2024 Guards Who Could Make Big Leaps

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The jump from sophomore to junior year is a key time for high school players and these are some players I've pegged who can make big strides this season. A few of them had big roles for their teams last season while others showed they are ready to step up and be impact players for their teams this winter. Take a look at some under-the-radar 2024s ready for big years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63459a1533f07","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lauryn York","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Colfax","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"York is part of a Colfax team that won the District 7 Tournament and finished second in last year's 2B State Tournament. She wasn't necessarily the big name on her squad but she possesses an all-around game and simply goes out and makes plays. She's a scrappy player that provides a lot to her team that doesn't always end up on the stat-sheet. I can see her building on last season's experience and continuing to improve her game as a vital piece of a championship caliber team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["502394"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":511863,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Ervin is a quick little lefty at guard that really pushes the pace. Her North Central team had a tough season last year but Ervin is a competitive player that brings the energy on both ends. I saw some of her at the Top 250 Expo and she showed a good ability to recognize cuts, hit teammates with timely passes, and play good on-ball defense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Samara Morrow","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Arlington","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Morrow was a good secondary ballhandler for the Arlington Eagles on their way to a third-place finish at the 3A State Tournament. She pushes the pace, finds open spaces at the rim and on outlets, and generally plays with a good attacking mindset. She'll most likely take on a bigger role facilitating this season with the departure of 2022 graduate u003cstrongu003eKiera Marshu003c/strongu003e who led the team in assists last season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["367306"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Mead went 24-2 last season and was the number-one seed in the 3A State Tournament. Undefeated in the regular season, Mead lost by one point in the semifinals to Garfield. Gardner was a huge part of that team, handling a lot of the point guard responsibilities and providing a reliable, steady presence with the ball. She can handle defensive pressure, makes solid passes, and brings good effort to the defensive end. She looks like a player ready to take a big leadership role on one of the top teams from last season.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Brynn Smith","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Mead","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Smith is another Junior guard for the Mead Panthers that looks ready to make a big leap this season. Smith came off the bench for Mead last year but has a lot of qualities that could make her an impact player this season. She's got good height for a guard, is quick, and aggressive, and showed good activity across the board in her sophomore year. She has the right mindset and if she can make that long-range shot a little more consistent, she will be an important player for the Panthers.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->