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Thursday, January 11, 2007
Where have the point guards gone?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is the traditional point guard becoming a thing of the past? Where are the Bobby Hurley’s of today?
It seems everyone wants to be a 6-7 slasher. Maybe it’s a strategic move to get drafted by the Hawks. Or maybe the game has changed so much over the last decade that the point guard is not a necessity anymore.
“You’re always going need that type of point guard that can orchestrate your offense,” said Central Gwinnett coach David Allen, who points to Peachtree Ridge’s Kevin Anderson as a prime example.
Fundamentally sound and a good decision maker, Anderson is perfect for a Lions’ team with multiple scoring options. But he’s one of the very few traditional point guards in Gwinnett.
Meadowcreek’s Chris Allen has performed well since moving over from shooting guard to the point. But when he heads to Michigan State next year, I’d be surprised if he wasn’t back at the two guard.
The move away from the traditional point guard seemed to begin with the Bulls of the 90s, when Scottie Pippen put the point-forward on the map. The trend has trickled all the way down to the high school level.
At 6-7, Central’s Richard Howell seems more comfortable on the perimeter, although he’s the Knights’ tallest player. His versatility produces severe match-up problems for opposing defenses. But for as few of point guards as there are in the county, there are even less traditional big men. So wouldn’t it make sense to keep Howell around the basket? Not necessarily, says Allen.
“To a degree, some kids like Richard have the skills to do both,” he said. “It just depends on who’s guarding him. If he’s got a size advantage, we’ll move him down low. If they put a bigger guy on him, we’ll move hit outside to use his quickness.”
In college, Howell will certainly play on the perimeter as a small forward. So improving his ball-handling and outside shot seems to be important during his high school career. But for now, is it the best move for the team?
“College coaches and recruiters are smart enough to recognize a player’s abilities whether they’re playing inside or out,” said Allen. “My job is to put him in the best position to help us win games.”
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