Updated 2019 Prospect Rankings: Top 5 Guards
Recently, we released our updated class of 2019 prospect rankings. It’s important to note that these rankings are not a simple measure of “who’s better right now” or “who will have a better college career.” Instead, the rankings were developed by taking into consideration a player’s production in their current situation as well as their potential ability to play college ball, with the latter holding slightly more weight. It is also important to note that these rankings aren’t the determining factor in a player’s success both at the high school level and the college level. With this being said, let’s take a look at the top 5 guards in this year’s 2019 prospect rankings:
Rocket Watts (#1 Guard, #2 Overall)
The Old Redford guard has a legitimate case to be the top player in the 2019 class, let alone just among guards. He is a top 100 player nationally and for good reason, as he has one of the most impressive offer sheets of anybody (Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, USC and Xavier, among others). The 6’2″ combo guard is known for his lethal shooting ability – it’s not uncommon to see him hit north of 4 threes in any given game. Watts has great handles that allow him to create off the dribble – there’s few, if any, defenders that can stay in front of him. He’s not just a scorer either – he’s proven he can facilitate at a high level if needed. When looking at Watts’ current abilities and production in combination with the offers he’s already earned, it’s easy to see why he’s the top guard in the 2019 class.
Harlond Beverly (#2 Guard, #3 Overall)
If you were to argue that Watts is not the top guard in the 2019 class, your replacement would be Beverly. The 6’5″ guard is the complete package – size, athleticism, skill and IQ. He can make a defense pay in a variety of ways, especially in a 1-on-1 situation. While all this high praise is certainly deserved, some people believe Beverly can get even better – he’s grown a couple inches since the summer and could possibly continue growing. He exploded onto the scene with a huge summer, earning a handful of high-major offers due to his excellent play. Beverly should continue to rake in the D1 offers over the next year.
Donavan Moore (#3 Guard, #5 Overall)
Moore will play his first season in Michigan this year after transferring from Illinois. The 6’3″ combo guard will look to come in and immediately lead as West Bloomfield’s top player. Moore is another guy who had a huge AAU spring/summer that translated into offers – he currently holds nearly double digit D1 offers. The lefty can do a bit of everything on the floor due to his combination of length, athleticism and skill. His biggest strength is attacking the rim off the dribble, but he’s certainly much more than that. When I was watching him this summer, he proved that he could shoot if the defense gave him too much space. Also, if they really tried to take away his shot, Moore proved he is an able facilitator as well. Unlike Watts or Beverly, Moore has yet to receive a high-major offer – that should change by this time next year.
Drew Lowder (#4 Guard, #7 Overall)
Lowder has long been one of the top players in the 2019 class. Perhaps the only reason he’s not higher on this list is due to his size – he stands only 6′. This, however, should not be mistaken with lack of production. The Ann Arbor Pioneer guard has steadily been one of the most complete players in the state, regardless of class, for the last year. Besides height, he’s the complete package – skill, athleticism, IQ and heart. One thing that stands out about Lowder is that he’s just as good on defense as he is on offense. In fact, there was a game I watched last year where Lowder forced not one, not two, not three but four 5-second calls pressuring opposing guards. His consistent production finally paid off as he received a trio of MAC offers from Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Toledo this summer/fall.
Chandler Turner (#5 Guard,#12 Overall)
The Detroit Renaissance guard makes this list due to his combination of current ability and potential. At 6’5″ Turner has the size to go with the length and athleticism. This allows him to be super versatile for his position. He’s not all potential, however, as he has a consistent jumper as well as a soft touch around the rim. Turner excels at hitting that mid-range pullup as well. He’s another guy who earned his first D1 offers due to his excellent play in the spring/summer. As he continues to develop, look for Turner’s stock to rise even further and more offers to come in.