Standout Guard Play at the IE Thanksgiving Classic

Elite guard play stole the spotlight this week as several backcourt standouts delivered special performances that elevated their teams in key moments. From explosive downhill scorers to calm decision-makers who controlled pace, this group showed why guard play was the main course at the Inside Exposure Thanksgiving Classic. These guards didn't just fill the stat sheet—they dictated tempo, created advantages, and played with poise and leadership. In this article, we recognize some of the many guards who set the standard and delivered standout performances.    [player_tooltip player_id='880384' first='Jada' last='Clardy'] was one of the most electrifying players at the Thanksgiving Classic, and her performance flat-out stole the show. She plays with a level of bounce that makes it look like she's performing on a trampoline—springy and explosive on every possession. Clardy's offensive package is already college-ready. She operates confidently on the perimeter, breaks defenders down with her handle, and gets downhill with purpose. She can score it every which way: the smooth pull-up, the polished turnaround in the paint, creative reverse layups, a finger roll kissed with English, and a confident three-ball that keeps defenses honest. Her ability to change speeds, elevate on balance, and finish through contact makes her a matchup nightmare. Despite her elite skill set, Clardy blends in like a natural leader—encouraging teammates, playing unselfish, and carrying herself with maturity well beyond her sophomore years. She has star qualities, but plays with a team first mentality.         [player_tooltip player_id='1134047' first='Delanie' last='Doty'] is a smooth, confident guard with an elite tool bag and and aggressive scoring mindset. She shoots the three with quiet consistency and isn't afraid of any moment in the game. Doty connected on multiple clutch buckets, including a rare go-ahead four-point play that lifted Somerset in a critical stretch of the game. Her versatility extends beyond the three point line. Doty can put the ball on the floor, attack a closeout, and create space for her pull-up, showing a polished understanding of how to score the ball. The guard also plays on the defensive end of the floor. Her quick hands and help-side defense constantly created turnovers and extra possessions. Doty's blend of perimeter shot-making, timely play-making, and an elite, all-purpose skill-set makes her one of the best guards in the state of Florida.     [player_tooltip player_id='248355' first='Alana' last='Pinnock'] continues to show why she is regarded as the top ranking prospect in the 2028 class. She applies constant pressure on a defense, attacking with purpose and scoring from all levels — downhill drives, short mid-range touch, transition finishes, and trips to the foul line. What separates her is how effortless she makes it look. Pinnock has a natural ability to read angles, exploit mismatches, and score the ball. Her attack of the rim is powerful and controlled. She gets into the paint with intention, creates space with her body, and finishes through contact. Pinnock impacts the game on both sides of the floor, and her ability to score while staying composed and in control, cements her status as one of Florida's elite guards.         Alana Fabrini played with savvy, pace control, and a high offensive IQ that immediately stood  out.   What was noticeable is that she constantly put the defense in conflict with her ability to attack downhill, stop on a dime, and score from multiple levels on the floor.    Fabrini had the float game working and also mixed in three point shots, mid-range shots, and multiple transition scores.     The junior  guard also played well on the defensive end creating pressure and forcing and coming up with steals and forcing turnover down the stretch.  Fabrini's composure was  a separator.   When Somerset needed a spark, she delivered clutch play after clutch play- the definition of a standout prospect.      [player_tooltip player_id='514608' first='Evie' last='Freeman'] got it rolling early and never looked back. Once she found her rhythm, she went to work, putting relentless pressure on the defense and forcing them on their heels possession after possession. The senior guard played with an aggressiveness that set the tone for the entire game. Freeman's explosive first step was virtually unstoppable. She consistently blew past the initial defender, creating separation with ease and carving her way into the paint. Once she turned the corner, there was no slowing her down and she either scored at the rim or drew the foul. What stood out most is there were no threes and no settling for just putting up shots. It was just downhill aggression on every possession. Nearly every possession down the stretch ended with a bucket or a trim to the free-throw line.         [player_tooltip player_id='243916' first='Victoria' last='Valle'] put together a final day shooting display that grabbed attention. She moved exceptionally well without the ball and constantly shaped the floor with great spacing. In the second half her perimeter shooting stroke took over and she was knocking down threes from college range. Valle drilled a deep three from the left elbow and then caught fire, stacking perimeter threes with confidence and rhythm. The point guard showed versatility playing at the two primarily. She ran the floor extremely well, sprinting into open lanes and giving her team easy scoring opportunities in transition. Valle's blend of movement, IQ, and high-level shooting touch made her a dangerous offensive threat and standout at the Thanksgiving classic.     [player_tooltip player_id='874206' first='Bianca' last='Hall'] played very well at the Thanksgiving Classic, delivering one of the most versatile and impressive performances of the weekend. Her shooting from the perimeter was elite, and her ability to get into the paint and finish difficult, high-degree-of-difficulty shots separated her from a lot of point guards. When Hall faced off with Clardy, fans witnessed an absolute showcase of talent and offensive firepower. (the performances were so good there will be no need for dessert on Thanksgiving day). Hall handled the ball with control, shot it with confidence, and facilitated at a high level. There were stretches where she did everything except put the ball in the basket for her teammates — her passing was delivered with timing that created clean and easy looks for her teammates. Hall is a high-IQ guard who reads the floor and elevates everyone around her. Her balance of scoring, play making, and poise made her one of the standout players of the entire event.

Elite guard play stole the spotlight this week as several backcourt standouts delivered special performances that elevated their teams in key moments. From explosive downhill scorers to calm decision-makers who controlled pace, this group showed why guard play was the main course at the Inside Exposure Thanksgiving Classic. These guards didn't just fill the stat sheet—they dictated tempo, created advantages, and played with poise and leadership. In this article, we recognize some of the many guards who set the standard and delivered standout performances.