LIVE! at the Nook: Standout Guards You Couldn't Miss

There were so many talented and impressive guards that played in the Select Event "LIVE! at the Nook" it was a challenge to only pick a few! Great guard play was a huge reason why this tournament was such an exciting event to watch. That being said, here are the top five guards you definitely couldn’t miss if you were there watching! <img class=" wp-image-422632 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/DSC_1101.jpg" alt="" width="156" height="234" />[player_tooltip player_id="267052" first="Oluchi" last="Okananwa"] ‘23 | Lady Rivals | 5’10” | PG Okananwa is listed as a point guard but is a very active and versatile player. Her specialty is a pull-up, her nice and easy shot flies right over defenders. Everything Okananwa does is simple, she sticks to the basics and I think this is one of if not the biggest reasons why she stood out so much. Another strong part of her game is how she is always doing or looking to do something. Whether it be offensively, where she will look to set a screen or cut to the basket to stay moving or defensively, where she has very active hands, is in the perfect low stance and has her head on a swivel. <img class="wp-image-422633 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/DSC_0313.jpg" alt="" width="177" height="266" />[player_tooltip player_id="415004" first="Sydney" last="Hart"] ‘23 | I-90 Elite | 5’9” | PG Out of all the players that I watched over the weekend, Hart was by far the most supportive teammate out there. No matter what was going on in the game she would either hype her teammates up or pick them up off their feet and tell them to keep going. She is very good at making sure everyone stays in the game mentally which is such a big part of basketball. She has a ton of energy and on top of that she understands the game of basketball on a very high level and she just looks very mature out on the court. Hart runs the floor well, never throws a sloppy pass, does everything under control, will box out and fight to get rebounds and can shoot the three. <img class="wp-image-422634 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/DSC_0229.jpg" alt="" width="157" height="236" />[player_tooltip player_id="393021" first="Zoe" last="Bayer"] ‘23 | I-Dream | 5’7 | SG Bayer is a very fun player to watch as everything she does is simple and clean. She never misses an opportunity on the court because of her ability to react to every situation she is put in. She isn’t afraid, she plays with confidence and she is strong and physical. Not only can Bayer knock down the three consistently from anywhere on the court but her ability to throw clean, crisp passes and keep the offense flowing is also a strong part of her game. She is a skilled and high level athlete that always gives it her all when she steps out on the court whether she is starting or first off the bench. <img class="wp-image-422639 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/DSC_1057.jpg" alt="" width="143" height="214" />[player_tooltip player_id="267455" first="Mia" last="Mancini"] ‘23 | Lady Rivals | 5’7” | PG Mancini is as tough as they get as a guard. She is not at all afraid of contact and is more than willing to do whatever it takes to help her team get the win. She is constantly running after the ball and she plays aggressively and competitively. Mancini is great at making the right decisions as she sees the court so well. She is also very confident in her game and never looks unsure. What arguably stood out the most to me about her game was how well she communicated. She is always talking, which is an attribute every coach wants in their players. <img class=" wp-image-422640 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/DSC_0983.jpg" alt="" width="160" height="241" />[player_tooltip player_id="406493" first="Angelica" last="Velez"] ’23 | New Heights | 5-7 | PG Velez is a very smart basketball player. The way she was able to control the game was eye opening and her ability to be consistent on both ends of the floor makes her so hard to miss. She moves her feet on defense, she doesn’t use her hands or have any ticky tack fouls or let anyone go by her. She stays low, has her hands up and active while she is talking with her teammates during live action. On top of that, on the offensive end she controls the speed of the game. Velez is definitely one of the smoothest players I have watched, she moves so well and she takes care of the ball. She is a true leader out there on the court!