Elite backcourts together again for June action

<p></p>   <p>As we get into teams playing with their high school, I took a look at a few of the top returning backcourts in the state of Washington. Not only are they super talented, the youth is also abundant which bodes well for some entertainment the next few years.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lake Washington</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Hard to say she might not be the most dynamic guard on her team since she is one of the most dynamic guards in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='676259' first='Julia' last='Benthin'] is right there with her as both posses excellent skill sets across the board. Ashley has a knack for getting herself open looks off the dribble, using the athletic ability. She has a high ceiling and college coaches would be crazy not to pursue her. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">A top 3 freshman in the state. Possibly the top freshman although [player_tooltip player_id='748943' first='Aylah' last='Cornwall'] might have something to say about that. Both are explosive and can create plays at an elite level, getting their teammates involved or taking over games. Excellent off the dribble, strong, in control, and smart. It's quite impressive how she has developed into as good a player as she is. Only a sophomore to be, she will be rolling in the college offers. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">While not quite as flashy as her two backcourt mates, Paige has her own special talents. She is a shooter, and an elite one. She does things right, doesn't make a lot of mistakes and epitomozes true guard play. She is sneaky good or great at getting to the basket under control to make plays. Her basketball IQ is one of the best I have seen lately in the state of Washington. A guard any coach would love to have. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">A big time shooter. I've seen this first hand a couple years ago at the Expo in Bellevue. She was lights out from long distance, knocking down three after three. A great addition to the already ultra talented backcourt at Lake Washington.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Thurston</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">An elite level player with tremendous guard skills. She has some of the best handles in the state. She's super quick off the dribble and can lose the defense seemingly at will to get her shots off from anywhere. She managed to drop 27 points a game last season. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">An athletic 2 or 3 with a lot of versatility on offense and defense. She has improved her offensive game and has a nice touch on the jumper. Her game is best suited as that athlete who does many things well. If she continues to develop offensively, she is a player who could play at the next level. She averaged 13 points per game last season. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Archbishop Murphy</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">A pure knock down shooter who has developed into a more complete offensive player. She has a mid-range game that has gotten to be a weapon to go along with her unlimited range. She has the guard skills to be effective bringing it up vs pressure. Always an elite shooter, she has become an elite player on the offensive end. Certification in getting buckets. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Ava seems like she has been around forever. Dating back to her being selected to the all tournament team as a freshman at state. She is a high energy player, creates well and excels in the open floor. A great athlete with skills to be an elite level guard in class 2A or beyond. She has had a good off-season, and expect big things from her as part of a backcourt that should challenge for a state title next season.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">It's been a year or so ago but I saw her in a summer tournament and was impressed with her overall game. She displayed solid guard skills, wasn't afraid of getting into the paint and drawing fouls and handles the ball well. She may be a third wheel but she will be important if ABM wants to make a deep run in the playoffs next season. Just a solid all around player who will help deliver some of the things ABM needs from her.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Camas</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">One of the more flashy point guards in the state. She has exceptional court vision and rarely misses the chance to use it. She has been a perfect floor general for Camas with all the weapons at her disposal. She does more than that though as a good shooter who can get into the lane and finish with floaters and craftiness. Her ball skills are of the elite variety.</p>    <p></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Sophie has had the role of being a knock down three point shooter the last couple of years. She did it well as one of the best in the state at knocking down open looks. It should be more of a variety next season with the loss of key pieces at Camas. Sophie should elevate her game and show she is much more than a shooter</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Saw her at the Expo as well. She was great and an all tournament selection. She has some versatility and knows how to score the basketball. She can shoot it from three and maybe her best asset is the mid-range game. She obviously has a high understanding of the games and looks to be one of the next up for Camas. She would have started at most any other school as a freshman. She'll get her opportunity to show her all around gaeme next season. Another guard who should get her chance to shine is [player_tooltip player_id='751209' first='Eliana' last='Gibson'], whom I featured in an earlier article. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gonzaga Prep </h2>     <p class="text-gray-700">.</p>   <p>The most dynamic of the freshman guards in the state along with [player_tooltip player_id='676259' first='Julia' last='Benthin']. Aylah is fearless with elite skills on the offensive and. She can score from all levels by using some moves that are rare for any classes much less a freshman. She is also unselfish and gets her teammates involved with court vision and breaking down the defense. She is a division 1 guard in the making and with some of the other youth at Gonzaga Prep, look for them to challenge for a gold ball next season. She'll have plenty of help in the backcourt with [player_tooltip player_id='746725' first='Olivia' last='McIntyre'], Bella Hermadez, and Quin Pedersen to name a few. This is an extremely young team that lost to Camas in the state title game last season.</p>