Bondick-CCH

Hall-Beechwood

Derek Bryan will be a senior. He started last year switching on and off at the 1 and 2 guard, but will run the point guard spot this year.. He creates very well especially off the dribble and has an excellent mid-range, his size is a factor at 5'8 and also is a streaky shooter. If he finds his shot he will be very versitile...

 

Was he a three point shooter? Or is he more of a slasher?

Several kids being listed by are usually based on people's familiarity with their name and their playing time from last season, especially for kids who didn't get a lot of varsity exposure last year. Others are listed based on personal bias. I think it is hard to pick the top 10 objectively without looking at stats. It seems like many rankers add a name or two of their own and copy parts of other people's lists because they haven't seen enough of all the guards in NKY play or haven't seen them play enough. I doubt that many of us are familiar enough with all of the guards in NKY to be able to accurately pick all of the top 10.

 

IMHO, the better guards are often on the better teams, with an exception here or there. Most of the better teams have great guard play. There will definitely be some surprises and unheralded names that will rise to the cream of the crop as the year goes on. Stats (A/T ratio, Assists per game, shooting and FT percentages, scoring averages, rebounds, steals, opposing guard scoring average, wins, etc.) will objectively bear out who the better guards are.

 

For the kids who played last year, who are the best returning guards statistically? Best A/T ratio? Best scoring average? Best overall shooting percentage? Best 3 pt shooting percentage? Most assists per game? Most steals per game? Best FT percentage?

 

My list, like most others are a dime a dozen without facts.

 

That being said, in no particular order, below are names I think deserve mention. Are they all top 10? Who knows? It's just an opinion unless it's backed by statistics. I would think that consensus might identify the top 3 guards pretty accurately. Beyond that, I think it is a crap shoot and depends on who is reading this board and responding, many of which have personal ties to one or more of the players they list.

 

A couple of these are probably 3s more than 2s:

 

Henderson (Holmes) (athletic, strong, explosive, good defender) (POY candidate)

Simpson (Highlands) (athletic, scorer, strong) (POY candidate)

Giwa (HC) (quick, good slasher)

Sorrell (HC) (good shooter, tough matchup for a guard because of his length)

Shover (CC) (very smart, unselfish player who does what is needed, can also knock down big shots when needed)

Bondick (CC) (not familiar with his game, depending on other's lists here...)

Popp (BC) (up and coming sophomore, good shooter/scorer/defender)

Gabbard (BC) (sophomore who saw varsity time last year, good ball handler/passer)

Flannery (BC) (up and coming sophomore, very good 3-pt. shooter)

I think Popp and Gabbard well play this year for Boone, but I think Flannery is year away!

Let's remember Rule #5 and Rule #13

5. No divulging or attempting to determine any member's true identity. That includes dropping hints about a user's identity or asking a member who he or she is in a public forum.

 

13. Within reason, you must use correct capitalization, punctuation, and grammar when posting on the forums.

He is definitly more of a slasher and creator, but at times his shot is there, and then at times it is not..

Well said by wildcatfan :thumb: , and that is also a good way to rank the top guards. When you use that rating system you can figure out the best guards and nothing can really be said because it's based on facts...

Isn't McFarland from Boone basicaly a guard. I believe he brought the ball up the floor most of the time last year. I would think of him as 2 or at the most 3. Kind of like a point foward.

Also watch out for Cameron Speed. This kid is a player. He will be a junior at St. Henry this year and has improved a lot. My guess he will be the starting PG this season and will bloom into a very good player.

Keep an eye on Stephen Kowolonek from Highlands. He has all the skills and looks to have grown this summer (6'1 ?) Only a Sophomore, but will be a key player this year for the Birds. Unlike other "star" guards...he WILL play D!!

Isn't McFarland from Boone basicaly a guard. I believe he brought the ball up the floor most of the time last year. I would think of him as 2 or at the most 3. Kind of like a point foward.

 

I think he will be more of a 4 this year.

I think Popp and Gabbard well play this year for Boone, but I think Flannery is year away!

I have to wonder if you've seen Flannery play in the past few months. He's about 6'2" and starting to muscle up nicely. There are few shooting guards in the state who can compare with his accuracy. I've watched this kid develop over the past five years, and IMO he has a very bright future. As for his present, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Flannery earning a starting position at Boone this season. :thumb: