Given the way basketball has trended over the last decade, it's no secret that guard play now largely dictates on-court success at most levels. Whether it be a traditional 'point guard' or more of a modernized floor general, the ball-handler position has more power and responsibility than ever before. The ideology of stockpiling size'is'important, especially for younger age groups, but it's not necessarily a foolproof method for winning games. Take the structure of Team CP3 (16s) for example, their backcourt trio of Robert Dillingham, Aden Holloway, and Jaylen Curry might stand alone as the top guard grouping in the country. Let's see why'

Starting with the census five-star across all major media outlets, there's really no explanation required for Robert Dillingham's lofty national reputation. That being said, his extremely crafty creation skills and ability to score from anywhere on the court is what makes him such a nightmare for opponents. Folks genuinely love his understanding of how to consistently generate clean looks out of little to nothing, and rightfully so, as there's never a lack of excitement when he's in the building. Dillingham can break down opposing guards with relative ease, utilizing a combination of IQ, quickness, and sheer savvy to pick his spots or set up others on basically every possession. He mixes it up offensively, forces turnovers at a steady rate, and displays excellent vision when creating for his teammates. Few players in the country can match the unique abilities Dillingham possesses with the ball in his hands, which allows him to be a leader for this group. 

As much as the masses seem to acknowledge the talent across North Carolina, the general lack of respect towards Aden Holloway is quite perplexing. Sure, he's ranked 50th by 247Sports, but not yet recognized by Rivals or ESPN. It's interesting to try and properly deduce when this transition occurred where Holloway stopped being the guy within the Class of 2023. It wasn't that long ago when everyone regarded a middle-school 'Biz' as the most exciting show on the hardwood. He's done nothing to lose traction in the national spotlight, so the shift in attention is definitely unusual. That is in no way a knock to his backcourt mate (Dillingham), but rather a question for the masses. Holloway's game is still incredibly smooth and polished with the high IQ, calm demeanor, and poised mentality to annihilate opponents without breaking much of a sweat. Like his counterparts, Holloway possesses an exceptional balance between playmaking and three-level scoring. Though his teammates were both absolutely deserving, Holloway should've received more attention from the Team USA committee. His showing at the CP3 Memorial Day Classic only further solidified this point. 

Like the previous duo, folks should already be very familiar with Jaylen Curry and everything he brings to the table. He's a wiry, quick-twitch guard with the ability to heat up quickly and destroy opponents with his all-around scoring prowess. Curry is an excellent open-floor athlete but also has clear usefulness in the half-court setting. He can reliably create clean looks for himself and others, and utilizes his crafty handle to navigate through traffic and effectively dissect the opposition. Curry is a quality finisher and shoots the ball well from beyond the arc, but is arguably at his best when accessing his lethal midrange pull-up jumper. He displays a sharp change-of-pace off the bounce and highlights an explosive first step when attacking the basket. Curry offers nice toughness, defensive instincts, and nonstop pressure in transition. Given his two high-major offers (Texas A&M and FSU), he's already made an impression amongst college coaches.