#RamsayTipOffClassic Standout Guard Play

The #RamsayTipOffClassic gathered some of the top young talents in the state. A day full of both boys and girls action saw four boys games and two girls games, but in those two girls games were some young players that were very impressive.   I really enjoyed watching the guard play of the ladies, and when I dove a little deeper, I saw that many of them will be around another year or two. So let’s take a look into some of the outstanding guard play witnessed at the classic.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-351065 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Jasmine-Williams-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />Jasmine Williams (5’6/Combo Guard/2023)   School: Carver-Montgomery HS Instagram: jass_capalot Twitter: @JassCaPalot   This is my second time seeing Jasmine within a week, and everything I saw five days ago she reinforced in her play against Wenonah. She can split time on the ball and off, handle the rock and lead the team, and score the rock from the off-guard spot. She showed her ability to knock down the open trey ball as well as the mid-range J. <blockquote> She creates opportunities for herself and her teammates off the bounce when slashing to the rim, and she makes good decisions for the most part. </blockquote> A couple defenders from both games that I saw this week have been put on skates with her cross-over.   She finished with 11pts against Wenonah.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-351067 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Kenya-Nunn-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />[player_tooltip player_id="330737" first="Kenya" last="Nunn"] (5’7/Combo Guard/2023)   School: Wenonah HS Instagram: official.kenya3 Twitter: @KenyaNunn   Kenya has a solid build at the guard spot, which helped in her attacks off the bounce. With a good frame and strength, she embraced contact and wasn’t forced off her path of attack. She was looking for her shot from behind the arc throughout the game but did not connect until late. She showed confidence in her ability to score the rock, and even though most of her production came in the second half, she kept impacting the game on both ends of the court, despite what some would view as struggles on the offensive end early in the game. <blockquote> When you look at the scope of her game and see that she can knock down the trey and get to the rim off the bounce, it is evident that she is a tough guard for any defender. </blockquote> She has tools in her toolbox and will be a player that Wenonah will need production from in the scoring column this year.   She finished with 12pts against Carver-Montgomery.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-351068 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Kenedi-Wagner-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />Kennedi Claudia Wagner (5’7/Shooting Guard/2023)   School: Ramsay HS Instagram: kennediwagner21 Twitter: @kennediwagner21   If I was naming the best shooter I saw in girls’ action at the classic, we can stop right here because Kennedi can flat out shoot the rock. She was excellent in her c&s opportunities. Her presence on the court automatically creates space for the Lady Rams offense and causes problems for defenses as they cannot help off of Kennedi. <blockquote> Going forward with the season, the question with Kennedi’s game is obvious, how will she respond when teams chase her off the arc and put focused efforts into denying her the ball. </blockquote> She finished with 14pts against Hewitt-Trussville. She made 4 from behind the arc.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-351072 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Audre-Benson-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />Audre Benson (5’7/Combo Guard/2023)   School: Hewitt-Trussville HS Instagram: themissaudre Twitter: @AudreoniaB   At halftime, when I went over to check the book of the Hewitt-Trussville vs. Ramsay game, one of the things I wanted to check was the name of #1, and make sure that her name was not ’Flash.’ She is one of the fastest players I have seen with and without the ball in her hands. She was like a blur at times and thrived in transition. Now, you can question if a couple of missed layups in transition resulted from her speed on her attack. However, for the most part, she finished well in transition. Several times she took advantage of poor defensive transition and got easy buckets. <blockquote> She brought a lot of energy to the court and made timely plays throughout the game that kept Hewitt’s momentum going. </blockquote> When forced into play in the half-court, Audre was quick off the bounce, collapsed the D, and either dropped dimes or beat the rotation and converted at the rim. Her speed alone makes her a threat with or without the ball in her hands.   She finished with 18pts against Ramsay.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-351073 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-April-Hooks-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />April Marguerite Hooks (5’8/Shooting Guard/2023)   School: Hewitt-Trussville HS Instagram: april_hooks Twitter: @april_hooks2023   April is a consistent force for Hewitt. She does what her team needs of her on both ends of the court. She makes winning plays that do not show up on the stat sheet. She is comfortable and confident on the perimeter, has good game instincts, can handle the rock, and can shoot it from behind the arc. <blockquote> She has an all-around balanced game and is an excellent piece to the puzzle for Hewitt. </blockquote> She finished with 8pts against Ramsay, making 2 from behind the arc.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-351074 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Jordan-Hunter-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />Jordan Elizabeth Hunter (5’10/Point Guard/2024)   School: Hewitt-Trussville HS Instagram: je_hoopher Twitter: @JE_hoopher   I will have to go back and talk with Coach Hunter, head coach of the Hewitt squad because I do not remember seeing Jordan in the first half of the contest against Ramsay. Now you may say she just had a quiet half, but Jordan makes her presence felt even in a quiet half. I have watched her grow over the years, and she has steadily grown her game and is one of the emerging prospects in the state. She has good size and length at the PG spot and is a versatile player who can score the rock in a variety of ways. <blockquote> She can run the show, but I still see her strength as a score-first PG. </blockquote> She changes speed well, keeping defenders off-balance, and she keeps them guessing as she can stop and hit the pull-up J at any moment. She has good footwork once she gets into the paint as she is looking to score or drop a dime. She has the smoothness of an experienced senior and will help Hewitt be a team to contend with night in and night out.   She finished with 15pts against Ramsay, all in the 2nd half.   Stay tuned as more will be coming about what I saw at the #RamsayTipOffClassic.