BearcatLair.com - Ranking the UC recruits: PG

January 19, 2011

Andrew Force
BearcatReport.com Publisher

The next fleet of Bearcat guards is out there, competing in high school right now, many of them yet to commit. In all likelihood UC will get commitments from the following talent pool.

Class of 2011
Jeremiah Davis (UC commit)
Ge-Lawn Guyn (UC commit)
Jermaine Sanders (UC commit)

Class of 2012
Willie Moore
Geovonie McKnight
Tamron Manning
Gary Harris (UC offer)
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (UC offer)
Jaylen Beckham
R.J. Hunter (UC offer)

Class of 2013
Austin Grimes
Jaren Sina (UC offer)
Terrence Samuel
Jaaron Simmons

This week BearcatReport.com ranks the Top Three of the aforementioned guards in the following category.

Command of Offense

(1) Jaaron Simmons--Kettering Alter
(2) Jaren Sina--Gill St. Bernard's Boys (NJ)
(3) Ge-Lawn Guyn--South Kent Prep (CT)

Sophomore Jaaron Simmons has a remarkable command of the Kettering Alter (OH) offense. He sees passing angle well and does not force the issue often.

Many star high school basketball players have trouble pulling back on the reigns. Simmons and the third best, Ge-Lawn Guyn do not suffer from this affliction.

Alter has many scrappy players and many of them can score within the flow of the offense. The Knights are best when Simmons swings the ball and allows his teammates to contribute. This rapid, unselfish ball movement also opens up lanes to the basket that benefit Simmons personally.

"This year so far we have been playing pretty well, as a team," said Simmons. "I have been playing pretty well individually. We just have to keep working hard in practice so we can get to where we want to be."

Saturday afternoon Alter jumped up early on visiting Our Savior New American High School. While Alter looked more technically sound, OSNA featured a brand new immigrant with illustrious talent.

Only in the United States for three months Christopher Obekpa has already caught the eyes of college scouts.

He also lowered the gaze of the Alter Knights. They left their hometown court downtrodden and miffed by the 6'8" shotblocker Obekpa, who finished with four blocks.

"It helped us to use our body more when we get into the lane," said Simmons.

Simmons slashes and finishes the best of all Knights. When OSNA collapsed on him Simmons absorbed a lot of punishment.

He spent the whole second quarter hitting the floor, his body the mallet creating a constant drum beat on the hard wood.

In the second half of his high school career Simmons with garner more defensive respect and probably be forced to choose his moments more wisely. Imagining how far his basketball brain can go is frightening.

Knowing when and where to attack the halfcourt defense is a valuable yet elusive skill for teenage phenoms. Simmons is way ahead of the curve.

Jaren Sina plays at a different tempo than every guard on this list except speedy Jaylen Beckham. His basketball mind operates like a newly oiled engine, pistons firing. As clich?s it sounds, suiting up sophomore Sina is like having a coach on the floor. Both Sina and R.J. Hunter(UC offer) were raised by basketball coaches.

While Sina's coaches him, Hunter's father leads IUPUI to war.

Guyn's greatest asset is his willingness to defer. AAU basketball with six D1 players and now prep school with three future D1 starters has given Guyn equal parts confidence and humility. When he gets to UC his mind, work ethic, and attitude are sure to make his transition the most smooth of the 2011 class.

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