Chicagoland Invitational Showcase: Standout Guards
This past Saturday was the season’s first installment of the Chicagoland Invitational Showcase, hosted by Fremd High School. The event displayed eleven games featuring several of Illinois’ top teams, in addition to top teams from Wisconsin (Beaver Dam) and Indiana…
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Continue ReadingThis past Saturday was the season’s first installment of the Chicagoland Invitational Showcase, hosted by Fremd High School. The event displayed eleven games featuring several of Illinois’ top teams, in addition to top teams from Wisconsin (Beaver Dam) and Indiana (Crown Point). With these great teams, came dozens of high-level and intriguing players. Here are a few of the top guards from the day:
A 6’0” Junior from Lake Forest, Finola Summerville was making plays all over the court on Saturday. She’s strong and lengthy which gives her the ability play at different spots on the floor and guard multiple positions on defense. She can shoot well from deep and rebound well. When there was a scramble for a loose ball or several hands fighting for a rebound, it was typically Summerville making the play.
Sophomore Alayna Soukup from Lake Zurich showed great leadership and poise in a tough game against Nazareth. The 5’9” Combo Guard handled the ball well and ran the offense terrifically against the zone. Her ability to shoot the ball consistently from deep makes her a very well-rounded player on the offensive end.
Nazareth standout Junior Justina Hernandez fills the void nicely left by the graduation of Annie Stritzel. The 5’10” SG displayed great athleticism on both ends of the floor, turning a handful of steals into transition buckets with her active hands and constant pressure in the zone. Hernandez also shot the ball well from deep and mid-range with a good-looking form.
Senior Point Guard Ashley Berry from Benet continues to be a steady piece for an extremely talented team. She’s a lock down defender on defense and brings the ball up with quickness and confidence against pressure. Berry has also turned into a reliable three-point shooter, knocking down a pair of threes in a Benet win.
Sophie Sullivan from Montini showed why she is one of the better Point Guards in the area in a big win over Maine West. The 5’8” Sophomore is a crafty ball handler who deals well with pressure and can make plays in the lane. Her three-point shooting continues to impress, but her scoring inside is making her an even more dynamic player.
Maine West Senior Dylan Van Fleet is such a fun player to watch. A 5’8” Point Guard, Van Fleet runs the offense well and does a tremendous job of getting her teammates involved. She pressures opposing ball handlers consistently and thrives in the transition game, finishing at a high rate at the hoop.
Stockton Point Guard Tiana Timpe is one that we will continue to hear more about as her career goes on. The 5’11” Senior is a natural scorer from everywhere, showing the ability to create her own shot off the dribble. Timpe is an outstanding shooter from three and, with her quickness and length, can get past defenders to get easy looks at the hoop.
Kayla Henning from Evanston does a nice job making sure this talented team flows well on offense. The 5’8” Senior is a strong ball handler who knows the game and sees the court well. She has a nice shot from outside, but her ability to make plays inside and in the transition games makes her dangerous.
The top player in the class of 2022 in Illinois, Brianna McDaniel just keeps getting better. The 5’11” Combo Guard attacks the lane quickly with strength and is extremely tough to stay in front of. Her decision making with the ball is Elite, and her jump shot and mid-range game only add to her dominant offensive skillset.