Thanksgiving Week Standout Guard Play (Part 3)
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A lot of good interaction came out of Parts 1 and 2, so let’s see if we can keep it going. Here is part 3 of some standout guards that I saw during the tournaments I attended during Thanksgiving week.…
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Continue ReadingA lot of good interaction came out of Parts 1 and 2, so let’s see if we can keep it going. Here is part 3 of some standout guards that I saw during the tournaments I attended during Thanksgiving week.
CJ Munford (5’10/Combo Guard/2022)
School: Anniston HS
Instagram: cjmunford
Twitter: @CjMunford
Tournament: Spain Park Jag Classic
CJ is hands down the floor general on the court for his crew. He shares the backcourt with the prolific scorer Antonio Kite Antonio Kite 6'1" | NA lbs | PG Anniston | 2022 State #240 Nation AL , but CJ brings the coach on the court aspect to the team. He does not have to score to impact the game, even though he showed that he can put up points if called upon to do so.
He showed his ability to facilitate the offense and keep his team’s rhythm flowing throughout the game.
He creates off the bounce, sees the floor well, drops dimes, and is a true PG in every sense of the position. He is quick with the ball in his hands and has a ’killa’ crossover that helps him get to his spots on the floor or helps him get into lanes to create for himself or his teammates. He impacts the game on both ends and is a needed addition next to Kite, as Anniston looks to make it to the BJCC.
William Orkus William Orkus 6'3" | NA lbs | SF Vestavia Hills | 2022 State #NA Nation AL (6’3/Combo Guard/2022)
School: Vestavia Hills HS
Instagram: _.williamorkus14._
Twitter: @N/A
Tournament: Vestavia Hills Sneaky Pete’s Rebel Classic
William is one of the best c&s players I saw during the thanksgiving holiday tourneys. He has good length and has the potential to impact the game on both ends of the court.
With two high-level creators on his squad, Orkus is a gem sitting over in the corner waiting on that kick out to come his way.
I have watched Orkus’s game improve over the years, and he is shooting the ball with confidence early in the season and will be a huge piece of the plan for his squad if he can remain consistent and confident for the rest of the season. Orkus has the size to impact the game in more ways than the c&s, and if he can show that and get it on film, some coaches could see the potential that he can provide at the next level.
School: Moody HS
Instagram: masont_03
Twitter: @masontrimm
Tournament: Hanceville Thanksgiving Tournament
Mason is a player that many in the grassroots basketball community said was poised to have an excellent senior outing. This was my first time laying eyes on Mason, and he was impressive when it came to his physical resume. A 6’5 wing player with length and a physical build is the first thing that jumps out at you about Mason. Once the ball was tossed in the air and got to Mason, I began seeing what others were talking about.
He is a highly skilled guard, that plays well out of triple threat.
He is tough off the bounce, and when he gets into the paint, he does not shy away from contact. He gets to the rim, and he is good at finishing at the rim. The utilization of the shot fakes keeps defenders off balance and allows him to create space to work. His senior leadership and versatility on both ends of the court will be needed as Moody looks to get to the BJCC.
Isaac Blake Moody (6’0/Combo Guard/2023)
School: Vinemont HS
Instagram: xxikexx772
Twitter: @Isaacmoody11
Tournament: Hanceville Thanksgiving Tournament
Since we are in the state of AL, I might as well use the Crimson Tide vs Auburn game to reference Isaac. Like Bama, Isaac waited until the end of the game to put up numbers and show his energy. Like Bama, Isaac woke up in the 4th quarter and delivered a variety of scoring tools in Vinemont’s match-up against Falkville.
He showed range from behind the arc, and he showed a nice mid-range pull-up J.
He was active on the boards late and was creating for others off the bounce. Just as Bama left the entire state wondering what took them so long to wake up, Isaac left everyone at the tournament wondering what took him so long to wake up and bring his game. If Isaac can be consistent and bring that level of play for 32-minutes, Falkville automatically becomes a better team.
Grant Robert Stubbs (6’1/Shooting Guard/2023)
School: Tuscaloosa County
Instagram: grant_stubbs
Twitter: @GrantStubbs23
Tournament: Mountain Brook Spartan Turkey Jam
Grant and his squad had a tough match-up at the Spartan Turkey Jam as they took on host Mountain Brook. Well, one person had not lost to the logo on the jersey before the game began, and that was Grant. Grant came out with a solid 11pt first-half performance that kept his team in the game early. The 6’1 shooting guard flashed a lot of promise early but fell off in the second half, as the smothering defense kept Tuscaloosa County to only 16 second-half points. Despite running into a team that is clicking early in the season, Tuscaloosa County should have a lot of optimism with their squad, especially with having a scorer like Grant on the court.
He can create his own shot, is good with his c&s opportunities, and is tough off the dribble.
Make no mistake about it, he is the leading man for the squad, and I will venture to say that if you want to see how far Tuscaloosa County can go, look at the shoulders of Grant and see how far he can carry them.
Stay tuned…More is coming…