Top returning backcourts – Edition 2
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Once again, I am doing a few articles on some of the best backcourts returning next season. As I start, I am realizing just how much talent is returning next season. I have no rhyme or reason as to which…
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Continue ReadingOnce again, I am doing a few articles on some of the best backcourts returning next season. As I start, I am realizing just how much talent is returning next season. I have no rhyme or reason as to which ones I pick to write about. There are a ton, and these as I mentioned before these aren’t necessarily the best. They are among the best.
Peninsula
Grace Richardson Grace Richardson 5'9" | CG Peninsula | 2025 State WA Kaylia Heidelberg Get to know these names if you haven’t already. Grace has the talent to be a big time player in the coming years. She has two distinct skills that stood out to me.She goes to the basket hard and is a great finishing³ 7$$$##⁴#ds and isn’t afraid of contact.I’ll She has the speed and ball handling skills to grab and go coast to coast. Shooting is something she can improve on, but she is a locomotive going to the basket with a purpose. She is listed at 5’9 but there’s not much substitute for the toughness she has from the guard position. She filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals per game last season. The second thing that stood out. She delivers the ball to shooters with crisp passing that is on target for the catch and shoo. Why is that important? 5he has Kaylia Heidelberg on the receiving end of some of those passes. Heidelberg is a perfect compliment to Richardson. Her game involves shooting the basketball, and shooting it well. She dropped 67 threes last season. I was really impressed with the way Richardson plays unselfish, knowing that she can make her teammate better by giving up the ball for open looks. That’s not to say Heidelberg relies solely on the three, she can score with her strength and toughness in the paint. . Both are strong guards and can play with physicality. Richardson is a strong ball handler and Heidelberg the shooting guard. Peninsular will look to build on their 3A South Sound league title and regional berth from last season.
Mercer Island
Caitlin Monahan Caitlin Monahan 5'11" | CG Mercer Island | 2024 State WA Anna Marsh
Caitlin, made 49 threes through 20 games last season and led Mercer Island with 17 points per game. She is long and has the ability to shoot off the catch or the bounce. Her shooting percentage was good. That would be evident watching her shoot. That t you wouldn’t question if you saw the shooting mechanics. The Class of 2024 guard might be a rankings riser in the future. She is also a good defensive player who anticipates passing lanes for steals and has good speed with the dribble to finish going coast to coast. She averaged over 4 steals per game. Great length for a shooting guard with a high upside the way she can shoot it. Marsh is the point guard for Mercer Island. She can handle the rock and plays with quickness. She didn’t shoot a lot but still averaged 9 points a game. She shot 79% from the free throw line, giving you an example of her more than capable shooting. Like the previous pair of guards I listed these two compliment each other well. Marsh averaged over 4 assists a game, with many of those going to Monahan. Good shooters become great shooters with point guards who understand how to deliver the ball. Like her backcourt mate, she is good defensively, more so with her quickness and ability to pressure the ball. A prototypical point guard that had some of her better games late in the season. These two will be a pair to watch next season with a lot of upside and some great chemistry playing alongside each other in the backcourt.
Lake Washington
Paige Citron Paige Citron 5'7" | CG Lake Washington | 2025 State WA Ashley Uusitalo Ashley Uusitalo 5'9" | SG Lake Washington | 2026 State WA
Playing on a team that was well balanced in the scoring column these two are better than the stats show. Citron had a good state tournament and is a great shooter. She has picture perfect form from long range. Although she didn’t shoot a lot of threes, there’s potential to be a big time shooter. She is aggressive on defense and will get a lot of steals, much like most of the guards for Lake Washington last season. She is a more than capable ball handling guard and has the ability to play the point or the two. With her ability to shoot it, she might be more suited for the shooting guard position, but with a lot of guard talent this past season, she fit in well as one of many interchangeable pieces. I expect her to become a bigger scoring threat next season and be well above the 8 points per game she averaged this season. She was just a sophomore, and a prospect to watch. Along with the 8 points, she averaged 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. A talented all around player. Five of the top seven players will graduate this year and that leaves a lot of room for Citron and the other guard Ashley Usitalo in this duo. Ashley was a freshman this year and led Lake Washington in scoring at 10 points a game. Seven players averaged 7 or more points on the year for a state tournament team. Ashley is another player who can shoot, and has versatility with decent size and athletic ability. She shot 35% from three and 75% from the line. Both these players have a good adjusted field goal percentage. Both are capable of scoring a lot of points. They are a pair who will be counted on heavily next season with the loss of five seniors who played significant minutes. They both have good quickness, and the skill-set to make a big jump in the off-season.