Looking for a player that just plays the game Elianna Gaines Elianna Gaines 5'6" | CG/SF Midlothian | 2026 State TX is that player. The combo guard / Small forward at times I felt like she put the team on her back when they needed that bucket. Shot the 3 ball well but was in her game when ran off the line creating her way to the rim for a score.

Strong physical guard that can shoot the 3 or take you off the dribble for a layup. Moves around the outside finding the open gaps against the zone finding the open 3 or a flash inside the paint area. Strong push to the baseline in transition finishing at the rim for the bucket. Good vision at the point seeing the open gaps and throwing a hard pass on point to the open player.

Great low stance on defense with quick short steps lateral to keep the ball handler in front. Reads the lanes on the next resulting in a steal or deflection. A player that I know my counterparts in Texas have covered so check out her write ups.

Gaines is a well-sized guard with a smooth spot-up three, she uses her body and footwork to score effectively in the midrange, often creating separation with smart pivots. She sees gaps in transition and attacks all the way to the rim, while bringing intensity as an aggressive on-ball defender.

A combo guard/forward that just played basketball this weekend. Mid-range jumpers to go along with outside filled the needs of the combo guard. Rebounding ability and inside toughness on defense filled the forward position. As mentioned, a player that just plays basketball. Check out coverage article below

A very versatile guard that has great size and is very strong player. Nice form and release on the outside shot. Hands and feet were ready not needing much time on the catch and release. Attacked the rim with quick first step then usinga using a small slide step move to avoid the charge. Finished at the rim with either hand not missing many layups when I watched. The thing that stood out to me was every time was when a shot went up she was crashing the offense boards coming away with a great share of them. Played all out every play in between the line and did not take off any that I noticed. A first team All District player this past season that is off to a great start this summer.

Gaines was more than a pleasant surprise at The EXPO, see evaluation here, and watching her standout during the opening session, aka the “3 on 3” grabbed my attention immediately yet her poise under pressure was just at another level when the games began. Lasting first impressions are great but I see plenty of upside in her game because of comprehension as well as playing within herself

Gaines gave me a little bit of everything in both the “3 on 3” and “5 on 5”. She’s a long and athletic guard who applied heat “on the ball” yet she also did what I love and that’s playing the passing lane. She rebounded and went coast to coast, showing a nice “change of pace” in transition but her pull-up jumper was effective, as was her scoring or dishing off the dribble. Court vision across the board was also solid