From Work Stops to Tip-Offs: Talented Young Guards on my travels

Again, for those who are not aware, I am a news reporter for KATV Channel 7 News in Little Rock in addition to my position with PGH. Because of that, I am often traveling to new cities almost every day, or at least covering a story based out of those locations. This past week, I went to Morrilton and Bryant to cover stories, and I spoke via Zoom with some people out of Hot Springs. Of course, I also stayed in town in Little Rock.   With that all in mind, here are some solid young guards from the towns I visited for work this past week.    [player_tooltip player_id='1260224' first='Bayleigh' last='Walker'] has been able to immediately establish her presence on this Lady Hornet team and instantly make an impact.   Walker's outside shooting ability makes her a deadly offensive weapon right away. She is automatic off the catch, and she has a smooth and quick release on her jumper.   On defense, the freshman has adapted to the speed of the game well. The 6A Central is full of talented guards, and she is being tested night after night and performing well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1260224' first='Bayleigh' last='Walker'] will have her breakout game/season before long, but until then, she is still an integral part of Bryant's team as their 6th player.     Darhiana Stricklen may be a bit older than some of the other players in this article, but this season, she has been thrust into action and is getting her first big taste of high school basketball.   Stricklen is capable of scoring the basketball, as she has already scored in double-digits multiple times this year, including her 10-point outing against a great Pulaski Academy squad. She also dropped 12 points on Huntsville in November and, more recently, she put up 10 points, 5 rebounds, and a steal against Joe T. Robinson.   Stricklen's shooting immediately jumps out at her when you watch her play. She has a very quick release on her jump shot, and she makes sure to put plenty of arc on it, especially once she receives a pass from around a screen. The junior is very confident in her outside shot. In one highlight in the game against Robinson, she had her 3-point shot blocked, but she caught it and launched it again, draining it for her third triple of the contest.   For a player like Darhiana Stricklen, confidence is going to continue to get her on the court, and it will be part of the reason why she joins the rankings after the next update.     Nevaeh Henry is coming off a career-high night, and after already making a significant impact for the Lady Rams, she definitely deserves a mention here.   Henry had her best scoring outing of the year against cross-town rival, Hot Springs, posting 15 points. She can obviously score the ball, which works well in this offense, playing alongside multiple other dynamic scorers. Her ability to be a spark off the bench is also important.   Nevaeh Henry is going to continue to get playing time if she keeps getting buckets off the bench as she has been so far, so keep an eye out for her this year.     What hasn't [player_tooltip player_id='1225338' first='Paytin' last='Moore'] been able to do this year? She is one of the best-kept secrets out of the 3A-5, and I think she will blossom into a star before long.   Moore is coming off a great outing against Mayflower, where she put up 14 points and 5 assists. She had another 14-point outing earlier this year against Dardanelle, where she included 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks to her statline.   Moore is an excellent playmaker. She keeps her eyes up and she works really well around screens, maneuvering her way into the paint, drawing the help, and zipping the pass over to an open shooter for an assist. Moore herself is an excellent outside shooter, as her shooting form looks effortless when she raises up from three.   [player_tooltip player_id='1225338' first='Paytin' last='Moore'] is already looking like Baptist Prep's point guard of the future, and the potential does not even compare against other guards in a similar position in the 2028 ranking.     [player_tooltip player_id='1262501' first='Stella' last='DeSalvo'] continues to improve week after week, and she will soon be one of the better stars the 5A Central has to offer.   DeSalvo has a great inside-outside game. She is lethal from beyond the arc, and you absolutely cannot leave her open from outside, because she will drain the look, especially off the catch.   When it comes to finishing in the paint, one thing that is evident immediately is that this freshman is more than capable of finishing with either hand, even through contact. She uses her length and athleticism to shoot over the defense in the post, and she does not seem to be bothered by heavy contests.   [player_tooltip player_id='1262501' first='Stella' last='DeSalvo'] is one of the most underrated players in her class, and everybody needs to go ahead and recognize that.

Again, for those who are not aware, I am a news reporter for KATV Channel 7 News in Little Rock in addition to my position with PGH. Because of that, I am often traveling to new cities almost every day, or at least covering a story based out of those locations. This past week, I went to Morrilton and Bryant to cover stories, and I spoke via Zoom with some people out of Hot Springs. Of course, I also stayed in town in Little Rock.