13 Top Available Senior Point Guards
For most programs practice will resume Tuesday, January 5, with January 8 being the first date games can be played. Several will not resume until days later with games not being allowed until closer to the end of the month. …
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Continue ReadingFor most programs practice will resume Tuesday, January 5, with January 8 being the first date games can be played. Several will not resume until days later with games not being allowed until closer to the end of the month. Between three and six games have been completed by those that have played. Home school programs often have racked up several more.
At this point approximately 50 senior players, including ten point guards, have committed to play basketball in college next season. Below is a ranked list of top, available point guards. Three players were among the most efficient assist generators of the 2020 season.
Ja’Neysha Hendricks
Ja’Neysha
Hendricks
5'4" | CG
Topeka | 2021
State
KS
, 5’4″, Topeka – The two-time Centennial League honorable mention was one of the 2020 season’s most efficient assist generators. She averaged 6.4 points and 3 assists with 2.31 assists to turnover ratio. Hendricks also shot 45% from three (24 made). Her court vision and ability to set teammates up along with her defensive aggressiveness generate many points for the Trojans.
Reese Althouse
Reese
Althouse
5'5" | PG
Shawnee Mission East | 2021
State
KS
, 5’5″, Shawnee Mission East – Althouse is a two-time Sunflower League honorable mention selection. At July’s MAYB Reign the Plains event she showed how tough she is in all aspects of her game. Offensively she looked ahead in transition; was speedy with the ball; and showed off three point range and a good, pull-up, mid-range jumper in transition. Althouse has strong handles including a terrific whirl. Quickness, scrappiness, toughness, and fearlessness in boxing out and in drawing charges stands out on the defensive end.
Kisa Unruh Kisa Unruh 5'8" | PG Dodge City | 2021 State KS , 5’8″, Dodge City – Unruh is also off to a great senior campaign. The two-time Western Activities Conference first teamer’s best talent is her ability to see the floor because she has the overall offensive game, including three point range, to take advantage of it. Her effectiveness as a passer enables her to generate her share of assists.
Alissa Heskamp
Alissa
Heskamp
5'5" | PG
Spearville | 2021
State
KS
, 5’8″, Spearville – Heskamp, a two-time Southern Plains Iriquois Athletic Association first team selection also is also one of the three most efficient players from 2020. She is off to a strong senior campaign, including hanging 32 points on South Central in a 62-46 win. At June’s MAYB Summer Kickoff she showed how well she sees the ball when off of it, quickness, and speed with the ball. She can finish at speed and has the athleticism to score the unorthodox finish as well. She wrapped up 2020 averaging 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.4 steals, and a 1.64 assists to turnover ratio.
Jordyn Rowe Jordyn Rowe 5'1" | CG Sumner Academy | 2021 State KS , 5’1″, Sumner Academy – At first glance, I know because I saw a exposure camp coach do it, Rowe might be overlooked because of her stature. But once she got several minutes strong together she quickly did not come off the floor the rest of the event except for a breather. The two-time Kansas City Atchison League first teamer and 2019 defensive player of the year averaged averaged 27.4 points per game in 2020. She is has good end-to-end speed with the ball, can finish around the basket with both hands, and she is a distributor. She can create turnovers with her hand speed and anticipation ability. She also uses her athleticism and perimeter range to split defenders and create off the bounce to distribute. Due to school district restrictions on winter athletics Rowe will not have a chance to compete until mid- to late January.
Lilly Smith
Lilly
Smith
5'0" | PG
Topeka | 2021
State
KS
, 5’4″, Topeka – Smith is one of two players on this list who also were included in my recent article on early season assist leaders.Through her first three games she is averaging 4.7 assists, 5.7 points, and 2.3 steals. She also has a whopping 4.67 assists to turnovers ratio. At the Kansas Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo in October the Centennial League second teamer showed speed, toughness, and the ability to create plays with and without the ball. In 2020 she shot 42% from three with 48 makes and 78% from the line to go with a 1.73 assist to turnovers ratio.
Emma Malm Emma Malm 5'4" | PG McPherson | 2021 State KS , 5’4″, McPherson – Malm is not a floor general who is going to stand out on the state sheet. But she is the unquestioned floor general of the Bullpups. A December comment by McPherson Coach Pat Strathman regarding her role in a win over Andover he states that she “does so many things and has a lot of responsibility.” In a 2020 interview with teammates Grace Pyle Grace Pyle 5'10" | SG McPherson | 2021 State KS , 2021, and Emma Ruddle Emma Ruddle 5'9" | PG McPherson | 2020 State KS , her teammates agreed that she is the straw that stirs the Bullpup drink. she missed nearly half of 2020 season due to early injury and was a key reason for the team’s return to the 5A state tournament. She impacts on defense, with her ability to beat people off the bounce, and with her ability to set up teammates to score inside or from the perimeter. Malm has good open court handles, especially against presses, and has good full-floor vision and passing strength.
Regan Ast Regan Ast 5'7" | PG Ingalls | 2021 State KS , 5’7″, Ingalls – Ast is another player with a large assists to turnovers ratio. Averaging 5 assists with a ratio of 4, she also is piling up 13.5 points, 4.8 steals, and 3.5 rebounds per game through her first 4 games of 2021. The SPIAA first teamer averaged averaging 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 steals in 2020. Ast only shot 23% from three with 179 attempts but does have 25′ range and the rare ability to score the challenged three. Ast follows her shots, handles the ball well transitioning in traffic, and can finish with either hand.
Katherine Weigel Katherine Weigel 5'7" | PG Mill Valley | 2021 State KS , 5’7″, Mill Valley – Weigel has a solid frame, a good first step, and is a solid ball handler under defensive pressure. Not the purest point guard, she also is an effective shooting guard who is a three point threat and a good passer. Has shown toughness defensively especially in the full court.
Ashlyn Bigelow
Ashlyn
Bigelow
5'7" | PG
Wichita Trinity Academy | 2021
State
KS
, 5’7″, Trinity Academy – The 2020 Central Plains League second team selection also was a 2020 USJN Battle at the Border pool F 17U all star in July. Bigelow is quick with good transition speed. A perimeter threat who can shoot quickly, she has good hands and athleticism to finish with both hands at the rim.
Hayley Hughes Hayley Hughes 5'9" | PG Hutchinson Trinity | 2021 State KS , 5’9″, Hutchinson Trinity – MAYB Reign the Plains (7.21.20) WKE 2021 – Needs more arch on interior shots. Good use of behind the back on the dribble drive. MAYB Summer Kickoff (June 2020) – Quick first step off a reverse pivot from a square up. Elevates quickly of the catch and offensive rebound. Two time Heart Of America first team and KBCA 2A honorable mention. Good build, length, and strength. Strong handles. A step quicker could improve ability to attack basket off the dribble drive. Less skilled players of similar build and speed give her trouble. Has mid-range and three point game. Shoots more than 80% from the line and is a solid rebounder. Has rare to see ability to dribble jump through two defenders and go up off the jump stop.
Lexi Cline
Lexi
Cline
5'6" | PG
Cheney | 2021
State
KS
, 5’4″, Cheney – The standout three sport athlete is still recovering from surgery and is yet to play. The Central Plains League second teamer is the only player in this list that has made back-to-back, most efficient players lists. A season ago she led the Cardinals back to the 3A state tournament by averaging 5.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.9 steals with a 2.52 assists to turnover ratio. Fierce on both ends of the floor, she has good transition speed and makes use of strong head and shoulder fakes to create open shots for her teammates.
Jaila Harding
Jaila
Harding
5'7" | CG
Wichita Southeast | 2021
State
KS
, 5’7″, Wichita Southeast – The Greater Wichita League second teamer generated some buzz with her play over the summer. That respect surface in her being selected as a 2020 USJN Battle at the Border pool E 17U all star. A good free throw shooter, she gets to the line due to being a threat on the perimeter, tough with the ball going end-to-end under pressure, and as a quick creator off the dribble. Harding spaces well on the perimeter and gets her shots off quickly.