Skilled 2025 Guards Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County has an abundance of talented players across its high schools who can impact the game in numerous ways. Today, I want to highlight five of the most skilled guards in the 2025 class that you should watch during their final run as they prepare for their senior seasons.    [player_tooltip player_id='430276' first='Khalia' last='Woodley'] is a confident player and an elite competitor. You put her on any team, and she earns a starting spot or valuable minutes. Khalia is a point guard who can do it all on the floor. She can run the system in a half-court offense, getting her teammates in the right position. She can also push the pace in transition, quickly getting the ball up the court, whether by finding her teammates for the outlet or driving all the way to the rim herself.   Woodley handles the ball well in tight spaces with a smooth crossover and quick counters. One of her standout skills is shooting. Her shooting technique is excellent—she gets the ball into her shot pocket off the catch or dribble, uses power from her legs, and follows through, releasing the ball at the top of her jump, making her a reliable shooter. It's clear she works consistently on balance and stance, giving her confidence and making her clutch in big-shot situations.   Khalia averaged 13.2 PPG, with a season-high 26-point game where she went 11/13 from the field, shooting 85%. For the season, she shot 38% from the field and averaged 3.4 assists per game, showcasing her quality as a point guard. Her strong travel season with ECU has helped her garner several collegiate offers. Heading into her senior season, Khalia looks even more confident and poised to improve her stats and percentages.     [player_tooltip player_id='442278' first='Noelle' last='Mengel'] is arguably the top scorer and biggest offensive threat in the Hillsborough County area. The University of Tampa commit has been a nightmare for opposing teams and coaches, as the lefty can light up the scoreboard quickly. Coming off a historic 30-1 season with Bloomingdale, she averaged 20.6 points per game, with a season-high 36-point performance. In 31 games, she scored in double digits in all but two, with multiple 20+ point games. On three separate occasions, she had four-game stretches where she scored 20+ points in four consecutive games.   Noelle's high-level scoring comes from all three levels, and her elite ball-handling skills help her get those shots off. She plays low, keeps the ball on a string, and gets to her spot with ease and confidence. Noelle scored 639 points in her junior year, surpassing the 1,000-point milestone, finishing the season with 1,187 points. I foresee her hitting the 1,500-point mark, a rare feat that could make her the top scorer in school history.   She is a must-watch in her senior season, as Bloomingdale aims to win the state championship this year.     (Cover Photo) [player_tooltip player_id='400773' first='JoLesa' last='Birkhead'] is the ultimate competitor and a great leader on the floor, evident by how hard she plays. Her work ethic is second to none. Jolesa also has the skill to match that work ethic, with excellent ball-handling that allows her to get to her spots on the court. She couples that with a smooth jump shot, making her a scoring threat whether shooting off the dribble, finishing at the rim, or knocking down the three off the catch. If defenders close out on her three-point shot, she has a sharp pump fake into a step-back three.   What really sets Jolesa apart is her basketball IQ and understanding of the game. She knows where everyone needs to be on the floor and communicates effectively, making her an outstanding leader. Last season, Birkhead averaged 24.1 PPG, with a season-high 42-point game. She had a great travel season with SWFL Impact, further elevating her skill set.   I expect her to have another successful high school season, as she is ready for the collegiate level, which is evident by the several offers she currently holds.     [player_tooltip player_id='663685' first='Dayla' last='Christopher'] is a truly positionless player, mainly playing the wing or point forward, but capable of filling any position from 1 to 5. She is the ultimate team player, always doing whatever is needed. Dayla excels at the little things—she's great at positioning herself to grab rebounds and can quickly get the ball up the floor in transition. As soon as she secures a rebound, she pushes the ball, often needing only a few dribbles before finding a sprinting teammate.   Defensively, Dayla is both physical enough to guard in the post and quick enough to defend on the wing. One skill that sets her apart is her passing ability; she draws defenders and effortlessly finds cutting teammates, making her a player others love to play with. Offensively, she's not an easy defensive assignment either. Dayla is decisive off the dribble, finishes well at the rim, and has great form when shooting off the catch. She is too fast for bigger defenders and too strong for smaller ones, and her relentless motor allows her to compete against more skilled players.   Last season, Dayla averaged 12.9 PPG and 8.9 rebounds per game, with her best performance coming against state runner-up River Ridge, where she scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, proving she can compete at a high level. Expect even more production in her senior year as she leads Wesley Chapel on a deep 5A state run.     There isn't much [player_tooltip player_id='346855' first='Naomi' last='Parker'] can't do. She can shoot off the dribble and the jab, and she's elite at splitting defenders and using her creativity to make acrobatic layups. Naomi handles the ball well and can run the offense, demonstrating a high basketball IQ that allows her to get her shot off whenever needed. She excels in transition and is creative with how she scores.   Defensively, she is very aggressive, staying right in her opponent's hip pocket and fighting over the top of screens.

Hillsborough County has an abundance of talented players across its high schools who can impact the game in numerous ways. Today, I want to highlight five of the most skilled guards in the 2025 class that you should watch during their final run as they prepare for their senior seasons.