Matchup of 6-6 D1 Guards: Lewis & Yaklich

Illinois-Chicago freshman Griffin Yaklich and future William & Mary freshman Julian Lewis.

Here’s a look at some previously premium content from the 2020 season, when Ann Arbor Huron improved to 10-0 defeating Saline. Featured in this game were Saline’s Griffin Yaklich, now a college freshman playing at Illinois-Chicago, and Huron’s Julian Lewis, now a senior who has committed to William & Mary.

Julian Lewis  6-6  Jr  Ann Arbor Huron: CMU was his most recent offer, and it’s easy to see why they’re piling up as Lewis has plug-and-play potential for myriad mid-major systems. He’s one of the few high school kids who can match against Saline senior Griffin Yaklich and it just looks like two guards going at it. Lewis has a strong frame and moves like a mature, well-coached athlete, with the potential to pack on lots more good college weight. He can defend as a guard and make decisions with the ball like a guard. Can turn the corner with the dribble. Like the rest of Huron’s lineup, he’s selfless and will make the extra pass. Can take a defensive rebound and convert it to offensive himself quickly. While an erratic three-point shooter, he’s probably better than that if more consistently in rhythm but Lewis shares the ball and Huron has better perimeter shooting options. When he makes mistakes it’s usually execution — he’s doing the right thing, via coaching, maturity and instinct (the youngest of three brothers the older D2 players).

Griffin Yaklich  6-6  Sr  Saline: A top 10 available senior in Michigan. Just so valuable as a 6-6 guard who makes smart pick-and-roll decisions as both a passer and defender. He worked at it to get free, but even against a long and athletic team like Huron Yaklich was able to get into the lane and create. It’s easy to say you’re a 6-6 high school point guard when dribbling in the open court looking downhill over a sea of 6-footers, quite something else to be turning spin dribbles through traffic into drop-off times. or over-shoulder passes after drawing a double-team. When pushes up speed, maintains body control and decision making. Didn’t finish at a high rate against Huron, a couple misses too casual, a couple just rolls how it goes, gotta have those against a defenses not giving many chances.

Yaklich was a standout at the 2018 Bank Hoops All-State Camp.

Register here for the 2020 All-State Camp, October 11 in Mt  Pleasant.