Diamond In The Rough: Guards
Nik Elame, Bella Vista Prep
The 6-foot-3 guard has increased his stock rapidly during a breakout junior season under head coach Kyle Weaver. A primary tool for Elame is his prodigious vertical, an aspect which enables him to turn in explosive in-traffic finishes and convert many above the rim plays.
While Elame is known for his thunderous dunking, he’s evolved into an all-around scorer and unbridled energy source.
Elame’s mid-range game, the component of his game he initially lacked, has been fluid. UTEP has recently offered the Class of 2019 guard, who also holds offers from Fresno State and UC-Santa Barbara.
Antavion Collum, Tennessee Prep Academy
At 6-foot-8, Collum is a big and versatile guard/forward with the advanced skill-set to become a matchup nightmare. Collum is crafty inside, with an adeptness at finishing. With an innate facilitating aptitude and consistency on the glass (an aspect resulting in numerous double doubles and a few triple doubles this season), Collum is multi-layered. He’s got the body of a wide receiver and can guard from the 1-4.
The Class of 2019 prospect’s rapid rise this season has offers from Illinois, Pittsburgh, Western Kentucky, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Florida, and a handful of others.
Larry Moreno, Brooklyn Law and Tech
The 6-foot guard has been stoked with confidence since he was a pint-sized freshman thrown into meaningful minutes. Now a 2,000+ point scorer, Moreno is the face of the program and an embodiment of the New York City guard’s toughness and mental moxie.
Headed to St. Francis (N.Y.) of the Northeast Conference, Moreno put on a complete and utter clinic with a 35-point performance during an 83-57 trouncing of Roosevelt Educational Campus in the PSAL-A championship. On a mixed back of 3-pointers, hard slashes, and crafty finishes, Moreno proved why he’s regarded as one of New York’s deadliest scorers. Instrumental in pushing Moreno’s development has been Law and Tech coaches Michael Levy and Kenny Pretlow, who have turned the once obscure program into a local power with a demanding 12-month schedule.
Tyrone Nesby Jr, Scotland Campus Sports
The son of former UNLV star Tyrone Nesby, Nesby Jr. brings deadeye perimeter shooting and high level athleticism. The Reading, Pa. native is a full throttle competitor who gets after it on the glass. He adds on-ball defensive energy and an overall feel for the game. The 6-foot-6 Class of 2018 prospect is weighing numerous Division-I avenues.
Remy Robert, Believe Prep Academy
The 6-foot-2 guard reaped the rewards of an additional year to develop on the prep circuit. A catch-and-stick threat who can get hot in a hurry, Robert has the potential to be a 3-point specialist at the ensuing level. He’s increased his strength, vertical leaping, and passing while playing on The Grind Session in 2017-18.
Ty Patterson, Believe Prep Academy
The 6-foot-5 guard has a scoring engine within him. He showed consistent 3-point shooting during Swanny’s Roundball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. back in the fall. Patterson has a number of unique tools in his arsenal, including a floater. He’s expanding as a hard attacking, off the dribble threat.
Rob Perry, Oak Ridge
The 6-foot-3 guard may be the lesser acclaimed recruit in a lineup featuring LSU-bound Emmitt Williams and Texas A & M commit Antwann Jones, but he’s also the most clutch. A quick-strike 3-point assassin, Perry scored 32 points on a scintillating 11-for-15 clip in propelling Oak Ridge to a 71-60 win over Wellington in the 9A state title. Perry had been a steady supplementary scoring piece throughout the season with his perimeter game.
With Williams receiving back to back technical fouls and Jones saddled with foul trouble, it was the perfect storm for Perry to seize the leadership reins. He spearheaded Oak Ridge’s 3-point shooting onslaught, connecting on 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Perry has generated headlines as a rather under the radar recruit, a guy who can be a program changer if he lands at the right spot.
Gabriel Francisco, Miami High
The 6-foot-4 guard is tactical in reading a defense and finding opportunities where there are holes. This enabled him to go from an advanced catch-and-stick threat to an all around scorer, with dribble penetration and floaters and a knack for scoring at all levels.
One component of Francisco’s game that garnered notice throughout this season was his defensive energy. He’s a pesky, quick-swiping defender who creates all types of disruption on a consistent basis. The Class of 2018 Francisco averaged 14 points and six boards on the season.
Jaden Campbell, The Rock School (pictured)
The bouncy 6-foot-5 Class of 2019 guard is a natural scorer with a knack for scoring on the drive. He’s got scoring aptitude on all three levels. On a guard-laden team like The Rock, Campbell at times had to play inside as an undersized forward. He was able to handle the task, getting into the paint and playing a bit bigger than he appears on the stat sheet. Campbell formed a radiant triumvirate with supremely skilled 6-foot point guard Bryan Greenlee and 6-foot-3 guard Antrell Charlton.