Guard Standouts: PGH Live

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Over the spring season, it feels like guards tend to catch the eye easier than forwards. That was the case in Council Bluffs as well. So today, I’d like to highlight some guards who played well this past weekend.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="276836" first="Grace" last="Thompson"]-Omaha Supreme 2023 Hanke</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Elkhorn North guard doesn’t immediately jump off the page as someone who affects winning. However, the more I watch her play, I feel like she is invaluable to her team. For example, Thompson may not knock down seven 3’s in any given game, but she can create those seven 3’s by pushing the ball in transition finding open shooters, making the extra pass in the halfcourt, or knocking a few down herself. I think she’s someone who finds her way on the court because she helps maximize what her team can do offensively.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="220846" first="Mya" last="Morris"]-West Central United 2023</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The 5-foot-7 guard’s shooting is not only a high-level, but it can be game-changing. I got to see Morris break a team’s defense with her shooting ability. Once someone has to close out on Morris, she can attack 5-on-4 in the half court. She understands that her shooting can help open up for her team offensively. When I see her create these advantages and show off her passing, I see someone who isn’t easy to defend. Too much space and she makes 3’s, closes out sloppy, and Morris attacks 5-on-4 and creates for others.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Taya Fernandez-Let it Rain 2024 Black</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">When people describe a point guard as a quarterback, they’re talking about Taya Fernandez. She does an excellent job digesting what the defense is trying to do at all times. She seems to have a counter for almost anything. I love how well she plays as the ball handler in the pick and roll. Defenses need to communicate well, or Fernandez will pick it apart. The sophomore can knock down deep 3s if she doesn’t get closed down or make passing look easy if she gets doubled off a screen. She can make life difficult for defenses.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Sarah Davis-Wisconsin Blaze 2025 Red</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">I liked what I saw when I saw Davis in-game, but I loved what I saw after she played too. The Appleton West guard is a high-level shooter capable of knocking down six 3s in a game. She’s also capable of handling the ball, and I’d think most coaches would trust her to have the ball, at least in short stints. However, I learned that she’s willing to work to get better. Her team played and lost to end the day on Saturday, and Davis spent another 45ish minute getting shots up before she left the gym. It seems innocuous, but it’s something that I’ll remember her doing for a long time.</span>