Standout 17U Guards at Splash and National Championship - Part 1

With so many guards in the building during National Championship and Orlando Splash, we will have to list the guard standouts in two parts. In this article, we hilight some of the guards who stood out during the live period. Some were long range shooters, some were playmakers, and others were students of the game with basketball intelligence. Each player showed a unique skillset.   [player_tooltip player_id='248337' first='Danigzy' last='Mantilla'] was very good and very steady during the Orlando Live period. Mantilla is always in control on the basketball court and just goes about her business as the floor general on the court. Now, she does have that ability to turn it up when she needs to. She has the handles and can get to any spot on the court thaty she wants to. Like any playmaking point guard her objective is to get her teammates involved - feed the post and draw and kick to the three point shooters on the wing. Mantilla does an excellent job of both. She can flat out shoot the ball. Mantilla is very efficient from the three point line. Her game was on display and the college coaches noticed.   [player_tooltip player_id='349438' first='Piera' last='Alexander'] really played well and I had a first hand view of the versatile guard. Alexander played at the point primarily, but did rotate over to the shooting guard at times. During Splash, she was clutch down the stretch and put her team on her back, knocking down threes, midrange and getting to the rim for some layups and floaters. Alexander was very good on press break and made good decisions on the floor. She delivered the ball into the post and also shot the three well when the ball was kicked back to her or rotated to her. Alexander also shot the three off the dribble and that is a strong part of her game- being able to create and get off her own shot (jumper or getting down hill). She also Alexander did a good job of driving and kicking to her shooters.   Zoey Wilson (2023, OBC, 5'5 PG ) was special during National Championship. She had the dribble drive and the stop and pop on cruise control. She must have scored on 3 to 4 consecutive possessions and none of the shots were just routine. Wilson was scoring on the baseline and at the rim. She was also at point guard and controlled the game from beginning to end. Wilson was special in transition, where she used her speed to fill the wing and also lead the break. Several times, Wilson went coast to coast for the score. A great performance was the lasting impression.   [player_tooltip player_id='248287' first='Kiyana' last='Hunter'] as usual was very solid on defense, and again shot the ball well at Splash and National Championship. Hunter connected on 4 threes in one game and put 2 games out of the opponent's reach with clutch freethrows in the closing seconds. Hunter stood out on defense with her quickness, speed, and the ability to play on the ball and knock the ball out of the handlers hand. Offensively, she used penetration into the paint to draw fouls and create shots for her teammates.   [player_tooltip player_id='426396' first='Juliana' last='Ferguson'] played well during Splash and Nationals. She came into the tournament alread known as a scrappy player. She left with that reputation magnified. Ferguson took 10 or more charges over the 2 tournaments. In addition to setting the stage on defense, Ferguson was the playmaker on offense. She shot the three-ball well and got to the rim. She also created shots for her teammates.   [player_tooltip player_id='221698' first='Courtney' last='Lowe'] shot the three ball well and showed her versatility. She's a sniper from the three point line, but her mission was also to attack the rim which she did. Lowe's ability to score inside did not go unnoticed and neither did the solid defense she played. Lowe mixed it up on defense in the paint and outside in space. Lowe's play was very good. Lowe also had another game winner at the buzzer. That is a common occurrence from Lowe.   [player_tooltip player_id='495979' first='Zoe' last='Sedo'] was a blurr on the court and really played well in all facets of the game. She showcased her good handles, made great passes to teammates, and did what she does best - score the basketball. Sedo scored her 1000th career point in her Junior season, so she is well aquainted with the basket. She showed a lot of craftiness to her game, weaving through the defense and attacking from the baseline, in the paint, and getting easy buckets in transition. She was special in the transition game going coast to coast several times.   [player_tooltip player_id='248347' first='Nina' last='Green'] showcased her skillset at Splash and Championship. Green has a knack for scoring the basketball and can do so in a lot of ways. Her ability to score off the jump shot sets up her ability to drive to the rim and vice versa. Green has a lot of tools - she can shoot it from long range, short range, and has craftiness and creativity around the rim. Green also played well in the transiotion game and she flourishes in a game that goes upo and down the court. What stood out watching Green play up tempo was her court vision, decision making and pin point passes to her teammates. Green was impressive In Orlando- defintely a standout.   [player_tooltip player_id='221691' first='Mary' last='Kate Kent'] played well at Splash and National Championship. Kent who has always been a great shooter and scorer, showcased that smooth jumper, connecting on plethora of three pointers during thje live period in Orlando. She also did a good job of getting to the rim for some easy buckets. Defensively, she was good on the ball and also played in the passing lanes for steals and loose balls. Her biggest asset was her leadership. She was a great teamplayer and made those around her better.

With so many guards in the building during National Championship and Orlando Splash, we will have to list the guard standouts in two parts. In this article, we hilight some of the guards who stood out during the live period. Some were long range shooters, some were playmakers, and others were students of the game with basketball intelligence. Each player showed a unique skillset.