2024 Rankings Update: Top Shooting Guards
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The shooting guards in the 2024 class can really light up a scoreboard with their impressive scoring abilities. Every player included in this article can knock down shots at a high percentage and from deep range. The top 7 shooting…
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Continue ReadingThe shooting guards in the 2024 class can really light up a scoreboard with their impressive scoring abilities. Every player included in this article can knock down shots at a high percentage and from deep range. The top 7 shooting guards discussed below are all among the top 32 players in the 2024 class rankings.
Thornsbury is one of the toughest players that you can watch play in Kentucky. Her fundamentals are strong and she can fill up a stat sheet with her ability to impact all parts of the game. Defensively, she makes things extremely tough on the offense. Thornsbury’s a really good on-ball defender, but she can also get out into the passing lanes and she’s smart in help defense situations. Offensively, she has good handles and isn’t afraid of physicality in the slightest. She can get into the paint at will and she can score in a variety of ways around the basket. However, Thornsbury can also knock down shots from anywhere on the floor and was nearly a 40% shooter from 3 last season. She’s an excellent passer with a high basketball IQ as well and she should have a huge junior season with Pikeville this year.
Hamilton is one of the hardest workers and she brings all she has in her every single second that she’s on the floor. Defensively, she brings an intensity that fuels her team. She is a solid defender who keeps her head on a swivel. The second she sees an opportunity to go get the ball, she will. She runs the floor and she can really make a lot happen on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Hamilton is a phenomenal shooter. She can get her shot off so quickly and she can get it off from the dribble or catch. She shot a staggering 45.1% from 3 last season. Hamilton is a true triple threat though as she can also drive to the basket or create for her teammates. She has excellent court vision and strong handles, so she delivers some absolute dimes to her team as well.
Wilder has a lot of length and athleticism to go along with her skills. She uses her length really well to alter shots around the basket as a defender and she also can come up with blocks around the rim. Wilder is a great rebounder and she crashes the boards strong. She doesn’t give up on plays and will continuously fight on the boards. She really runs the floor well and she has excellent hands. Wilder makes some impressive catches and she finishes at the rim. Her drives to the basket are really hard to stop. While she is really good at finishing around the basket, she also can step out and knock down shots. She shot the ball at a high percentage last season (50.7% overall) and should average a double-double this season with no problems.
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Barrett is such a tough player and she can really put the ball in the basket at all 3 levels. She is one of the more crafty finishers I’ve seen. She can finish so well around the basket, even through contact or with a defender on her hip. She can also stop and pop or finish floaters inside of the perimeter. Barrett can knock down shots from deep range as well. It doesn’t take much time or space for her to get her shot off and she can create great looks herself. She has a strong step back jumper and she stays ready to pull the trigger. Defensively, Barrett works hard and can come up with steals or blocks in any given game. She does a great job on the boards as well.
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Spieker’s range is limitless. She can literally pull up from anywhere inside the half court line with confidence. She catches the ball ready to fire and she can get her shot off quickly. Since most opposing teams know how well Spieker can shoot the ball, she does a great job on her shot fakes as well. Once she gets past her defender, she can finish through pull-up jumpers, floaters, or layups. However, she also does a great job of kicking to her teammates and seeing the floor. Spieker should have a big season this year as her talented Whitefield squad looks to make some big waves in the 6th Region.
Housley needs to be on everyone’s radar. She is a true difference maker on the court. She has a really good shot and she can get it off quickly. She knocks them down off of the dribble or catch and can hit even with defenders running at her. While she is a shooter, she’s ultimately a scorer. Housley makes excellent drives on both sides of the rim. She finishes pull-ups, floaters, and layups strong. She takes a lot of contact, but doesn’t let that affect her game. When she gets to the line, she’s a reliable free throw shooter. Housley is also a strong defender and she can handle the ball. She can deliver perfect passes from one end of the floor to the other. She’s a very talented player all-around.
Some players let a knee injury detour their playing career while others, like Drakeford, come back even stronger and that really speaks to the kind of player she is. While we have her listed as a shooting guard and she certainly has the skills needed to be an effective SG, you’ll see her bringing the ball down the floor a lot as she is a strong floor general with a high basketball IQ. She sees the floor well and can deliver passes perfectly. She can create for both herself and her teammates. Drakeford is a good shooter, but she’s also a strong driver. She can get to the hoop and finish tough shots. Drakeford is also a really strong defender and she consistently plays hard. Watch out for her to have a really strong junior showing.