The Grand Finale: Standout Guards (Part 2)

Texas is loaded with talent. There are so many well-run grassroots programs located in the state that it’s becoming difficult to keep track of them all, and the number continues to grow. I got to see some really talented teams and players go head to head this past weekend at The Grand Finale presented by Premier Basketball in Mansfield, Texas. Here are few guards who caught my eye: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136316" first="Autumn" last="Smith"] | 2021 | 5’8’’ Point Guard | Texas Elite 17U 3SSB | Arlington Martin HS</strong> - Smith operated at the two-spot for the most part last weekend. She is an extremely athletic three-and-d guard. She possesses exceptional speed and quickness. The soon-to-be senior flies up and down the court making winning plays for her team. <p class="athlete-name"><strong>Lily Chamberlain | 2021 | 5’5’’ Shooting Guard | Texas Platinum 17U Silver | Lindale HS</strong> - Chamberlain is excellent at scoring while playing off the ball. She doesn’t just stand around and wait for the ball to find her. She works to get open and makes timely cuts to the basket for gimme layups. She can knock down threes from the catch as well.</p> <strong>Macy Taber | 2021 | 5’8’’ Combo Guard | Journey 17U | Jarrell HS</strong> - Taber is very fundamentally sound. She can drill catch-and-shoot threes and is a crafty finisher near the hoop. She has the ability to get inside and drop it off to a big for easy assists too. Her ability to make plays in transition without rushing is terrific. She keeps things under control and rarely forces shots or passes. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135366" first="Cammie" last="McKinney"] | 2022 | 5’7’’ Point Guard | Texas Elite 17U 3SSB | Hebron HS</strong> - McKinney was probably the best ball handler I saw all weekend. She is electric when the ball is in her hands. She weaves through the defense with ease thanks to her tight and flashy handles. The Hebron floor general is outstanding at manipulating defenders with her dribble. She operates as a pass-first one-guard, but she can also get her own on the drive with acrobatic finishes. <strong>Kiana Bennett | 2022 | 5’7’’ Combo Guard | Texas Platinum 16U Silver | Shelbyville HS</strong> - Bennett spent most of her time at the point during The Grand Finale. She is great at beating defenders off the dribble and finishes strong through contact at the hoop. She also knocked down some corner threes while playing off the ball. In addition, the 2022 guard does a good job of controlling the tempo on offense and keeping her bigs involved. <strong>Amyia Bowie | 2022 | 5’6’’ Combo Guard | DFW Elite 16u EYBL | Red Oak HS</strong> - Bowie may be a bit on the smaller size, but she is quick as a bullet. She isn’t afraid to get inside and score among the trees in the post. She is a scrappy defender with active hands. Her high motor is evident at both ends, and her hustle is never in question. She is great at poking the ball free and is willing to dive for loose balls whenever there is an opportunity to do so. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134062" first="Payton" last="Hull"] | 2023 | 5’10’’ Point Guard | Texas LoneStar Black 16U 3SSB | Peaster HS</strong> - Hull has tremendous speed in the open court. She was consistently pulling away from defenders in transition during the tournament. It’s tough to get in front of her once she hits that second gear. I liked her best at the one where she can be a playmaker, but she makes smart cuts and understands how to space the floor when she is playing off the ball. Her shot-making ability is excellent as well. <strong>Joy Madison-Key | 2023 | 5’6’’ Point Guard | Sky Digg Elite 16U | South Grand Prairie HS</strong> - Madison-Key is a floor general with a balanced offensive game. She is an accurate distributor who can facilitate and keep her teammates involved. She is great at delivering no-look dishes on the money. She can score of the drive or by stopping and popping from mid-range too.