2025 Rankings Update: Top Shooting/Combo Guards
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When you look at the top five shooting guards and the top five combo guards, you will see that those players make up 10 of the top 20 spots in the latest rankings update. These players are all ones that…
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Continue ReadingWhen you look at the top five shooting guards and the top five combo guards, you will see that those players make up 10 of the top 20 spots in the latest rankings update. These players are all ones that have the potential to play at the next level and they are all players who made a major impact on their high school teams this past season. Here’s a look at the top shooting and combo guards in this 2025 class rankings update. Side note: I wrote about the top four players on this list just last week, so rather than write about them further, I will just copy and paste what I wrote about them in the article on the top ten players before diving into the other top players in these two position groups.
When it comes to all-around talent, Byars is one of the best you’ll find. She has all the talent in the world, but is also such a team player, so her impressive numbers really only tell half of the story. Most people would be impressed when they saw a player averaging 18.2 PPG and 8.8 RPG while shooting 51.2% overall, but when I say that she could probably double both her points and rebounds if she played on a weak team, that honestly might be an understatement. She led her team to the state tournament semifinals and gave the top team in the state their two best in-state games of the season. She also is doing this while playing with other D-I talents, including her sister who will be playing for the University of Cincinnati next season.
Bradley is one of the best shooters you can find and not just at the state level. If you don’t pick her up as soon as she passes that half court line, you better watch out. For the second straight season, Bradley finished in the top five on the state’s leaderboards for most 3-point field goals made per game. After hitting 3.4 triples per game last season (which was top in the state), she matched that average this season while shooting an impressive 44.3% from deep. What makes that even more impressive is how much her opponents focused on shutting her down. I watched her get face-guarded and double-teamed in every single game I saw her play in this season, but she has a unique ability to create shots for herself. Bradley can score at any level, create for her teammates, and has a ton of skills as a floor general. Additionally, she finished the season as the 17th best scorer in the state (21.9 PPG) and had the 10th best free throw percentage in the state (83.8%).
Highlights
Another player you better pick up as soon as she crosses the half court line, Barrier can really shoot the ball at a high level. She continuously works hard on bettering her game, including increasing her range, and that is very clear when you watch her play. Every time I see her, it feels like she’s improved from the last time I watched her play, no matter how impressive that last performance was. Barrier is a true 3 level scorer though, so while you must stay up on her to prevent her from getting her shot off, she can also make strong drives to the basket or score in the mid-range. What I really love about her game is that you can never question her work ethic or passion for the game. She is constantly getting her teammates involved in the offense and has continued to grow as a defensive stopper. Barrier finished this season in the top 35 on the state’s leaderboard for 3-point field goals made per game after knocking down 2.5 three pointers per game. This class may be one of the most talented overall, but there’s a reason Barrier remains at the top of the 2025 rankings.
Nichelson was a player that had to be moved into the top ten after showing her high-level talent all season long. While she is an excellent scorer, her game goes so far beyond that. She has a high basketball IQ, strong handles, and is a really good defender. She can create and she has a quick first step that makes her especially tough to defend. She can score inside or out and off the dribble or catch. I feel like Nichelson’s numbers from her sophomore season really illustrate how special of a player she is all-around as she shot 54.7% overall and 40.3% from three while averaging 14.9 PPG and 5.6 RPG. She finished with the 36th best field goal percentage in the state as a guard. Don’t be surprised to see college offers come rolling in for Nichelson this summer as she continues to open eyes on the AAU circuit.
Simpson was a player that really stood out to all of the PGH scouts from Kentucky at the Top 250 Expo. We didn’t have a scout in her area at the time, so I don’t think any of us had gotten the chance to watch her play previously, but she immediately jumped to the top of the rankings after we watched what she could do on the court. Simpson is a strong, versatile guard/wing that can score inside or out. She could create on her drives for both herself and her teammates, plus she can score through contact. She works really hard and can be a very disruptive defender as well. She led Lafayette in scoring and rebounding this past season (13.3 PPG/7.2 RPG) and just continues to grow her game. Playing on a talented Kentucky Premier squad this summer should open a lot of coach’s eyes to her talent.
Riley has always been a standout to me because she has a strong scoring ability but brings so much more than scoring to the floor. For starters, she is a strong defender. She can apply a lot of pressure to ball handlers and she seems to have a fearless attitude on defense. She does a great job of reading where the ball is going to come up with steals. Riley can also handle the ball extremely well. She can break a press using her ball handling skills and floor vision. She makes good passes and isn’t afraid to kick to the open player when help defense steps over. Riley also has elite range on her outside shot. She averaged double figures last season at 10.7 PPG while shooting 37.6% from three and 82.5% from the free throw line.
Bale opened a lot of people’s eyes this past season. While the schools she had played against certainly knew about her, after this season, nearly every coach around has likely heard about her. The lefty has a knack for scoring that can’t be taught. She’s a true 3 level scorer who continues to grow as an offensive threat. In the past, you had to respect her ability to shoot from deep range. Now, you still have to do that while also recognizing her ability to score off of the drive via layups, floaters, pull-up jumpers, etc. In her sophomore season, Bale led her team in scoring at 16.2 PPG while helping her team have one of their best seasons in school history.
Rhodes is such a tough player. She is often the focus of the opposing team’s defense, but that doesn’t stop her from putting the ball in the basket. She can knock down shots from deep range with a hand in her face. She does a great job of creating good looks, both off the dribble and on the move. She can finish some really tough shots and if you watch her play, I can assure you that her scoring ability will stand out to you. The quick release on her shot and her form is special. She shot over 35% from deep this past season and actually led the state in 3-point field goals made per game after knocking down 3.7 three’s per game. Rhodes also led her team in scoring at 17.7 PPG this season and finished with the 12th best free throw percentage in the state (81.9%). She is poised to have a big summer with her United 17U 3SSB team.
Highlights
Duck is such an electric and shifty guard. She is quicker with the ball than most players are without the ball. I’ve seen even the best defenders struggle to stay in front of her because of her speed and ball handling skills. She also uses her speed as a defender and can stay in front of a lot of talented lead guards. She gets into the passing lanes to get steals and often beats everyone down the floor in transition. Duck can score off the dribble by getting to the rim or through her floaters or jump shots. She can knock down the three ball, but it felt like she was even more consistent at knocking down the 15-footer. She averaged 9.5 PPG this past season and should have a strong summer as she suits up for Kentucky Premier ‘s 16U EYBL team.
Johnson had to play such a big role for her team this past season. She was a vital part of Anderson County’s team last season, but she was playing alongside some of the best players in the state, including the 2022 Miss Kentucky Basketball winner. Fast forward to her sophomore year and she showed that she is one of the best players in the state herself. When her team needed someone to take over the majority of their scoring, she stepped up. In fact, Johnson averaged 22.4 PPG which was top 15 on the state’s leaderboards. She also led her team in rebounding (7.8 RPG) and three-point shooting (38%). Her 2.9 made 3-pointers per game was also top 15 on the state’s leaderboards. Johnson is a high-level prospect that has already garnered D-I offers and interest.