Saturday’s 17u Guards caught my attention. (PGH Dynasty Finals)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>:Let's check a few of the 17u guards that caught my eye this Saturday in the PGH Dynasty Finals. I tried to move around and cover as many courts as possible Saturday from 9am to 6pm. If I missed you hit me up with those highlights. Tag me or follow X @coachjvick1 @abovelinehoops IG @coach_jvick</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1182352"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683d39582b1fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Combo guard that can play the ball handling and vision to play the point guard spot but also has deep range shooting capabilities that allows her to move to the 2 spot as well. Good baseline runner looking for the shot in the corner against the zone. Attack the baseline with the vision looking for the post to dot the I or hammer kick to the opposite corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What stood out the most was on defense. She played all over the place. In the 3-2 she battled for rebounds on the backside. In man she took on the taller players getting around them for the steals. At times she pressures the ball for a turnover. First time watching her play and just really liked the way she competed for every possession</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[1229467],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683d39582b279"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Combo guard that can play the 2 guard with her shooting ability but has a tough mid-range game that allows her to play the 3 guard if needed. I did like the rip and go at the 3-point line finishing with a good mid-range pull up. Possible match up problem when posting up against a guard and she showed she has some post footwork finishing with a spin move or up/under for the score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A long looking 5'7 that gets low and long on the ball defense causing problems on passes. No fear in crashing the boards scrapping for a loose ball rebound.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["744493"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683d39582b2d7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A difference maker on defense this past Saturday. If you are a coach that needs that turnover with a 5 second count. Erynn is your player. A quick and I mean quick guard that can move lateral on the ball giving up no ground at all. Great hops as the game I watched she has two amazing blocks. First one was coming out of the paint to block a 3 pointer. The other one was making up ground on a fast break to block a layup onto the next court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense she used the quickness to burst through the gap getting the rim for the layup. Good set of changes of speed off the dribble kept the defense off balanced. Excelled when the game became a 94 press and push tempo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["876333"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683d39582b333"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A combo guard that has the perfect skill set to play that position (she handles the ball and can shoot the 3) If I had to place her in the offense it would be that 2/3 slot. First, she moves without the ball and has a very nice shot on the catch. Second, she moves like slasher playing off the ball looking for backdoor cuts against a sleeping defender. Nice passes in the half court set making good decisions and very little turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A defender that moves up through the passing lane forcing back door cuts. Quick swivel; of the head and dropping the hands into the passing lane results in a deflection of out of bounds turnover. Nice hops on the rebounding allows her to crash the board from outside the paint to gain possession. A 2026 that has had a strong early summer circuit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486469"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683d39582b38b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A shooting guard that can get hot from the 3-point line in a hurry. A played that goes all out on both ends of the court. Moved great without the ball finding the open spots for the kick out 3. A hard driver to the rim that does not mind taking the hit for the bucket. A very tough on the ball defender that creates turnovers for layups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 2026 guard that brings a lot to the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1039195"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683d39582b3e1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Strong physical guard that can shoot the 3 or take you off the dribble for a layup. Moves around the outside finding the open gaps against the zone finding the open 3 or a flash inside the paint area. Strong push to the baseline in transition finishing at the rim for the bucket. Good vision at the point seeing the open gaps and throwing a hard pass on point to the open player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great low stance on defense with quick short steps lateral to keep the ball handler in front. Reads the lanes on the next resulting in a steal or deflection. A player that I know my counterparts in Texas have covered so check out her write ups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["946281"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683d39582b435"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">First time watching Rihanna play and I was impressed with her ball handling up the court for one. Constantly changing speed and hands weaving past the press with eyes up looking for the open player on the backside for a easy score. Showed range on the 3 knocking several down in the game I watched. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> A very solid on the ball defender that talked and kept chest on the ball. Showed great defense by fighting over the screens sticking to the ball handler. Talked and showed great energy on defense. Look forward to checking out profile and following her next 2 years of school ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["876710"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683d39582b488"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A quick point guard that has a nice pocket hesi to change her speed and direction getting by her defender Nice vision against the pressure always keeping her eyes up the floor. A good sense of reading the defense in half court sets seeing the open spots before it happens. Great example is the back door cut passes for layups. The outside shooting ability stretches out the defense creating driving lanes for her</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tough defender on the ball that works you side to side just wanting to take a weak crossover or pick back pocket on the reverse spin. An up-tempo guard that never seemed to get tired on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->