PGH Peach Games: Game Changing Guards

The second day of Prep Girls Hoops Peach Games was just as good a day as I remember in the gym watching quality teams and players compete against one another. The majority of the very best teams in Georgia are here, with the exception of a few, and several players, new and old, stepped up and helped their teams win meaningful games on Day Two. These guards changed the game with their play.    [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] came to play on Saturday, especially down the stretch of Team Hubbard Elite's huge overtime win over Her Elite 17U. [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] used her elite athleticism to make a meaningful impact on both ends of the floor for her team. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] is active and energetic pressuring the ball and causing steals and deflections jumping in the passing lane in help side defense. Offensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last='']' speed and agility allow her to get downhill on dribble penetration, draw the help defender, and set up her talented teammates with scoring opportunities. I have watched [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] for well over a year and have yet to see a team stop her driving to the basket or dictating pace on the break where she excels pushing the ball in transition.     Kendall has an excellent weekend for Redline 17U Jones at Peach Games. Arnett knows her strengths and she plays to them every time I watch her hoop. She is going to outwork everyone on the floor with her will and determination. Arnet has great size for a guard and is a very underrated athlete. She plays with great anticipation and a high IQ. Coaches do not have to run plays for Kendall, she plays the game so hard she will find ways to score without the ball in her hands. She is an outstanding offensive rebounder who has great reaction times and reflexes. She gets 6-8 points a game from offensive rebounds and put backs at the guard position which is very rare. Kendall was outstanding running the floor and finishing on the break in Game Three Saturday, especially with her left hand.     I thought JaNyrie had one of her better performances in person that I have seen from her on Saturday. She scored multiple times at the rim, finishing layups with both hands on several occasions as well as burying a huge three early in the game that helped extend the [program_tooltip program_id='1250230' first='Winners' last='United'] lead over Her Elite 16U EYCL. Robinson has elite quickness and plays the game with a very high IQ. She is a player who is very competitive with a diverse and impressive offensive skill set. She, along with [player_tooltip player_id='904616' first='Hailey' last='Houlder'] and Mack Setchel combine to make up one of the very best backcourts in the state and each of these kids will have options to play on the next level in college.     Saige is a young player I saw early in the season in a great matchup with [player_tooltip player_id='926798' first='Blaklee' last='Ledford'], one of the best sophomores in Georgia when Hebron took on eventual state champion Murray County. Saige stood out in that game with her quickness and shiftiness with and without the ball, her vocal leadership as a freshman on a team full of future college players running the point, and her ability to create space, attack holes in the defense, and make them pay by scoring the ball herself in tight windows with little space. Saige is a player who I believe is just now coming into her own as a player with her best basketball ahead of her. She is surrounded by future Power Four players and Walker fits right in. She knows her roles is to put pressure on the ball defensively, not turn the ball over, and find open teammates which she was excellent at on Saturday. Do not get it twisted, Saige can also go get a bucket for herself when necessary. An excellent point guard prospect in the 2029 class.     I thought Ansley played very well in a close game against a very talented and tough opponent in Game Three on Saturday. Dunn, as per usual, found a variety of ways to put the ball in the basket for [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] while also facilitating the offense and spread the ball around to her very talented teammates. Dunn did damage from the three point line multiple times throughout the game. She does not need a lot of time or space to get her shot off with a very quick release. Dunn has excellent ball handling as well and was able to penetrate the opposing defense several times throughout the game either finishing from the midrange or getting to the basket and scoring over taller defenders. One college coach sitting courtside made it clear how big of an impact Dunn would make for her program on the next level.

The second day of Prep Girls Hoops Peach Games was just as good a day as I remember in the gym watching quality teams and players compete against one another. The majority of the very best teams in Georgia are here, with the exception of a few, and several players, new and old, stepped up and helped their teams win meaningful games on Day Two. These guards changed the game with their play.