It was just a matter of time before he would begin to make a name for himself. McClintock High School's gifted and talented 6-foot-1 rising junior guard Josh Baker, one of the better guard prospects in Arizona's 2019 class, is coming off a big performance this weekend in the Arizona State Team Camp - a breakout performance for himself.
This weekend, Baker poured in several 30-point games for McClintock and raised many eyebrows with his terrific play. Baker showed off a superior shooting stroke that looks effortless against the camp's competition and proved that he is ready to take the next step in his play and college recruitment for the future.
Baker is the younger brother of former Tempe HS star guard and Pepperdine/San Jose State player Jordan Baker. Like his older brother, Josh has a knack for making shots and shooting the basketball with consistency and while being defended by opposing guards, able to make plays for himself and others off the dribble, although he enjoys scoring the basketball at a high rate, much like his older brother.
This version of the Baker family is another high-scoring guard prospect that is also able to make plays on his own with an advanced offensive skillset that allows him to score from anywhere on the floor, and also get to the basket and finish plays with a smooth approach to the game. Over time, like many others, he will need to add physical size and strength to his thin frame to maximize his potential as a player for the collegiate level. He will be a combo-guard prospect at the next level that will be able to play as both guard positions over time.
As a sophomore last season for a McClintock team that finished the season with a 14-13 overall record, Baker averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per/game. The numbers will improve tremendously next high school season, if his performance in the month of June has any relevance. He should become one of the state's top individual scorers next high school season.
I look forward to watching this young man continue to develop over the next two years, and look for him to continue to come into his own as a player - making a name for himself in the Baker family. Baker is a nice sleeper prospect that is worthy of serious division-I level college recruitment, with continued hard work and development.
