Gurteg Dhanoa (2029): An Absolute Scoring Machine

By Imran Brar

Gurteg Dhanoa (2029/30) is a 6'4 combo guard, and "an absolute scoring machine" is the only way to describe him accurately. He can confidently create his shot from 3, in the midrange, and has the soft touch and size to create going downhill.

I’ve been following Dhanoa closely in his last club season with BC HOOPS, based in Surrey, BC. Although only going into the 10th grade, Dhanoa has played up his whole life, always either one or two years. I coached him while he was playing against Grade 11/12 competition this last summer. Although young, Dhanoa has definitely left his mark on where he stands as not just a top player in his class, but in BC in general.

Dhanoa’s first look is always to create separation for his shot. Primarily operating off the dribble, he uses a variety of bumps and sidesteps to create space for his shot. His ability to get into his pocket quickly and from any pickup, paired with his size and foot speed, is truly what makes him a threat to any defense. He pairs that with a handle that can break down his defender with only a few dribbles, getting downhill and creating through contact to get into his midrange around the elbows and the nail. He’s particularly comfortable creating from the middle, able to use a variety of footwork paired with bumps to create fades and short jumpers.

Being a threat to shoot opens up a ton of other scoring options for Dhanoa. Using his size and quickness, he uses tight angles to body past the defense for easy looks at the rim. He is most comfortable getting to short runners over top of the defenders' reach, using a nice soft touch for the finish. Dhanoa’s touch around the glass is still developing; his next step will be to learn how to extend away from the defense and use the glass to finish the layup.

Dhanoa has made solid improvement in his passing game. Operating heavily off ball screens, he moves with pace, keeping his head on a swivel to make quick reads against the defense. Still a score-first guard, his passing reads out of a ball screen still need to be improved on, as he is prone to settle for quick jumpers early on. There have been times where he does slow down and see the whole floor, able to assess the defensive coverage being played on him and pick it apart piece by piece.

Defensively, Dhanoa is disciplined and gritty. While still having trouble dealing with quicker guards, his defense has definitely been an area of improvement. Willing to dive for loose balls, clean up rebounds off the glass, and pick up the opposing team's best player. Able to turn hard defense to quick offense, he’s at his best when he’s pushing in transition, knocking down open looks behind the arc. Dhanoa is a game changer in this aspect, able to apply pressure as a defensive threat and an offensive weapon. He’ll look to improve on learning how to move with quicker guards and get through ball screens.

The pure skill and feel in Dhanoa's game are second to none. The next step for his development is his defense and coming off ball screens and being able to survey the floor and become an elite passer. His club campaign in the summer has set himself as a top player in the BC food chain. Going into his Grade 10 year at Fleetwood Park Secondary (BC), he’ll be sure to leave his mark as he and his team push for a provincial championship.