″ – Grand Park Premier UA Rise
Almodovar is a smaller guard who shot the lights out of the ball in this one. He hit three triples on three straight possessions in the second half to help GPP pull away late. I also do not know if he missed a single catch-and-shoot jumper in the game. On the inside, he had a couple of strong takes to the hole and was able to finish through contact with ease. Almodovar has been fairly quiet in the games that I have seen from him, but this was by far the best performance that I have seen from him.
Darrion Brooks Darrion Brooks 6'5" | SF New Haven | 2023 State IN – 6’5″ – Indy Heat Black
Brooks is a big, physical point guard who sets up his teammates incredibly well. Brooks, the younger brother of Kentucky recruit, Keion Brooks, is an extraordinary athlete. He is silky smooth with the ball in his hands, and he is very unselfish with the ball. He has great court vision and is always looking to set up his teammates. At 6’5, Brooks will be an asset to any team with his combination of size and court vision/passing ability. He is going to be a very heavily recruited player.
Drew Cook Drew Cook 6'0" | SG Northview | 2023 State IN – 6’3″ – Grassroots Indiana Blue
Cook is a bigger wing who can play anywhere from the 1 to the 3. He moves his feet very well on defense and locks down the opposing scorers. On the offensive end, he has a quick first step, and this allowed him to get to the hole or knock down a nice step-back jumper. Cook has improved over the last year, and he has a ton of potential in his game.
Jamie Hodges Jr – 5’10″ – Indy Heat Black
Hodges is an undersized guard who doesn’t let his size disadvantage have an impact on his game. He has silky smooth handles and a very quick crossover. He also has solid court vision and sets up his teammates really well. He can also score the ball well with his touch around the rim and a nice three-point shot. Overall, Hodges had one of the better games that I have seen from him.
Logan Imes Logan Imes 6'4" | PG Zionsville | 2023 State #202 Nation IN – 6’4″ – Indiana Elite
Imes is a bigger point guard who is incredibly smooth with the ball in his hands. He sees the floor well and is always looking to set up his teammates. He is also very athletic and has major hops that showed with his rebounding in this game. On the scoring side of things, he didn’t show much, but he has the ability to score at every level. This was a game in which he did what was needed from him and he got his teammates involved very nicely.
Evan Ipsaro – 5’10″ – Indiana Elite
Ipsaro is a very small guard who is consistently making plays for others. He is extremely quick with the ball in his hands, and he is smart and doesn’t force things as well. His passing ability made him one of the better passers that I saw during the weekend. Ipsaro will need to improve his scoring ability as he is very much a pass-first player at this point, but he has a lot of potential.
Eli Meyer Eli Meyer 6'4" | SF Seymour | 2023 State IN – 6’4″ – Marlin Elite
Meyer is a bigger wing who can really score from all areas of the court. He has an outstanding stroke from the outside. He can also take it strong to the rim and finish with either hand inside. He has great touch around the rim. I hope to see Meyer play more to get a better read on him, but his scoring ability really helped Marlin Elite this past weekend.
D.J. Moss D.J. Moss 6'4" | SF Gary 21st Century | 2023 State IN – 6’4″ – 94 Feet Elite
Moss is a bigger wing who has all of the talent in the world, but he didn’t really show it on Saturday. It almost seemed to me like he was just waiting around for something to happen all game. He is a lefty shooter who has a great stroke from the outside, and he had a couple of strong takes to the hole, but he was fairly quiet for the majority of the game. NAIA coaches should definitely have their eye on Moss as he is a player that can excel if he puts it all together.
Braeden Shrewsberry – 6’2″ – Indiana Elite
Shrewsberry is a smaller guard who is an absolute playmaker. He has a quick first step that allows him to beat defenders, and he is very smooth around the rim, finishing around bigger defenders. He was also lights out from three in this one as well. With his father, Micah Shrewsberry, taking the Penn State coaching position, Braeden is transferring to Pennsylvania, but he is easily a top 10 player in Indiana for a reason. He will have a lot of high-major attention in the coming years.
Kamari Slaughter Kamari Slaughter 6'2" | SG Cathedral | 2023 State IN – 6’4″ – 94 Feet Elite
Slaughter is a bigger wing with a ton of experience. He is very athletic, and this shows in nearly every single part of his game. On the defensive end of the floor, he moves his feet very well and keeps his opponent in front, and he also always attacks the glass with authority. He is a physical player who isn’t ever afraid to fight through contact, but this can lead to him getting too far downhill and trapping himself under the rim. Additionally, he knocked down a couple of shots from the outside in this one. He has the raw talent, so if he can just polish it up, he has a ton of potential in his game. He is a player for low-major Division 1 coaches to keep an eye on for sure.