Landon Russ 5’11 155 2022 Bayside High School VA
In a deep 2022 guard class in the 757 and as true point guards are concerned, Landon Russ may well be the most college-ready floor general. He displays natural instincts and leadership skills are very cerebral and confident. He is vocal and he sets the tone on both ends of the floor not only with his leadership and productivity but with his energy and effort. Landon has a strong compact frame and combines strength with great quickness with the ball in his hands. He is strong enough to overpower many guards and knows how to initiate and use contact to his advantage both to get downhill to attack the basket but also to create separation for the jumper. He can be bullish separational or shifty separational whichever he needs to be in that matchup.
Landon is exceptionally quick and has a powerful and cat-quick first step with the ability to blow by many defenders. He changes speeds so well and so frequently and it’s impressive how he can play slow to fast and suddenly shift into another gear and burst through a seam. He can turn the corner on the best of defenders. He’s always probing the floor surveying the defense and does a fantastic job creating for teammates. He has exceptional vision, seems to know where everyone is at all times, and has the ability to deliver timely and pinpoint passes with either hand and at any time. One of the best facilitators I have seen all summer! He never turns the ball over, recognizes mismatches, has terrific game management skills and he will make you pay if you double him as he does a terrific job finding the open man. Landon just happens to be one of the better scorers in the area as well! He is a strong ball handler not only with his quickness and crafty handle but his decision-making. Landon uses low quick crossover combinations, behind the back and between the legs dribbles, inside outs…he has the entire inventory of breakdown dribble moves he can execute with great quickness and footwork. He can blow by you off a hesitation, change of pace, or simply from a standstill. He combines his quickness and strength with creativity and touch as a finisher and can finish with either hand around the rim.
Landon has one of the area’s best pull-up jumpers and he’s so efficient you expect it will go in every time! He can initiate contact to create separation or stop a drive abruptly and launch into the jumper exhibiting excellent elevation, textbook mechanics, and fluid and high release. He’s so valuable as a lead guard you need him in that role but Landon can play off the ball and is a versatile and skilled scorer as well. He can shoot off a variety of scenarios and has incredible consistency. Whether on spot-up opportunities, stepping in off the dribble, off screens, or dribble handoffs he demonstrates versatility and efficiency. His footwork is impeccable and his mechanics sound. He’s very quick with the ball in his hands and gets end to end in a hurry. Landon’s range extends beyond the three-point arc with good efficiency and he really does a nice job mixing in scoring and distributing but make no mistake he has the ability to carry his team for long stretches as a scorer when needed. He’s a playmaker and sets the tone on both ends of the floor.
Landon averages over 20ppg for his high school career while also averaging 6 assists and nearly 6 rebounds per game so he can impact the game in a number of ways. On the defensive end his exceptional lateral quickness, technique, and discipline combine with strength and a relentless motor to make him a lockdown on-ball defender. His anticipation skills, quickness, and cat-quick hands allow him to get steals and deflections at a very good rate. He is a ball-hawking defender, scrappy, opportunistic, and relentless. Landon is not only a highly skilled player but he is a physically imposing player. He benches 195 pounds and squats nearly 350 pounds and is an impressive physical presence as well. He’s also a high achiever in the classroom which is a credit to his tremendous work ethic and discipline. Landons advanced skill level, his humility, and work ethic can be largely credited to being the son of a coach, his high school coach, and Dad Martin Russ.
Coach Russ is a longtime high school coach in the 757 and is highly respected not only for his coaching but he has a history of developing college-level talent. Landon is among his most impressive and I expect he too will have an opportunity to play on the college level. He certainly has the tools both mentally, physically, and fundamentally and all the intangibles you look for in your floor general. He’s under the radar right now but don’t expect him to stay a secret much longer!