2023 Rankings Update: Top 5 Point Guards
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The class of 2023 has begun their senior seasons and they are all looking to finish out their high school careers on a strong note. The point guards are the floor generals for their team. To be an effective point…
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Continue ReadingThe class of 2023 has begun their senior seasons and they are all looking to finish out their high school careers on a strong note. The point guards are the floor generals for their team. To be an effective point guard, you almost always have to be willing to play a leadership role, and these 5 players have certainly done that for each of their respected teams. Let’s take a look at the top 5 point guards in the 2023 class in the latest PGH rankings update.
Ralston has remained a top 10 player and our #1 point guard since the initial 2023 rankings. She has all of the skills you would want from your point guard and she plays with a competitive edge as an added bonus. Ralston is one of the best defenders in the state and has locked up some of Kentucky’s top scorers on multiple occasions. She plays suffocating on-ball defense without fouling which is an especially tough task considering the competition SHA faces year-in and year-out. However, she is a true 2-way player who brings a ton of intensity on the offensive end as well. She can handle pressure, weave through defenders, score herself, or distribute the ball to her teammates.
Highlights
If you really watch Asher play, you’ll see how high her basketball IQ is. She simply does whatever it takes to put her team in a position to win games. If they need a bucket, she’ll go score and if she’s not scoring, she’s drawing in the defense and throwing dimes to her teammates. If they need a rebound, she’ll go after it. If they need to stop someone from scoring, she’ll take on that challenge. Whatever her team needs, Asher is willing to contribute and that says a lot for a player that is a star herself. She has proven time and time again that she can compete with the best. This season, I think Central is a team to really watch for, especially with Asher leading the way.
Clanton is a true point guard in every way. While she can score, she doesn’t need to score to be a major part of Meade County’s success. In fact, she shot less than 3 times per game on average last season, yet she helped lead the Lady Waves to a 29-7 record, which included making it to the 2nd round of the KHSAA Sweet 16. Clanton does all of the little stuff for her team. She consistently runs the floor, she’s willing to guard anyone, she crashes the boards, she goes after 50/50 balls, etc. She also is a true leader on the floor. Clanton may not get as much recognition as she deserves, but you definitely should not be sleeping on this talented guard.
Highlights
Runner has a ton of talent and her numbers are extremely impressive. As far as skills go, she can do a little bit of everything. She is an excellent ball handler with a lot of speed and a variety of moves she utilizes in games. She sees the floor well and throws beautiful passes that lead her teammates to the rim. Runner can knock down shots with her quick release and she can hit them from deep range. She rebounds, defends, and is a leader on the floor. As for her numbers, she led her team in nearly every statistical category when she was healthy last season. She averaged 14.2 ppg and 7 rpg while shooting 46.6% overall and 39.4% from 3. She also led her team in free throw percentage as she shot 80% from the line.
Reid is a hard-nosed, smart basketball player. She helped her team get to the championship of the KHSAA Sweet 16 last season and she played a huge role in getting them there. The lefty is really tough and she plays fearless. She can get to the basket and score with a defender on her hip. She can finish through contact. She can knock down pull-up jumpers, floaters, and 3-pointers as well. However, as a point guard, Reid does a great job of not simply getting her teammates the basketball, but truly creating for them. She is Bullitt East’s leading returning scorer and rebounder going into this season and I expect her to have a huge senior season ahead.