Week One: Standout Point Guards (Part 1)

The High School season is now a week in and after the long lay-off I came out of the gates strong and tuned into over 30 games to watch as many players as possible. I certainly won’t be able to keep that pace up, but wanted to get some early impressions out of the way to get the season started. I will be posting multiple articles similar to this every week with players who stood out to me during the games I <strong><em>watched </em></strong>live. Here are some Point Guards who stood out in Week One: <strong>2024 Brooke Carlson, 5’6" Guard, Batavia</strong> A do-it-all Point Guard with a high-IQ, Carlson has already shown that she is one of the top prospects in the Class of 2024. She plays with great confidence and has an offensive skill level well beyond her years. Brooke can score at all levels and uses excellent court vision and passing ability to get her teammates easy buckets. <strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123571" first="Elana" last="Wells"], 5’6" Guard, Burlington Central </strong> While Carlson is one of the top Lead Guards in the Freshman Class and a newer name to most, Wells is someone most people are familiar with and continues to prove she is one of the Top PG’s in the Senior Class. She is a natural scorer with a great jump shot and is smooth in the lane when attacking the basket. Elana has a consistently impressive assist-to-turnover ratio and does a solid job of guarding opposing ball-handlers. <strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123615" first="Gabi" last="Melby"], 5’6" Guard, Naperville Central </strong> A reliable Point Guard who is a constant threat from beyond the three-point line, Melby is as dependable as they come. She is a high-IQ player who makes winning plays on both ends of the court and provides some versatility with her wide range of skills. <strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="201068" first="Emily" last="Galvan"], 5’6" Guard, Rolling Meadows</strong> Galvan has been one of the more pleasant surprises after Week One of the season, during which she put up 32 points in her season opener. She is a quick and reliable ball-handler who never lets the offense go stagnant. Emily is an excellent shooter from deep and consistently makes plays in the lane. <strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="200461" first="Samara" last="Swire"], 5’5" Guard, Lincoln-Way East</strong> A quick and elusive Point Guard who looks to make plays in the lane, Swire is tough to defend one-on-one and is a good finisher around the rim. Samara provides tough on-ball defense for opposing ball-handlers and dynamic playmaking in the transition game. <strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="158262" first="Kennedi" last="Perkins"], 5’5" Guard, Bolingbrook</strong> One of the state’s top Point Guards has one of the states top teams off to a very impressive start to the season. Perkins does it all with the ball in her hands, using a good combination of strength and skill when attacking the basket. Kennedi is a great shooter from deep and consistently sets her teammates up for success. <strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="124864" first="Laila" last="Barakat"], 5’6" Guard, Stagg</strong> Barakat is a confident ball-handler with a dynamic offensive skillset. She shoots the ball at a high level from off the bounce and is tough to stop in the transition game. Laila is a terrific passer and guards opposing Point Guards well on defense. <strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="198913" first="Arielle" last="Dabu"], 5’7" Guard, Loyola Academy</strong> A reliable Point Guard who you can count on to make the smart decision often, Dabu is one you can trust to lead the offense. She can score the ball inside and knock down shots from deep consistently. Arielle is a good passer and someone you can count on to make the hustle plays to help her team. <strong>2021 Silvana Scarsella, 5’6" Guard, Loyola Academy </strong> Scarsella is a high-IQ primary ball-handler who makes the offense flow. She plays with good pace and takes care of the ball under pressure and while driving through the lane. Silvana can knock down jumpers regularly and shows leadership by her play and her communication on the floor. <strong>2022 Laurelei Thormeyer, 5’5" Guard, Lincoln-Way East</strong> Thormeyer is an under-the-radar Point Guard who does everything well on the offensive end. She is shifty with the ball and gets in the lane with ease where she typically makes great decisions. Laurelei can shoot it well from deep and has outstanding court vision.