2023 Elite Guard Defenders To Watch
Check out my analysis on some of the top prospects who have really made a name for themselves over the last few circuit months. I am excited to keep tabs on their development as they continue to grow and go…
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Continue ReadingCheck out my analysis on some of the top prospects who have really made a name for themselves over the last few circuit months. I am excited to keep tabs on their development as they continue to grow and go into their senior year next year.
Elizabeth Walton Elizabeth Walton 5'7" | PG The Village | 2023 State TX 2023 5’7 Village School, TX (TNBA Houston 2023)
Elizabeth played with some of the highest energy in the entire gym and got into the teeth of the defense with ease. I was blown away with the separation she created with a live dribble and the ease in which she finished at the rim. She finished through excessive contact, and even used some finesse to go up and under. She routinely knocked down shots at the free throw line and made the defense pay for when they fouled her. Her finishing is no where near the best part of her game however, she truly does a little bit of everything on both ends of the court. On the defensive end, her head is always moving around to map out where all of her opponents are on the court. She played the passing lanes at a very high level and baited her opponent into some lazy passes and easy turnovers. I also loved watching her fight on the glass, for her position she was one of the best rebounders in attendance at the guard spot. She is not afraid to do the dirty work on the court, and made her opponents work for every chance down low. She is not afraid to slide over and be a help defender, and has long arms that harass the ball handler on the perimeter as well as in the paint. Walton is a prospect that you CANNOT miss college coaches!
Malory Dougharty 2023 SETX Elite Blue (Evadale High School)
Malory is a heads up player who always seems to make the right play whether that is the right pass or by moving without the basketball to manipulate the defense. Her ability to pass her teammates open in the full court is a real weapon and allows her teammates easy opportunities in the lane. She is an aggressive help defender who always seems to come over at the right moment to affect the play. She always comes screaming in on the weak side to affect the play by keeping her arms up and cutting off passes outside and forcing her opponent into a tough look.
Ashton Reynolds 2023 SETX Elite Blue (Beaumount High School)
Ashton is an intelligent player who is willing to do all of the dirty work on both ends of the court. She has a good frame, with an ability to defend multiple positions, but also make a difference in the paint. She has a soft floater she can get to in the lane, and really uses it well to create a shot angle over a bigger defender. Her consistency in the paint allows her to affect the game on the perimeter as well, she loves getting downhill and putting pressure on the defense. She is also a good outlet passer, who always seems to put her pass in a good spot to where her teammate can catch it, and just out of reach of her defender.
Leissel Gonzalez 2023 Lady Storm Breakers Gold (Brazoswood High School)
Leissel is an aggressive player on both ends of the court who is not afraid to punish you in the paint on offense and rip the ball away from you on the defensive end of the court. She is active on the perimeter, and thrives in playing the passing lanes, even as an on ball defender. She sneaks back and gives her opponent enough room to think she is relaxed and then leaps up to steal an entry pass into the post. She is a dynamic player with a live dribble who showed a real ability to turn the corner on any defender and get into the paint. I was really impressed with her ability to put pressure on the defense in the lane, whether she was going to the free throw line or finishing at either side of the rim.
Leandria Holmes 2023 5’10 Klein Forest High School, TX ( Hoop Lovers 2023)
Leandria is a high level guard who plays on both ends of the court and lived on the fast break after picking passes in the passing lane or rebounding the ball. She is aware on the break and made the right reads and constantly created for her teammates and found them with crisp passes that hit them in stride. In the half court, she constantly found her teammates and created shot opportunities for them. She displayed an ability to knock down shots off the dribble from beyond the arc. She constantly hit shots and was always a threat to score from the outside.