Summer Summary: Underrated Guards to Watch (Part 1)

This past summer was a bit unusual to say the least, and basketball was no exception. That said, I was still lucky enough to see a ton of talented young prospects make names for themselves. I was so impressed with the way all of these players and teams were able to persevere though a nontraditional summer season, and the individuals who balled out on the court are deserving of special recognition. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight some of the best under-the-radar guards I saw this summer. <strong>Carolynn Washington | 2021 | 5’3’’ Point Guard | Cedar Hill HS</strong> - I was extremely impressed with how much Washington has improved since the end of the high school season when I last saw her.  She is embracing her new role as Cedar Hill’s lead guard. The 5-foot-3-inch point guard has blazing speed in the open court. She handles the ball well and constantly looks for ways to pressure defenses. Washington has also developed into a really dangerous shooter from deep while still being able to contribute as a distributor. Cedar Hill may be poised for another deep playoff run with this senior at the helm. <strong>Graci Harris | 2021 | 5’6’’ Point Guard | Journey 17U | Georgetown HS</strong> - Harris is a high IQ floor general who has a good feel for the game. She plays with great pace and does an excellent job of quarterbacking the offense at the one spot. Her vision is outstanding, and her passes are accurate. I saw her put full-court passes on the money at both of the events I saw her play in. Harris can shoot it from behind the arc as well, forcing defenders to respect her as a shooter and opening up passing lanes for her to exploit. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="202477" first="Jazmyne" last="Jackson"] | 2022 | 5’6’’ Shooting Guard | DFW Elite 16U EYBL | Denton Braswell HS</strong> - Jackson has a pretty-looking jump shot and is an assassin from mid-range. The Denton Braswell two-guard gets to her spots and capitalizes. She likes to let it fly inside the arc from the wings and elbows but can put it in the basket with runners and floaters from close-range too. She is also a good ball handler who creates space for herself on the perimeter. <strong>Jayden Smallwood | 2022 | 5’7’’ Combo Guard | McKinney North HS</strong> - Smallwood checks all the boxes. She is a brilliant facilitator who can thread the needle and deliver accurate no-look passes with ease. However, she is more than just a playmaker. The McKinney North guard has shown that she can score from all three levels and even displayed the ability to knock down some tough contested shots. Smallwood is a dynamic prospect that needs to be on your radar if she isn’t already. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134062" first="Payton" last="Hull"] | 2023 | 5’10’’ Combo Guard | Texas Lonestar Black 16U 3SSB | Peaster HS</strong> - Hull possesses good size and athleticism at the guard spot. The Peaster sophomore is a true combo guard, proving that she can be productive on or off the ball. She is great at drawing defenders to her in order to find open shooters on the perimeter. Additionally, she makes smart and timely cuts when playing away from the ball and has a good understanding of floor spacing. Her perimeter defense is solid as well. She is an all-around prospect with very few holes in her game. <strong>Aliyah Muhammad | 2023 | 5’7’’ Shooting Guard | Sky Digg Elite 16U | Frisco Lone Star HS</strong> - Muhammad is a playmaker at both ends of the court. On offense, her facilitating skills are tremendous. She is a very fundamentally sound passer. Her suddenness with the ball is very noticeable. She can stop and pop on a dime from mid-range, but the Frisco Lone Star guard has also proven that she can get to the basket with her quick first step. Defensively, Muhammad is one of those players who always seems to be in the right place at the right time, consistently finding ways to be disruptive and force turnovers.