Wofford Team Camp: Dynamic Guard Play

The number of very successful teams with very talented players participating at Wofford Team Camp was impressive, almost overwhelming at times trying to pick the best game to go watch. For the various reasons I ended up watching the following teams and these players stood out as dynamic playmakers at the guard position. Each will have the chance with multiple opportunities to choose from to play on the next level in college.    I have seen Blythe play with Team KMA for years on several occasions, but it was a first to see her running wth her high school team at Wofford. She is surrounded by some other very skilled and talented players in the backcourt, but she appeared to be the leader both vocally running the offense and with her play by defending, rebounding, and scoring at high level while also distributing the ball to her teammates. In their matchup with Galloway, another talented team from Georgia, Cunningham was excellent getting the ball up the floor in transition with timely kick ahead passes and also her handle and quickness. I know Blythe can score the ball in a lot of ways, so it was very good to see another side of her game where she is just as impressive and impactful. When left open she made Galloway pay shooting from the perimeter. Cunningham was also effective driving the ball to the basket and drawing fouls and then converting her shots from the free throw line.     Carr was another player in the Wesleyan Christian vs Galloway game that stood out with her play. She, Blythe, and [player_tooltip player_id='1250890' first='Brooke' last='Parker'] all took turns bringing the ball up and running the offense while also getting their shot attempts and buckets when their number was called. Carr has deep range and very quick release which allowed her to get her shot off when defenders helped off of her on penetration and when she was coming off screens. She was very quick and elusive when she was handling the ball as well as being efficient and responsible. She let the game come to her and did not force anything that wasn't there on the offensive end (passes or shots). However, she was not a ball stopper and was decisive in her decision making. If the play wasn't there immediately, Carr whipped the ball to a teammate a cut within 2-3 seconds. She is a player college coaches should have on their radars.     Brooke is a player I know from the past playing with David Kent and his Team KMA program years ago. I didn't recognize her immediately as it had been awhile, but when the game got going I keep asking myself who is number ten, I know them. Come to find out, Brooke, understandably so, decided to take a break from the game and has recently returned playing with her high school this June. Parker was effective shooting the ball from the wing and top of the key and looked competent and confident leading the fast break for her team. She has very good size and length and the game to go with it. She should quick burst with the ball and did a great job pushing her initial dribble out covering a lot of ground after steals and rebounds pushing the ball in transition.     Wakefield had a very nice game for Galloway, against a guard heavy Wesleyan Christian team ,running the point guard position for the majority of the game. She was effective getting Galloway settled and into their sets in the half court where several times she ended up with the ball back in her hands looking to score. Wakefield is one of the better shooters in Georgia, but did not rely solely on bombs from long range in this game. She did hit more than one, but was most dangerous pushing the ball on the break and finding her talented teammates on some occasions while electing to keep the ball and score on others. She is a finely skilled, fundamentally based player who plays with a high basketball IQ and values the importance of good possessions of basketball on the offensive end.     Campbell was one of the better combo guards I saw at Wofford team camp on Day One. Much like Wesleyan Christian's backcourt, Epting is joined by other very talented guards, [player_tooltip player_id='753233' first='Lila' last='Mann'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1606084' first='Addie' last='Mitchum'] and others, for Daniel. Those three took turns bringing the ball and running the offense while also scoring the vast majority of the team's points against a very talented, young Gainesville team. Campbell showed some sharp, succinct ball handling that allowed her to create space for her to get her shot off from three, the paint, and at the rim. She has a quick, fundamentally sound shot and release and buried several shots from different spots on the court. In one on one situations, Epting had no fear breaking down guards off the bounce and getting into the heart of the defense before forcing the defense to collapse. She and her fellow guards took control of the game for long stretches with their games, but also with their experience as she has been playing varsity basketball since middle school. She was a very skilled player on a fun to team to watch. She is definitely a player who can contribute on the next level at the right college program.     Mann was another guard from Daniel who really impressed with her play against Gainesville and some of the highest ranked younger players in Georgia. She, like Campbell used her experience and size to effectively help control the game for the first three quarters. She is a slick ball handler who has escapability with the dribble when it is necessary in traps as well as the ability to blow by quick defenders in man to man situations. She scored the ball from all three levels herself, while also helping to initiate and facilitate the offense for Daniel. She is a finely skilled player on the offensive end who competed hard on the glass and on the defensive end as well. She is a player I look forward to seeing play again.

The number of very successful teams with very talented players participating at Wofford Team Camp was impressive, almost overwhelming at times trying to pick the best game to go watch. For the various reasons I ended up watching the following teams and these players stood out as dynamic playmakers at the guard position. Each will have the chance with multiple opportunities to choose from to play on the next level in college.