Guards dashing and dishing — top assist-makers on the Nice List

There will never not be room on a college team's roster for a consistent, playmaking, assist-getting guard. The more reliable you are when handling the rock, the more minutes you'll earn on the floor — it's that simple. Think top WNBA guards like Skylar Diggins, Veronica Burton, Rhyne Howard, or Natasha Cloud — they make plays for themselves at the right time, know when to dish the ball for a dime, and play big-time minutes on a consistent basis for their respective teams.   Check out my favorite high school players in Iowa who are doing their best Veronica Burton impression (I would have said Skylar Diggins but I think her technicals this season might have landed her on the Naughty List). Dashing, dancing, and dishing — these five players are filling up their stockings with assists and are definitely on Santa's Nice List this holiday season.    If [player_tooltip player_id='880903' first='Addie' last='McLaughlin'] isn't on your wish list as a college coach, you need to write her name down. The 5'5" super sophomore is exceeding all expectations and leading her IC Regina team to a strong first half of the season (7-2). McLaughlin checks all the boxes — a silky smooth + accurate jumper (shooting at 35% on the year), an explosive first step to fly past defenders off the dribble, excellent handles, and one of the top assist counts in the state (58). I love McLaughlin's bounce and ease with the basketball. She doesn't get sped up, makes defenses adjust to her pace, and is comfortable finishing at tough angles with both hands in the paint. If her season stats (26PPG, 5.6RPG, 6.4APG, and 5.6SPG) aren't indicative enough of the season she's having, her last game — a 41 point outing against ranked Tipton — should convince you!     Jaylee Shaffer is quietly having an impressive year for the Mount Ayr Raiders. She's averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds per game, and her ability to pass the rock definitely has her in Santa's good books this year. The junior guard is dishing out 4.3 assists per night and tallying only 1.4 turnovers — that's an assist to turnover ratio of 3! Coming off a stellar season on the golf course where Shaffer was named the 2025 Iowa PGA Junior Tour Girls Player of the Year, Shaffer has brought this levelheadedness and focus to the hardwood. Mount Ayr has started the year 9-0 and their success has a lot to do with Shaffer's stability with the ball and stellar shooting from beyond the arc, where she hits over 40% of her attempts.     [player_tooltip player_id='834858' first='Addison' last='Woelfel'] is putting together a very solid season on both ends of the floor at Bettendorf High School. The crafty guard has a dangerous shot from range with and does a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs — from scoring (5.2PPG), hitting the boards (4.8RPG), to turning up the heat on defense, where she's averaging 2.4 steals per game. One of the best attributes that Woelfel brings to the floor is her ball security and ability to create for her teammates. She is dishing out 3.1 assists per game while only accounting for 0.6 turnovers. She's proven her worth on the floor and has helped pace Bettendorf to a 7-1 record in 2025. Combined with teammate Haley Engels for 7.3 dimes per game, Woelfel is spreading lots of holiday cheer this season.     There is a lot of excitement coming from [player_tooltip player_id='1160666' first='Josie' last='Hutcheson']'s balanced Mediapolis team, and her production so far has been one of the highlights. The Bullettes have four players averaging over nine points per game this season and a lot of that scoring success has to do with Hutcheson's ability to pass the rock. The guard/forward combo is averaging 3.4 assists per outing and has an eye-popping assist to turnover ratio of 5.4. Scoring 11.2 points per game and pulling in 6.1 rebounds is just the cherry on top for this versatile, senior captain. She is a threat from inside the paint and out, is an unselfish passer, and just knows how to help her team win (the Bulldogs are, unsurprisingly, undefeated). What's not to like about [player_tooltip player_id='1160666' first='Josie' last='Hutcheson']?     Maddy Hendershot is an important cog in the wheel that helps Grundy Center go. The Spartans get scoring from a number of players and Hendershot is the go-to guard that's getting her teammates involved. She's averaging just under four dimes per game while keeping turnovers low — her A/TO ratio is a solid 2.64. The adaptable point guard / shooting guard combo can transition between point guard and guard positions with ease, is leading her team in steals, and is shooting 44% from the floor overall. You can depend on Hendershot to do lots of things right with uber-active hands, speed in transition and unselfishness with the ball — it's no surprise that Grundy Center is one of the top teams in the North Iowa Cedar Conference this season.

There will never not be room on a college team's roster for a consistent, playmaking, assist-getting guard. The more reliable you are when handling the rock, the more minutes you'll earn on the floor — it's that simple. Think top WNBA guards like Skylar Diggins, Veronica Burton, Rhyne Howard, or Natasha Cloud — they make plays for themselves at the right time, know when to dish the ball for a dime, and play big-time minutes on a consistent basis for their respective teams.