Updated Rankings - 2025 Combo Guards

Combo Guards are versatile, dynamic, capable and bring just a little bit more to the table than other Point Guards and Shooting Guards. They aren't necessarily better or worse than other kinds of Guards, they are just harder to define. It is easy to understand what a Shooting Guard is and what their role is on a team. Point Guards are a player that specializes in certain skills and attributes. But a Combo Guard is more of a generalist that could perhaps play the Point one possession and Shooting Guard the next. Or, within some systems, can be a third type of Specialty Guard.   Many of the players in this article can be hard to define or pin down. Some of them are the Point Guard for their High School team. Two of them play more like a Small Forward on their teams. But they fit into this category on Prep Girls Hoops because, like with all things here, we are trying to project what they will do on the next-level. All of the player we put into our Rankings are there because we believe they have what it takes to play in College. Some end up playing "other sports" and some don't want to play in College, but we tend to be on the money with the players we believe in. Some go a little higher or lower than we might project but if you are reading this Coach, these are definitely players you should have a look at.   [player_tooltip player_id='369667' first='Claire' last='Johnson']   Scoring 17 points per game on 61.1% shooting (8th in the Commonwealth) is a highly efficient stat line for a Guard, so are her 32.6% three-point shooting percentages. That, great ballhandling and 76% shooting at the Free Throw Line will go a long way to finishing as the Runners-up in the Sweet Sixteen. It will also get you on the radar of various D-1 Coaches who have been taking a look at this hard driving player over the course of the last year.   I saw her play between naps at the Queen of the Commonwealth Tournament last year (true story you can ask [player_tooltip player_id='158174' first='Destiny' last='Thomas']' Mom. she was siting a few rows away). I was not in top form, struggling through a tough cold (I might be allergic to Christmas, seem to get sick around that time every year since I was in my teens). And from what I remember she has good speed with and without the ball. She would definitely be an asset to a team that wanted to push tempo and has the size to be consider a BIG Point Guard. But I believe it is her versatility (along with the height) and her ability to find open teammates on the break and within the offense that will be her most desired aspects to College Coaches. I hope to get another chance to see her next season of this spring to see how she continues to develop before departing the world of High School Hoops.   [player_tooltip player_id='167110' first='Hailee' last='Johnson']   The offense runs through Johnson, she is receiving the ball in the Post, running off screens, moving without the ball, shooting outside jumpers, and putting the ball on the floor to get to the rim. She does it all, her teammates all help of course and they play their roles too, but her role if to do a little bit of everything and she excels in that role. I think her best skill in penetrating from the top or the wing to create her own shot. If not that, passing out of the post or short corner might be her best attribute. Or perhaps, I have just been seeing her make the correct play based on the reads she is making in-game and she is taking what the defense is giving up. It is hard to tell. But if I had a scholarship to offer and wanted a dynamic player that could probably fill any roles I needed her to handle in College I would definitely try to figure this out.   The skill and versatility she has on Offense carries over into the rest of her game, as well. She was the leading Rebounder on her team (4.6 Rebounds per game) and is an adept defender capable of staying with any matchup I have seen her against. She pays with poised and doesn't get too caught up in the emotions of the game staying cool and level-headed. I don't usually cover the Guards in these Rankings Articles and the last time I covered her personally was the only the 1st time I had seen her play. Talking about her right now has definitely piqued my interest in exactly how she will translate on the next level. She will certainly play in College, I just wonder exactly what roles she will play there. Still using all of her versatility or will some aspects become less utilized and others more specialized? Just a quandary on my part.   [player_tooltip player_id='257275' first='Dea' last='Bradley']   Get ready for a show when you get your chance to see Bradley. She is poised, patient, explosive and skilled. She wasn't tied for 4th leading scorer (26.1 ppg) in the Commonwealth last season for nothing. She knows when to settle things down and let plays develop and when to take it hard to the hole to force the issue. I was impressed with the way she runs a team displaying a wisdom not all players with her kind of quickness possess. Sometimes players with great speed will play the whole game at top speed and there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that. Speed kills, after all and having the ability to play at high speeds is extremely useful and can be highly productive. But knowing when to use that speed and when to let the tempo of the game slow down is a sign of maturity and leadership.   Bradley has a great first step on her drives, a skill that plays nicely with her ability to shoot the ball on the perimeter. It keeps the defender guessing n how close or far she needs to be from possession to possession. I didn't witness her breaking any ankles when I saw her this year, but I would be willing to bet there is a long highlight video somewhere of her tripping up defenders with a shoulder shake and a jab step. She is also a three-level scorer making her even harder to defend because she can pull-up from anywhere along the drive. This is a player on the rise through our Rankings and I think she is probably still too low on this list.   [player_tooltip player_id='167101' first='Leia' last='Trinh']   I was able to see Trinh twice last season. The first time was not her best showing, her opponent had her well scouted and had a future College Cross Country runner defending her that could run all day and did. But she was still able to close by forcing her way to the Free Throw Line to score 4 crucial points at the end in what was a 3 point win. The next time she displayed how she put up these kind of numbers: 19 points per game (tied for 38th highest scoring average n the Commonwealth), 33.7% Three-pointers (67 of 199 attempts), 73.4% Free Throws (135 of 184 attempts).   Trinh play a ton of minutes and carry her team as a ballhandler, defender and scorer. She appears to be tireless, as if she could play another game immediately afterwards and stili put forth the same effort. I don't have a grasp on her potential recruiting options, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that a few Coaches are looking at her way already.   [player_tooltip player_id='231486' first='Ella' last='Daniels']   If speed kills, and it does, you better watch out for Daniels, she is an Assassin. Se can put the dagger in and be n the other side of the court looking like she had nothing to do with it before the Refs can begin to blow the whistle. She has quick feet, takes long strides and will be down the court ready to defend or score with a quickness.   She is not a player you are going to discover based on her statistics. The team she plays for is too loaded with talent for anyone but the Top Players to score a ton of points. But because there is so much talent around her there should be several Coaches tuning in. Perhaps to see another player, or Daniels herself, and then discovering some other talent the were unaware of on the roster. Some Coach is going to find several Diamonds and other Precious Gems on that team they can squeeze onto their roster with little fanfare that is going to shine on the next level.   This can also make it hard to truly evaluate her accurately. I am 100% certain that she should be playing in College, so should several of her teammates. But really what level? I can't be certain. I know if I was a D2 or NAIA Coach I would make it a priority to see them play because a few of these players are going to fall through the cracks that could have perhaps been D1 prospects. Daniels may well be one such player, but a full-ride is a full-ride. Many of the smaller schools are better schools than the larger schools and I know she has he brains to put to good use at the better schools.

Combo Guards are versatile, dynamic, capable and bring just a little bit more to the table than other Point Guards and Shooting Guards. They aren't necessarily better or worse than other kinds of Guards, they are just harder to define. It is easy to understand what a Shooting Guard is and what their role is on a team. Point Guards are a player that specializes in certain skills and attributes. But a Combo Guard is more of a generalist that could perhaps play the Point one possession and Shooting Guard the next. Or, within some systems, can be a third type of Specialty Guard.