Fearless Floor Generals
The point guard play in the region has been nothing short of terrific. The athletes showed their elite talent and displayed leadership intangibles that every team needs from their point guard to win games. Here are a few of the…
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Continue ReadingThe point guard play in the region has been nothing short of terrific. The athletes showed their elite talent and displayed leadership intangibles that every team needs from their point guard to win games. Here are a few of the floor generals who fit that mold.
Lucy Palmer – Bradford Christian Academy/Lady Rivals – 5’7” – PG – 2023 (pictured above)
When watching Palmer facilitate her team’s offense, it is clear her mindset is not about posting gaudy stats. Her team-first mentality suggests that she is more concerned about maximizing the talent on the court than worrying about her numbers. Palmer achieves this by being a transcendent passer and playmaker. Her IQ is off the charts, and she does an excellent job anticipating where the help defense will shift over from when she penetrates. After drawing the defense, the 5’7” floor general locates shooters spotting up with accurate passes. Palmer is also a phenomenal passer in transition. She controls the tempo and uses her tight ball handle to weave in and out of defenders and thread the needle beautifully to the bigs rim running. She has a polished offensive game and can score efficiently at all three levels. Palmer can finish strong with either hand, has a terrific mid-range package, and can light it up from three. So calm under pressure, Palmer does not get rattled when the defense pressures her. She is a player who does not turn the ball over and, in crunch time, will make the right decision for her team, whether it be setting up a player to score or creating offense for herself. One of the more competitive players on the hardwood, Palmer has the tools and makeup to be one of the best point guards in her class.
Katie Kissell – Westwood High/ MA Huskies – 5’6” – PG – 2022
Kissell is one of the best on-ball defenders at the point guard position. She stays low in her stance and has quick choppy defensive slides to hound opposing ball handlers. An intimidating presence on defense, Kissell is tenacious and vicious when guarding opposing players. As good as Kissell is on-ball, her greater strength arguably is the chaos she can cause away from the ball. The junior guard is terrific at jumping passing lanes and is so aggressive when denying the ball, forcing turnovers that lead to easy fastbreak points. She is an athletic point guard who makes it extremely difficult for her assignment to catch the ball clean and in a position to score. At 5’6”, Kissell is an excellent rebounder, especially on the offensive end, and is so physical out toughing bigger guards and forwards inside. Using her excellent court vision, she can create easy scoring opportunities for her teammates after ripping down the board and locating cutters and shooters on the extra possession. When you add in her automatic three-point shot and her relentlessness attacking the rim, it makes Kissell an elite two-way player.
Riley Griffin – Middleboro High/MT Elite – 5’8” – PG – 2022
Griffin is an absolute gamer who is unique because she can play both guard positions at a high level. A bonafide scorer, Griffin can get her shot at will, and when she senses a mismatch, the 5’8” combo guard takes full advantage and will attack the rim. A flamethrower from deep, Griffin can light it up from the outside, whether off a screen catching and shooting or off the dribble. Her ability to see the whole floor is top-level, and Griffin always seems to make the right decision with the ball. Her bounce passes, specifically, are so crisp and accurate leading to easy buckets. Against zone defenses, her passing is put on display using her quickness to get into the middle of the defense and hitting shooters right in the numbers. Her ability to shred defenses in the halfcourt with her playmaking ability makes her so valuable to any team she is on. On defense, she is competitive and never backs down from any matchup. Griffin can guard multiple positions with her size and athleticism and is so versatile on that side of the ball.
Charlotte Miller – Joel Barlow High/NY Hoopers – 5’4” – PG/SG – 2022
Miller is such a skilled and confident ball-handler who has the ball on the string at all times. A terrific player dribbling in and out of traffic, Miller, is so crafty getting to spots on the floor where she can score. She has an excellent shooting touch at all three levels, and her strength is creating offense off the dribble. Miller is a dangerous scorer when isolated one-on-one with a defender and will use an array of dribble moves to create separation to let off her picture-perfect jump shot. At 5’4”, Miller is not as physically imposing as other players at her position but will still attack the rim aggressively, initiate body contact, and draw fouls frequently. On defense, her hustle and toughness stand out. A tone-setter on that side of the floor, Miller never gives up on plays and sprints back into plays to force a turnover or missed shot. She will battle amongst the trees inside for rebounds while setting a tone for the team with her activity and toughness on defense and on the glass.
Hana Skeary – Dover-Sherborn/O Zone Basketball – 5’5” – PG/SG – 2023
Skeary’s court vision is unmatched, and some of the passes she makes at her size are insanely impressive. Her ability to see over taller defenders and thread the needle to cutters so confidently is awe-inspiring. A complete offensive player with multiple ways to beat you, Skeary can take over a game with her lethal scoring and passing ability. A sniper from behind the arc, Skeary has unlimited range and is not intimidated by aggressive closeouts from the defense. Such an efficient shooter, Skeary has shown the ability to catch and shoot at a high rate at the off-guard position. Her quick first step gets her by the first line of defense easily, showing no fear entering the lane looking to score. An intelligent facilitator, Skeary will control the pace and always put her team in a position to get the best shot. On the other side of the ball, the combo guard will accept the challenge to defend both the 1 and 2. Her active hands disrupt entry passes going into the post and always gets on the floor for loose balls. Skeary’s ability to wreak havoc on the defensive end gives her team a spark and ignites fastbreak opportunities where she can display her show-stopping talent.