Upperclassmen Guards To Know at XBL Fall League Week 2

I took in six games from the XBL Fall League this past weekend, with five games at AYA Athletic Center and another at Seffner Christian. The league featured plenty of talent from around the Tampa Bay area, giving everyone a chance to see a variety of players compete in a live setting. From emerging young prospects to players continuing to establish themselves, there were several names who caught my eye throughout the league. Here are some of the guards who made an impression during my time in the gym:    Sahara continues to show how she excels as a scorer, including an up-and-under finish and a runner off the glass for an and-one. Her shot from deep continues to look impressive with improved consistency, and she can knock down shots on the move as well. She has quickness and handles that allow her to create, while also keeping her eyes up to find open shooters. She is a leader on the floor who communicates and helps keep her team organized.     Kimora has always been one of the best defenders in the area and continues to bring that same level of intensity on that end. Her shot and form look very good and repeatable with a consistent ability to get the ball into her shooting pocket. She showed nice touch with a pass over the defense and made a tough spin move for an and-one finish. She also does a good job pushing the ball in transition with her passing.     Milaya showed good body control on a floater and knocked down a runner while also finding buckets in transition traffic. She controlled the offense and tempo well by using her quickness to get downhill with the dribble and put pressure on the defense. Milaya competed on both ends and consistently locks in defensively. She'll undoubtedly rise in the rankings in the next update.     Jenesis stayed locked in on the defensive end by pressuring the ball handler and jumping passing lanes to create turnovers. She plays with a strong motor and consistent energy while doing a good job complementing her team and filling whatever role was needed. Her shot looks good from deep, and she can put the ball on the floor to use her quickness to get to a runner or attack the middle.     Ja'Niyah was out there straight hoopin and making plays all over the floor. The lefty guard applied full-court pressure and came up with a steal and score, while also showing good vision to find teammates. She knocked down a 3 from the wing and delivered a length-of-the-court pass for an assist. She consistently created positive possessions and showed an ability to impact the game in multiple ways.     Riley showed nice elevation on her jumper and consistently got up for rebounds on both ends. She does a good job getting to two feet and playing with control, while also using a nice shot fake to create opportunities. She found open teammates in transition and showed a strong motor throughout the game. Riley does not take a play off on either end and did a strong job handling the ball, showing some versatility in how she can impact the game.     Maddie plays hard on both ends and brings consistent energy throughout the game. She knocked down an early 3 from the corner and showed a quick square-up by getting her shoulders and feet set on the catch for a long 2. Defensively, she does a good job reading the ball handler and jumping passing lanes. She also showed good instincts by sneaking behind the ball handler for a steal. I'm more and more impressed with her game each time I see her play.

I took in six games from the XBL Fall League this past weekend, with five games at AYA Athletic Center and another at Seffner Christian. The league featured plenty of talent from around the Tampa Bay area, giving everyone a chance to see a variety of players compete in a live setting. From emerging young prospects to players continuing to establish themselves, there were several names who caught my eye throughout the league. Here are some of the guards who made an impression during my time in the gym: