Standout Guards in Florida’s Panhandle

In this article, we look in the western part of Florida and place the spotlight on some of the talented guards. Some of these players are known around the State, and many are unheralded. There are many more quality players in the 18 counties that make up Florida's Panhandle.    [player_tooltip player_id='880384' first='Jada' last='Clardy'] via probably the most heralded guard in the panhandle and in the State for that matter. The Freshman guard already has multiple D1 offers and many more to come. The young guard can do it all. Shoot the three, stop and pop in the midrange, get all the way to the rim, and maneuver into the paint for a few floaters. Clardy is just an offensive weapon and just had the ability to counter whatever the defense is doing. Clardy is a terror in transition game and can finish at a high rate, including contested plays that require creativity and craftiness. Clardy is just as committed on the defensive end where she can lock up her opponent and make them work for everything. Clardy rebounds well from the guard position and she is always grabbing it and going with it. She has playmaking abilities and can pass or take it all the way - all at an elite level.     [player_tooltip player_id='741323' first='Nylah' last='Brooks'] looked a little more mature and showcased some nice basketball skills. Brooks handles the ball with confidence, has good court vision, and has a high basketball IQ. Brooks made one beautiful pass to a cutting teammate while handling the ball at the top of the key. The vision and precision were impressive and shows the skillset of the young Sophomore. Brooks also utilizes her passing skills on inbound plays and that's a testament to her passing abilities and her coach's trust in those abilities. Brooks is also committed to the defensive side of the ball. She does a good job of playing in the passing lanes and getting steals. Brooks usually turns steals into positive play. On one play this month, she steals the ball and connects with her big for a layup. On another play, she gets the steal and takes it back for a contested bucket. Brooks is showcasing her skills as a playmaker. Sometimes it's a highlight real play and at other times it's a drive and kick to the open shooter.     [player_tooltip player_id='1158177' first='Laila' last='Snow'] was a player who caught my eye in the Booker Washington - Pine Forest matchup. Snow is quick,  has great body movement, and can really handle the ball. She can put it on a string and change directions in tight spaces.   Snow can also get downhill and get to the rim with great speed. With the threat of blowing by the defender. Snow creates a lot of space when shooting the three off of the dribble. Snow can stop on a dime and pull up for a nice midrange shot.  Her handles open up a lot of scoring opportunities. Snow can also pass the ball and does a good job of advancing the ball with the vertical pass for an easy basket. It recently snowed in Pensacola, but it's been snowing all year long on the basketball court.       McKiya McHenry caught our eye over the summer leading up to this basketball season. The young guard showcased some quality skills on the basketball court as well in addition to her speed and athleticism. McHenry can out the ball in the basket and scores in a variety of ways. She is shifty and hard for guards to slow down. The Junior guard generally scores in double digits. She recently went for 16 against a talented Rickards team who has some of the most talented guards in the State. She was right at her average against North Florida Gateway runner-up, Andrew Jackson, who also has a tough pair of athletic guards.     [player_tooltip player_id='1158180' first='Chrisshona' last='Bargaineer']  has a lot of athletic abilities.  Her speed on the floor is very impressive.   She has the ability to maneuver through the press and get downhill with great acceleration. Bargaineer can create for herself and can also create shots for her teammates. She has a nice float game and can also step behind the three-point line and knock it down. Bargaineer can put the ball in the basket and score from all three levels. She also knows how to draw fouls and get to the free throw lines.     [player_tooltip player_id='829395' first='Genesis' last='Henry'] is another guard that we are quite familiar with. Henry is athletic and thrives on getting to the rim, scoring in transition, and scoring off of turnovers. Henry is constantly on the move and does a great job of bringing the energy to the court. She does a good job of rebounding from the guard position (7.4 rebounds per game). Henry loves to get downhill and makes plays for her teammates when on the attack.     [player_tooltip player_id='1117631' first='Amirahs' last='Hayes'] is one of the top Junior guards in the Panhandle. She is a point guard who can score the basketball. Hayes can get to the rim, she loves pulling up in the midrange area and has a nice three-point shot. Hayes is a rhythm shooter and once she gets it going, she can knock them down in flurries. Hayes is also tough on the defensive end. She is an active defender who gets her hands on balls that lead to steals.    [player_tooltip player_id='1117631' first='Amirahs' last='Hayes']

In this article, we look in the western part of Florida and place the spotlight on some of the talented guards. Some of these players are known around the State, and many are unheralded. There are many more quality players in the 18 counties that make up Florida's Panhandle.