2025 Frosh/Soph #E75 - Best of the Guards pt. 1

Monday, September 15th, 2025

By far the largest group in terms of quantity that we saw in the Frosh/Soph Elite 75 showcases, there were a notable amount of guards with upside to really make a name for themselves moving forward in their high school careers. This group features some players who have already received reported scholarship offers before the event, with more that worth keeping an eye down the line.

Players from five of the six New England states, as well as New York, are represented in the first batch of guard recaps, speaking to the depth of talent rising up the ranks in the backcourt.

Without further ado, here are some names to know at the guard position, with a lot more to come throughout the week!

Derek Swartz, Portsmouth - One of the top names to know ahead of the event, the Portsmouth New Hampshire native came in and showed just why. Swartz plays at an advanced level for his age as a true sophomore, making great reads as both a strong scorer and a ball mover. He brings size to the back court at 6'5", has tremendous strength and pop to get up for contested dunks at the rim, and can rise up into shots from outside. His poise and ability to take over games at his young age have led to Division I offers already, with a ton of momentum heading into his sophomore season at Portsmouth.

Adriel Cantave, St. George's - Cantave is set for a big role in the St. George's backcourt this season following the graduation of three seniors. The 6'2" sophomore has stood out for a while now with the advanced handle and vision he brings to the floor as a lead guard. While being able to snap passes and get to his spots for pull-ups, his athleticism, particularly in the lane, is consistently improving. He was able to attack the rim on multiple occasions in his showing, finishing with force over larger defenders.

Carter Brathwaite, Cony - Brathwaite's long-awaited Elite 75 debut finally came to fruition at the North edition of the Frosh/Soph Elite 75 as the incoming Cony HS freshman made a resounding impact. A big guard with size, Brathwaite's strong command of the ball as both a scorer and creator for his teammates stood out. Other aspects of his game that caught our eye were how he crashed the boards well, pushed the pace in transition, and stopped on a dime to play off two in the paint and score the ball.

TJ Holt, Hamden Hall - An early entrant into the Frosh/Soph Elite 75 last September, the rising freshman continues to improve and show just how much potential he carries. Holt has a ton of range to his game as he can get right into shots and knock them down over contesting defenders coming his way. He does a great job of getting to the basket, playing both physically and tough, while not being afraid to take contact. Notable upside to track as he presumably plays a sizeable role for Hamden Hall this season.

Teddy ONeill, Swampscott - The rising sophomore established himself as a name to know this past summer in UA Rise play, and following his performance at Dana Barros, should no longer be a slept-on guard in the class of 2028. O'Neill is a skilled scorer who can really light it up. He plays with great pace, knowing when to change speeds to get past the defense, has a crafty bag of finishes off the glass, and can stop on a dime to knock down pull-ups. Keep an eye on his sophomore season in the MIAA this winter.

Luke O'Connell, Bedford - A part of a dynamic Bedford, New Hampshire team this past season, O'Connell showed the true impact he makes on the court without having to be an alpha. In his outing, the guard made a number of shots by getting to his spots, but also played with pace and made the right plays to get others the shots they desired. He will be an x-factor for Bedford this season as one of their top scoring options.

Corey Hadden, CATS - A rising freshman with a budding game, Hadden had a great night at the Elite 75 playing with a number of guys he is familiar with. The biggest takeaways we had from his outing is his ability to knock down threes in a variety of ways, the clean mechanics he brings to his shot, and the tenacious defense he plays on the ball.

Ephraim Luseko, Portland - Playing alongside some of his teammates that he has great chemistry with, Luseko shined in his outing. The incoming Portland HS freshman scored on both finishes off the bounce, rolling off screens, and making cuts without the ball. The energy and IQ he brings to the defensive end stood out to our scouts as well.

Evan Martinez, Belmont - A big guard entering his freshman year, Martinez has made some noise as another young player out of the Granite State to know. In his outing, we made note of his ability to rebound out of the backcourt, crashing the boards at will, while also running the floor in transition and finishing in the paint through contact.

Jordan Maxson, Pingree - With the keys to the Pingree offense this past season, the rising sophomore guard was able to score the ball from all over the floor. Maxson's slippery handle and smart ability to get around defenders, keeping them on his back, led to several baskets both in the mid-range and on drives. His quickness and scoring IQ will certainly lead to more buckets this winter for Pingree.

Jahmez Reaves, Gunnery - The Rochester native has made himself well-known out at Frederick Gunn for the motor he plays with. Reaves keeps the energy flowing throughout his time on the floor, especially on the defensive end, where he thrives as both a roamer and an on-ball defender. The growth of his offensive bag will be a major step in his development and the key to unlocking the next level of his game.

TJ Espinosa, Putnam - The son of one of New England's most winningest coaches, Espinosa plays with that same level of composure and command on the court. As a point guard, the Putnam product thrives off the dribble, beating players with his handle and rising right into shots. His shot from outside is one to beware of as he can really see them fall in bunches.

Khaelon Watkins, Cheverus - Playing through a shoulder injury, Watkins was still able to make himself known as one of the remarkable freshmen who walked into the gym. His athleticism in the lane has caught him looks for a while now, and it shined on putback attempts as he racked up points. He was able to take defenders to the cup off the dribble and stepped into mid-range shots as well. He looks to have a stellar freshman season at Cheverus this winter.

Alex Weaver, Windsor - One of the top players to know in the class of 2029, Weaver put on a strong season under Ken Smith last season as an eighth grader. The smaller guard plays above his size using his quickness to beat the defense and finishing consistently when on the move downhill. Being more efficient with his handle and attentive defensively will lead to even more buzz around his game.

Denim Bernal, Bridge Acad - The incoming freshman caught our eye with his play this past June at the ZG Finals, and once again stood out, this time in his Elite 75 debut. A southpaw guard, Bernal maneuvers around the floor very well using efficient dribbling of the basketball, and scores it at a good clip by finishing strong or knocking down pull-ups.

Kyle Delves, MSC - One of the top rising sophomores in New England, Delves will be the focal point of a quickly growing Mount St. Charles program this season once again. Delves is a tough matchup for opposing guards as he plays with a lot of speed and power. He can get right into jumpers, lose defenders off the dribble, and really get up for emphatic slams. His defensive energy is just another notable intangible in his arsenal.

Kamari Day, Charlestown - Day ran the show in his debut at the Elite 75, making several plays in different facets of the game. The quick, undersized guard makes up for it with his ability to pressure the ball and force a ton of turnovers on the defensive end. On offense, he directs traffic, making strong reads to get others involved both on the move and on the perimeter, making the extra pass and stepping into threes.

Jayden Gibson, Brooks - As part of a championship-winning team this past March, Gibson's overall confidence and skill level have taken steps forward since his last appearance in the event in 2024. A true power guard, Gibson's blend of strength and speed led to a ton of buckets throughout the event. Whether it was on drives to the cup or shaking off defenders from outside, Gibson was able to show off his upside as a focal point of the scoring for Brooks moving forward.

Jack Charchaflian, Nobles - Entering his first year with the Nobles program, Charchaflian is certainly a guard to keep an eye on in Class A. The Winchester native has a pure scoring ability to his game with a smooth outside shot that he knocks down at a high clip. He has a strong command of the ball with his handle and does a nice job of exposing the defense to score inside on drives.

John Ramos, Central - Rising sophomore John Ramos put on a clinic in his freshman season at RI's Central High School, carrying that momentum into the grassroots season. The 6'2" guard does a terrific job of bumping defenders in the lane to generate space and get his shots off efficiently. His quick, decisive handle is hard to guard as he shifts sides in an instant.

Justin McNamara, Thayer - The younger brother of growing 2027 name Michael, Justin is full of potential to monitor as he enters his freshman year. Since making his debut in the event last year, McNamara has grown about 2-3 inches and may have more to go. He's got a very impressive handle and change of pace to his game to get past defenders and score the ball through contact. His defensive anticipation is noteworthy as he does a great job of keeping the ball in front of him and timing blocked shot opportunities.

Leonel Despacho, South Portland - Another exciting young guard out of the state of Maine, Despacho had a great showing at the North edition of the Frosh/Soph Elite 75. The point guard directed traffic for his team all night, distributing the ball to his teammates for looks at buckets, getting his shots off when they came to him, and also guarding the ball on defense. He looks to play a solid role at SPHS as he gets going as a freshman this winter.

Caiden Manning, NMH - Manning has definitely been in the gym working on his game over the past year, as he played terrific in his outing at the South edition of the Elite 75. He saw the floor well, especially as a scorer, as he attacked the basket in straight-line drives and was able to convert through contests by the defense. His outside shooting is just another great part of his arsenal.

KJ Hurd, Nobles - Hurd's upside was on full display at the Frosh/Soph Elite 75 last year, and this year his leadership qualities have definitely leaped, along with his improving skill set. Leading the way for his showcase squad as a lead guard, his ability to direct traffic and make the extra pass was vital. He can impact the game, pushing the ball in transition with his speed and knocking down shots from outside, making him another young name to watch for Lambros' Nobles squad.

Dereon Medina, Concord - The Northern Mass native will be a big factor for the Concord Academy program moving forward. Medina plays above his size in different aspects of the game, attacking the rim for finishes, playing tough on-ball defense, and making smart passes with the ball.

Devin White, Wilbraham & Monson - Transferring west from Beaver Country Day, White had a great performance on the night. He did a great job of using his speed to penetrate the defense, getting into the body of defenders on drives, and simply put, getting buckets in his game sets.