2021 Rankings Update: Top Guards

Our positional breakdown of the brand new class of 2021 rankings begins with a look at the best lead guards in the class.  This is not necessarily the most loaded positional group in this class, but it does feature the top overall player in the class and plenty of depth behind her.  All of the players on this list are seasoned leaders by this point in their careers, and all will take the lead in running their team’s offense this season, making them important as well as talented players. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31846" first="Brooklynn" last="Miles"], Franklin County- </strong>Considered the top overall prospect in this class for her entire career, Miles has all of the traits one could look for from an elite prospect.  She can score from all levels, pass, defend, and even rebound at a top level for her position.  In truth, she is much more than just a lead guard for her team, but she certainly does a great job fulfilling that role as well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="88422" first="Alexa" last="Smiddy"], Southwestern- </strong>A big riser in these new rankings, Smiddy may be the best traditional point guard in the state.  She is not the dominant athlete that Miles is, but she is smart and quick, navigating opposing defenses to get where she wants to go and make great passes.  She is perfectly suited for a talented Southwestern team that makes the most of her passing ability. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31851" first="Hayley" last="Caudill"], Hazard- </strong>Probably the biggest challenger to the title of the best traditional point guard, Caudill is another pass-first point guard with great vision and passing ability.  She’s not afraid to score though, with an excellent 3 point shot as well as the ability to consistently score at the rim, making her a top offensive guard. <strong style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="88428" first="Braylee" last="McMath"], Great Crossing- </strong>The fastest riser up this list, McMath is getting more and more recognition following some great scoring seasons.  She manages the rare combination of being able to score with both volume and efficiency, scoring 18 points a game while getting close to a 40/50/80 season last year as her team’s definitive top option.  She will look to improve even further as Great Crossing comes along as a program, and could rise even further up these rankings if her scoring abilities continue to show themselves. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="88426" first="Kelci" last="Blair"], Johnson Central- </strong>Yet another great passing point guard, Blair has the same great vision and ability to create for teammates as all the other players on this list do.  One skill that separates Blair from the pack a bit is how much she excels in transition, setting up her teammates just as well running the floor on a fast break as she does in the half-court.