Players to Watch – Combo Guards/Wings

Every team needs wing players that can run the lane in transition, knock down the catch and shoot three-pointer, and be serviceable with their dribble. It's also great to have a combo guard who can score in a variety of ways and slide over to the point to run the team. Being able to play some defense and not be a liability is always a plus too. The players in this article possess all those qualities and more. Let's look at some of the best combo guards and wing players in Arkansas you need to know. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="304744" first="Kamille" last="Brown"] | 5’7 | Wing | 2023 | Conway High School</strong> When you talk about really good defenders you have to mention [player_tooltip player_id="304744" first="Kamille" last="Brown"]. This young lady is often given the task of defending one of the opposing team’s top perimeter players. But her skills don’t stop there. She’s a slasher on offense. She runs the lanes well in transition looking to get out to use her athletic ability. She’s slowly becoming a better catch-and-shoot three-point shooter. The best thing about Kamille is she’s a team player. She plays hard every game and performs her role to the best of her ability. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="304742" first="Ashauni" last="Corley"] | 5’7 | Combo Guard | 2023 | Episcopal Collegiate High School</strong> You want to talk about a player that drips with confidence and swag then look no further than Ashauni. Here’s a player that has deceiving handles. It’s not going to be flashy, but she has ball quickness and knows how to keep it protected so when you reach she can blow by you. Her drives can finish with her taking it all the way or finding the open player. Ashauni can also make the catch and shoot three-pointer. Defensively she applies good pressure on the ball and does a good job of keeping the opposing guard out the lane off the dribble. <strong>Madison Cartwright | 5’10 | Combo Guard | 2023 | Greenwood High School</strong> Madison is a wing player with the ability to knock down the catch and shoot three-pointer. This stretches out the defense and forces them to close out hard and gives Madison the opportunity to attack the closeout with her dribble for the mid-range jumper or get all the way to the rim for the finish. Madison is also a solid defender. She can pressure the ball and make the offense work to get open. She also stays aware and alert when in help position, gets to her help spots early to take away driving lanes, and understands defensive rotations. Madison also can get aggressive when going after defensive rebounds. <strong>Hunter Gibson | 5'9 | Combo Guard | 2022 | Valley View High School</strong> This combo guard does a good job of getting her team organized. She understands pace and knows when to push it and when to run the offense. Hunter is good at putting the ball on the floor and can initiate contact to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. She can finish in the paint in traffic or shoot the three-pointer if left open. She's also a good decision-maker in the open court. Defensively she does a good job using her quick hands to get deflections and steals. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="304697" first="Jaiden" last="Thomas"] | 5’10 | Combo Guard | 2022 | Conway High School</strong> I’ve been watching Jaiden play for some time now. She’s a fundamentally sound player that continues to add to her game year after year. The first thing that comes to mind when you mention her name is shooter. Every scouting report that mentions her name talks about her ability to shoot the ball. Jaiden is deadly from the three-point line. It doesn’t matter if it’s a spot-up, in transition, off screens in the half-court, or off the dribble for the pull-up. Shooting is what she does really well but it’s not all that she does. She can slide over to the point, she’s a crafty ball-handler, and can get to the rim. Jaiden also has the potential to be a really good defender. <strong>Josie Williams | 5’7 | Combo Guard | 2023 | Conway Christian High School</strong> There’s often a belief in Arkansas that if you attend a small school you can’t play as well as those players in larger classifications. Well, Josie attends a private class 2A school and she’s hands down one of the best players in her class of 2023 despite classification. She can flat-out score the ball. You want catch and shoot three-pointers? She got it. You want something off screens? She got it. You want her to break the defense down off the bounce? She got it. You mention it, she can give it to you. Josie is an aggressive, but unselfish player. She uses her dribble as a weapon and will pass it to her teammate for an open shot or the hockey assist. <strong>Lyndsey Aday | 5’8 | Wing | 2022 | Pottsville High School</strong> When you talk about players that play every game like it’s their last then you have to mention Lyndsey Aday. This young lady plays every possession like the game is on the line. Her heart and determination make up for her lack of size when she’s matched up against bigger, stronger, and more athletic players. Despite those shortcomings, she’s still able to get position for rebounds, outrun others in transition, and play lockdown defense. Lyndsey can also contribute on the offensive end of the floor. She moves well without the ball, attacks off the catch when players are closing out, and can make the catch and shoot jumper.