5 Guards Worth Watching in July

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are plenty of talented guards to watch this summer, but these 5 are players whose June performances recently caught my attention. Each showcased skills, playmaking ability, and competitiveness that stood out. I'm looking forward to following their development and seeing what they accomplish this month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["979394"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a4b19349a44a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hiltner impacts the game with her activity level, defensive instincts, and willingness to do the little things that help teams win. She rotates well defensively, anticipates passes to create transition opportunities, stays active in help defense, and boxes out. Offensively, she pushes the pace, attacks gaps off the dribble, finishes strong at the rim, creates for teammates, and crashes the offensively glass to generate second-chance opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["969077"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a4b19349a4b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Troth is a dynamic playmaker who creates offense with her handle, pace, and ability to read the floor. She creates space for her shot with crafty moves, attacks the paint off the catch, makes strong decisions in transition, and draws defenders before finding open teammates with timely kick-out passes. Defensively, she applies on-ball pressure, stays attached to ball handlers, and forces turnovers that quickly turn into offensive opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1095923"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a4b19349a504"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sanders is a poised guard who plays with confidence and makes smart decisions with the ball in her hands. She creates separation with her retreat-back, knocks down shots from beyond the arc, attacks gaps off the dribble, and finishes through contact at the rim while drawing an and-one. In transition, she pushes the pace, runs the floor well, and puts herself in position for quality scoring opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1308297"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a4b19349a54c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tran is an advanced young guard with the athleticism, skills, and composure to make plays in a variety of ways. She shoots confidently off the dribble, reads the defense well, and uses patience and proper footwork to finish efficiently around the rim, even against contact. In transition, she makes the right play, whether it's attacking the basket herself or advancing it up the floor to an open teammate for an easy scoring opportunity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1311558"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a4b19349a592"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McDowell puts herself in position to make plays on both ends of the floor. She moves well without the ball, stays shot-ready in triple threat, and is a reliable perimeter shooter who can knock down jumpers both off the catch and off the dribble. Defensively, she anticipates passing lanes, creates steals with active positioning, plays strong deny defense, and quickly turns into transition opportunities with smart outlet passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->