Standout Guards on the Independent Grind

While postseason attention and playoff brackets have dominated the headlines, the independent gyms delivered a showcase of high-level play. There were numerous elite guards who really caught my attention. From pace controllers to downhill attackers, perimeter shooting, and defensive tone-setters, these back court performers dictated games possession by possession. As the Independent playoffs loom large, these guards stood out during this grind it out period of the season.    [player_tooltip player_id='248680' first='Janiya' last='Swift'] played with maturity and balance. She hit a deep corner three, attacked the rim, drew fouls, and played through contact. Swift displayed a complete offensive package, scoring from on all levels on the floor. The junior guard has the ability to attack with physicality and also take the hit and score through contact. Her high IQ showed in her decision-making and composure. Swift is rarely sped up, makes good decisions on the floor, and consistently makes winning plays for her team.     [player_tooltip player_id='248551' first='Alanna' last='Tatum'] was on her "A-game" against Southeastern Prep Academy. Everything ran through the point guard and she delivered a big time performance. Tatum repeatedly got downhill for quality looks, knocked down pull-up threes, and even scored a beautiful pull-up mid-range off the glass. On the defensive end she was elite on the ball, setting the tone with tough on the ball defense. Tatum did a good job of controlling the pace on the offensive end. She does a good job of playing her game and not letting the defense speed her up. Tatum was also very good in transition. She displayed excellent court vision and advanced the ball vertically when teammates got out on the break. Several times she maneuvered through the defense for a quality shot for herself or teammates.     [player_tooltip player_id='400818' first='Kennedi' last='Tatum'] stayed composed despite physical play. She attacked the rim effectively, earned trips to the free-throw line, and handled contact in transition without backing down. Tatum played very well over a three game period and showcased a nice shooting touch from the perimeter. Her defense was very good and she showed a lot of speed and an ability to play physical on both ends of the floor.     Sofia Acuna ran the show with poise. She controlled tempo, read help defenders, and consistently created easy shots for teammates by drawing double teams. Acuna does a good job of balancing scoring and facilitating. When she looked to score, she showed a serious skillset. On one play she drove baseline where she hung in the air and finished with a short lay up. Acuna can step back and hit the three, go either direction, rebound, and finish at the rim. She is a true floor general who plays the game with great composure and instincts.     [player_tooltip player_id='646516' first='London' last='Baez'] really stood out. She was another guard who let the game come to her. Baez scored from the elbow and was smooth on the baseline. She is  really a very crafty young player who can shoot from multiple areas on the court. Her defense was also impressive. Baez used her height and length to disrupt offensive flow and showed versatility on the defensive end of the floor. She covered well on the inside and was impressive on switching defenses after picks. Baez's jump shot was smooth and she did a good job of scoring on the perimeter.     [player_tooltip player_id='768731' first='Roslyn' last='Weston'] impacted the game in transition as well as in the half court. She pushed the break off of rebounds herself, outrunning the defense to the other end of the floor. even when she didn't score she caused the defense to react, creating scoring opportunities for her teammates. Weston later ran the lane for another finish and knocked down a three, showing balance in her attack. Her awareness and instincts stood out on the defensive end. Weston repeatedly jumped passing lanes for steals and conversions.     [player_tooltip player_id='400817' first='Londyn' last='Tatum'] stood out an athletic competitor who impacted the game on both ends. She defended aggressively and finished a fast-break layup with great speed and craftiness. Tatum displayed high level athleticism. She has the speed, the lateral movement, the vertical jump, and the ability to cut off a guards path to the rim. Tatum also shot it well from the perimeter and got downhill to the basket a few times.

While postseason attention and playoff brackets have dominated the headlines, the independent gyms delivered a showcase of high-level play. There were numerous elite guards who really caught my attention. From pace controllers to downhill attackers, perimeter shooting, and defensive tone-setters, these back court performers dictated games possession by possession. As the Independent playoffs loom large, these guards stood out during this grind it out period of the season.