The Clash: Eye-Catching Guard Play

Guard play essential to any team's success especially and several caught my attention as I walked through Spooky Nook, causing me to stop for a minute or 30 depending on the situation. These made abnormally difficult plays and made them look easy against very strong competition. Each of these players brought their own unique style and set of skills to the game and each impacted the game in a major way with their play.    Mitchell was a terror up the sideline and on the wing, getting to the basket with elusive quickness and very good court awareness. She used a vast array of ball handling moves to get by and around defenders on the perimeter and embraced contact when she was met at the rim scoring through it. She valued each possession and did not try to create something that was not there, however when she saw any holes in the defense she attacked it under control and made the right basketball play. She plays on a very talented team that will be in front of plenty of college coaches over the next few months. I expect to see multiple offers by the end of that time period.     Griffin was a stat sheet stuffer in the game I watched [program_tooltip program_id='931970' first='Duval' last='Elite'] play, especially active on the boards using her size and length to grab multiple missed shots and turn defense into offense by getting the ball up the floor in transition by herself and with kick ahead passes. Defensively, Griffin used that same size and length to apply serious on ball pressure as well as getting into the passing lane deflecting and stealing the ball. She was very good in isolation plays by design or in the moment, she used one or two moves with the ball and got downhill without stopping the ball or waisting dribbles. Her motor and activity level was high throughout the game but she played with pace and under control throughout.     KP went on several scoring tears throughout The Clash for FBC NextUp scoring the ball in a variety of ways, coming from all three levels. Phillips was able to get to the painted area at will, both from the wings and baseline, as well as the top of the key in the harcourt. In transition she was equally effective and damaging to opposing defenses scoring the ball and finding her open teammates. She possess the kind of natural athletic ability that few players have and would be a high performing athlete at any sport that she chose. Because of the star power in front of her in high school, the playing time and experience she and every other young player needs she is getting now. Defensively she has the ability to take opposing players out of the game with her competitiveness and previously mentioned athleticism. Only a freshman, KP has a very bright future ahead of her.     Trocki played with a lot of skill, but it was her grit and toughness that accompanied that stood out to me. In a game that was hard on the neck due to its pace at times, Trocki seemed to always be in the middle of the action. Defensively, she did a nice job closing the space between herself and the player she was guarding under control as she closed out coming from help defense. Offensively, she attacked the rim and was not looking to avoid contact. She used a series of jab steps and head fakes to get by her defender on multiple trips down the floor for SLAAM. On the perimeter, she showed excellent form and consistency shooting the ball. Trocki has a quick release and moves well without the ball.     Carter put on a very impressive performance on the offensive end in the game I watched showing a lot of the tools in her bag. She is a big, physical player who has the strength to absorb contact and did not shy away from it. She attacked the basket relentlessly with great success and does one of the better jobs I have seen from a player securing the basketball before going up for layups on the move. She did this several times in transition and the half court, protecting the ball as she split defenders on her way to finishing at the basket or getting fouled and going to the free throw line. She shot the ball well from the perimeter, but it was a small sample size and need to see Calia play more. This was the first time I had watched Carter play, but it will not be the last as I look forward to watching her and her team again in Ohio in July.     Berry plays much bigger than her height is definitely a "big guard" with muscles coming out of her compression shirt and swagger in her stride. Berry is very crafty with the ball and, in isolation situations, got the best of her defender in the one on one matchup. She uses her power to initiate contact with defenders before elevating for finishes at the rim scoring and/or ending up at the free throw line. When the ball was not in Trin's hands she move with fluidity off the ball and cutting off screens before knocking down jumpers from the midrange and three point territory. Berry read the defense well and when the help came from her teammates she found them and hit them with passes in position to score. Defensively, Berry uses that strength and length while obstructing ball handlers' vision and preventing them from making easy passes. She recently committed to Longwood University in Virgina.

Guard play essential to any team's success especially and several caught my attention as I walked through Spooky Nook, causing me to stop for a minute or 30 depending on the situation. These made abnormally difficult plays and made them look easy against very strong competition. Each of these players brought their own unique style and set of skills to the game and each impacted the game in a major way with their play.