Girls Elite Guard Combine Oregon Standouts Part 1

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Forty plus of the Northwest’s top guards joined together at the Girls Elite Guard Combine last Sunday and there was a great showcase of skills of talent all across the board.  The girls warmed up, did individual grills and eventually broke out into drills that extended out to 2x2, 3x3, and 4x4 play.  Eventually, at the end of the event there was a 2x2 tournament in which they continued to play until there was a champion crowned.  It was none other than the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id="158481" first="Taylin" last="Smith"] and [player_tooltip player_id="158541" first="Ella" last="Wedin"] that ended up victorious in some stiff competition, as a three-pointer clinched their win.  The event was a successful campaign, as players got better an coaches and scouts alike were in the building to see all of these young individual talents come under one roof and augment their overall skills.  Here are some standouts from the event.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158481" first="Taylin" last="Smith"] 2021 5’6" PG Liberty HS</strong> - </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pound for pound one of the most complete players on the roster, as the Liberty product has a slippery handle, knows when and how to facilitate others off the dribble, and can hit it from deep at a great rate.  She had one of the most tight dribbles amongst those in the combine and she knows what to do with it.  Defensively, she is a quick and witty defender who knows how to buckle down and get the job done. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Denaeja Romero-Ah Sam 2024 5’8" SG Springfield HS</strong> - </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Danaeja was one of the big surprises of the combine as her team made the final four for the 2x2 tournament.  Danaeja is a guard who is tricky off the dribble, but her solid frame allows her to make some moves in the post as she is both physical and shows finesse.  She made some amazing shots throughout the showcase, as she can truly score at all three levels.  Also a competitor on the defensive end that gets after it.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158495" first="Tiara" last="Bolden"] 2021 5’9" SG Churchill HS</strong> - Tiara is a stringy athlete who showed her ability to get a bucket in various scenarios.  She was challenged in the drills, as it was outside her comfort zone, but by the end of the event, as she was clearly comfortable in getting to her spots and hitting her shots in stride.  A superb athlete who plays scrappy defense and is an underrated playmaker with the ball.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Mauriana Sahleem Hashemian 2024 PG Benson Tech HS</strong> - One of the new faces for the future of guards, the future Benson Techster razzled and dazzled with her sheer speed, elite handle, and crafty abilities in the paint.  She plays with a certain edge and confidence at the point guard spot that is rare and is very much so a pure blend of the position.  She displayed a feathery touch around the rim and was one of the players that showed excitement.    </span>