Neville Jones Invitational: 2025 Standout Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw a variety of players from the 2025 class as I covered multiple games at the Neville Jones Invitational and the NEW FACES really did it for me but so did the progression from players I already knew about</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ariel Morris-5'0 PG ([program_tooltip program_id='712934' first='Team' last='Lex'] Elite)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I hashtag #sizedontamtter for a variety of reasons and the main one is when a player can play, Morris showed she could do just that. Her handling of the ball under pressure was one thing yet her hitting teammates in the open court from beyond 20 feet was another. She also saw the floor in the set, she understands how to control the tempo and she created her shot to drop the jumper or attack the basket, On top of all that, she played the passing lane </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='882353' first='Camille' last='Mitchell']-5'3 PG ([program_tooltip program_id='715730' first='Hoop' last='Culture'] DFW 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mitchell is an athletic guard that brought heat on both ends of the court using her athleticism. Her "on-the-ball pressure" helped create turnovers, quick hands produced steals and she plays the passing lane. Just as important was her handling the ball after the steal and seeing the floor both in the open court, as well as in the set. She created her shot and used a deceptive first step to attack the basket and finish and she gets the #sizedontmatter hashtag because she can play</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Neela Castillo-5'7 SG (2025 Stat Elite-Brittany)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Castillo sowed solid curt vision period and I enjoyed watching her thread the needle between defenders to give her teammates good looks. Her first step had a slight HEZ and that helped get the defender off balance for her to attack the basket and score but her pull-up jumper in both the set as well as in transition was also nice </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Macy Mills-5'6 G ([program_tooltip program_id='712401' first='Arkansas' last='Sting'] 17U) AR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mills set the defender up nicely with a variety of fakes to attack the basket and her body control was equally impressive as it helped her finish after contact. She also did a good job of not only creating her shot but knocking the jumper down while being defended. Her defense was solid but she also understands positioning and outrebounded taller players, plus she saw the floor in transition </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wila Davis-5'6 PG ([program_tooltip program_id='712952' first='Texas' last='Elite'] East Texas Spurs) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis showed she knock down shots, mid to long range, but her court vision was also solid, so was her defense and she too was one of the players I saw playing the passing lane strongly </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885871' first='Kalyse' last='Buffin']-5'7 PG ([program_tooltip program_id='712952' first='Texas' last='Elite'] East Texas Spurs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buffin also shot it from outside like her teammate plus on top of her mid to long-range, she did a good job attacking the basket from multiple angles and finish using body control, after the lick</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Armya Amos-Horsley-5'4 G (Lee Green Basketball)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amos-Horsley played solid defense baseline to baseline and her hands were also nice as she picked some pockets which led to scoring opportunities. She saw the floor in transition as well as in the half-court, she also attacked the basket strongly and finished after contact. To add even more, she showed she could not only shoot from outside but "catch and shoot" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->