Rankings Review: 2022 Point Guards

The Point Guard group in 2022 is starting to round into form, though there are several girls who are still wait-and-see kids...meaning they are still growing into their bodies and figuring it all out, but they seem to improve each time I see them. The group as a whole actually looks much stronger today than it did six months ago, and while no one is currently ranked higher thank 6th on our list, there is certainly a nice mixture of talented and skillful girls throughout the class. Below is a look at the Top-12 Point Guard prospects in Indiana's Class of 2022, with additional comments to follow.   <table class="tablepress" cellspacing="10" cellpadding="10"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Overall </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Prospect </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Ht. </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Pos. </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> High School </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 2019 Grassroots Team </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 6 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Kynidi Striverson </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-7 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> PG </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Silver Creek </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> All-Ohio Lavender EYBL 16U </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 9 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Olivia Smith </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-3 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> PG </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> FW South Side </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Always 100 Elite 16U </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 11 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Tanyuel Welch </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-7 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> PG </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Indy North Central </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Nike Gym Rats Gold 16U </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 18 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Teresa Maggio </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-4 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> PG </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> McCutcheon </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Nike Gym Rats Gold 16U </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 21 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Ali Saunders </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-8 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> PG </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> North Harrison </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Indiana Flight UAA </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 29 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Ryan Viele </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-8 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top">G</td> <td class="td1" valign="top">Hamilton Southeastern</td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Indy Magic-Andrus 17U </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 30 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Hadley Lytton </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-5 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> PG </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Heritage Hills </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Indiana Elite S.W.I.S.H. </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 34 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> J'Asia Scott </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-7 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> PG </td> <td class="td1" valign="top">FW Northrop</td> <td class="td1" valign="top">Always 100 Swish 16U</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 35 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Gracie Shorter </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-4 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> G </td> <td class="td1" valign="top">Sullivan</td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 38 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Delainey Shorter </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-6 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> PG </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Sullivan </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 45 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Lara Valiente </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-7 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> G </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Carmel </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 47 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Kyrisha Hay-Swope </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> 5-6 </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> G </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Castle </td> <td class="td1" valign="top"> Nike Gym Rats Maroon </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Kynidi Striverson moved into the #1 Point Guard spot when she literally moved into the state back at the beginning of the Summer. After seeing her a couple of times in July with her All-Ohio team, there is no questioning she has the talent and skill to maintain a firm grasp on that spot for the foreseeable future. She is a wiry strong, quick/fast, and athletic kid who can really play either guard spot if necessary. She has a good motor, a natural feel for the game, and she is a willing and capable defender, especially in full-court situations. She could probably stand to shoot it just a little better, but I think that will continue to develop over time. She should definitely help make the Silver Creek offense even more potent this year. Look for Indianapolis North Central Point Guard Tanyuel Welch to have a big jump from Year-1 to Year-2, and that's saying a lot considering she was a key Varsity contributor as a Freshman. She is a little taller and stronger than she was a year ago, but now she's not going to have to compete for minutes with graduates Rikki Harris and Savaya Brockington. Tanyuel should have the opportunity to be THE Point Guard for the Panthers. She is still thin, but she's quick/fast, extremely long, and she can be a terror defensively. She also has a good feel for the game and finds open teammates consistently. One player I have mentioned in the past but haven't talked a lot about is J'Asia Scott of Fort Wayne's Northrop High School. I finally had the opportunity to watch J'Asia at length in July, and she is a really nice, steady, athletic lead guard. She has a fairly strong build for her age, she's a nice North/South driver, and she absorbs contact very well and can finish around the basket. She has good ball skill, she can find teammates, but her ability to score it at all levels makes her a tough matchup for opposing defenses. The last Point Guard I wanted to touch on here is still an unknown to me, to be honest. Lara Valiente and her sister Fatima (2020) moved into Carmel from Spain at the beginning of the school year. Based on a quick email exchange with Carmel's Coach, and a couple of conversations with college coaches who have been to their open gyms, Lara has the chance to be a really nice Point Guard/Combo Guard for them over the next three seasons. She has some length, wiry strength, and good all-around athleticism. I will be anxious to see her early this season.   Feature image of Kynidi Striverson of Silver Creek High School. Image courtesy of wlna-webservice.gannettdigital.com.