2022 Guards to Watch This Season
This is my list of 2022 guards from across the state who I believe have a real chance to make a real difference for their teams. Expect them to begin to rise in ranks and start getting some attention from…
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Continue ReadingThis is my list of 2022 guards from across the state who I believe have a real chance to make a real difference for their teams. Expect them to begin to rise in ranks and start getting some attention from the next level! Be on the lookout for my other articles on the 2022, 2023 and 2024 athletes!
Noel Kabanga Noel Kabanga 6'3" | SF Euless Trinity | 2022 State TX 2022 Guard 6’3 Euless Trinity High School
Noel is an impressive athlete; he is built like a linebacker he is still agile enough to get around defenders and avoid opponents at the rim and in the paint. He is great at using his strength to finish in the paint over undersized guards and wings. I was blown away by how tight his handle was, and his end-to-end speed with a live dribble. He showed an ability to knock down shots from around the arc and space the floor.
Marsalis Brandon Marsalis Brandon 6'0" Rockville | 2022 TX 2022 Guard 6’0 Rockville High School
Marsalis is an elite combo guard who knows how to move without the basketball. He always seems to be open by finding weak spots in the defense whether it was cutting behind the defender’s backs or running his man into a back screen and freeing himself for an open look. He is great at getting to his one to two dribble pull-up. He even possesses a soft floater in the lane he can get to and get over bigger players. He is great at drawing attention with and without the ball and creates a plethora of looks for his teammates this way. I would like to see him work on his ability to speed up the release of his jumper and finishing underneath the rim.
LaTavien Denson 2022 Guard Fort Bend Marshall High School
LaTavien is a true point guard with real vision and ability to set up his teammates for easy looks. His ball handling and ability to beat his even elite defenders off the dribble was very impressive. He is great at driving and dishing and finishes very well for his size. He does not mind going up with bigger defenders, and even finished a few layups while drew hard fouls. He plays the game with a true intensity and is relentless and scrappy on both sides of the floor.
Nicholas Shogbonyo Nicholas Shogbonyo 6'0" | CG Summit | 2022 TX 2022 Guard 6’0 Summit High School
Nicholas was a standout point guard; I was very impressed with his all-around game. He is a patient and skilled finisher in the paint. He was great at getting to the rim after beating defenders off the dribble. He has a reliable handle and a solid pull up in the midrange. He is good and quick at getting to his spots all around the floor. On defense he is a great help defender, who has a knack for getting his hands in and tying up ball handlers.
Xavier Owens Xavier Owens 6'5" | SF Grace Christian Academy | 2022 State TX 2022 Guard 6’5 Klein Cain High School
Xavier is an elite guard with all the tools to become extremely deadly at the next level. He has an impressive frame paired with long arms and fluid mobility. He is agile with a live dribble and can split defenders and make crazy passes out to his shooters when the defense collapses. He is an elite scorer from all three levels already, and made defenders look silly by getting to his shot off the dribble. He is also a deadly shooter off the catch and can space the floor if paired with a ball dominant point guard. He is a freak athlete as well, he has an impressive vertical and threw down some impressive dunks while at the showcase. His ability to finish against high level paint defenders really stood out, he was able to adjust his shot angle and routinely complete tough plays around the rim.