Sunflower Leaguers Lead Guard Standouts at I-35 Showcase Wichita

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday's I-35 Showcase at Andover's Farha YMCA attracted 80 players from Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Coaches from more than two dozen JUCO, NAIA and NCAA D II schools roamed the sidelines evaluating talent. Getting a thorough look at all of them was challenging but I was able to generate a list of guards who stood out. This follows on <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/09/arnold-banks-among-standouts-at-i-35-showcase-wichita/">post players</a> I felt stood out. Get to know them below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='779938' first='Emmarie' last='Barger'], 5'9", SG, Eisenhower, 2027 - Barger is a nice combination of solid frame, length, speed and athleticism. Defenders had trouble protecting the basket as she could get a step and score challenged shots with extension on both sides of the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544011' first='Laila' last='Johnson-Berndt'], 5'10", CG, Shawnee Mission South, 2025 - Johnson-Berndt was among the top players in the boxing out department. Few players did it well if they thought to do it at all and she was among the most consistent at doing it well. She also was one of the few players who could compete with the strongest post player on the day, [player_tooltip player_id='892865' first='Ryann' last='Arnold'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='746588' first='Rikai' last='Cook'], 5'6", SG, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 2027 - As I expected Cook continued to show effective use of her peripheral vision to defend off the ball, take advantage of open spaces and distribute the ball. She showed some handling ability against strong half-court, one-on-one pressure and some shooting chops. Cook has a quick release with no wasted movement and was among the top shooters in quick perimeter shooting drills. She has put a great deal of effort into developing her shot and improving her speed and quickness and it showed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544006' first='Lexi' last='Cooley'], 5'4", PG, Olathe West, 2026 - Cooley showed herself to be a tough, resilient and a position commanding point guard. She created well for her team and was able to take other experienced, talented point guards to the rack off the dribble. Cooley was among the few consistent three point threats and was able to knock them down over defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1255145' first='Josi' last='Hayes'], 5'7", CG, Fairview, 2028 - Hayes showed craftiness to get the best of bigs or smalls working one-on-one. She showed adeptness at using shoulder, ball and head fakes to create looks and an ability to finish with athleticism. Defensively she showed good balance and chested up laterally to the ball. Good quickness getting to the hole.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525604' first='Hope' last='Hughes'], 5'8", CG, Pratt, 2006 - Hughes had a bit of an up and down day but overall she consistently showed chops offensively on the perimeter and in the paint. While she has good speed, a solid game IQ and fluidness to her game what drives everything is her footwork. She put together multiple moves inside to create shots and used her quickness to get a step on basket attacks. While she was a perimeter threat where she was especially successful was in situations where her length was her edge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='838631' first='Mac' last='Medlock'], 5'10", SG, Burlington, 2027 - Medlock is know for her perimeter shooting but what caught my eye was her ability to change ends consistently well and use her shoulders to create clear interior shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1315706' first='McKinley' last='Sallee'], 5'6", CG, Cheney, 2029 - Sallee ought to make a splash in the Central Plains League this 2026 season. The scrappy guard looked to push tempo with the pass, was unafraid to drive in traffic and showed a nice step-back jumper off the drive. While she took some lumps defensively getting beat off the bounce her motor to compete never wavered. A lightish framed guard to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1220158' first='Tegan' last='Snodgrass'], 5'10", PG, Garden City, 2029 - Snodgrass showed consistent confidence in her handles and ability to create lanes to drive while working in space. Skill set is one thing but having the length she has at the position presented substantial match-up problems for most. Her handles were one problem but the ability to knock down shots with range was another. Her size and quality hops enabled her to take away many looks by those she defended and alter shots that did get off. Only the few stronger ball handlers who worked with speed and a low dribble found success in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1313129' first='Xoey' last='Waite'], 5'2", PG, Derby, 2027 - The young guard showed poise and headiness at the point. Her lateral quickness shut down many driving attempts and enabled her to get a step. While she got called for traveling on the finish Waite had a great moment when driving down the right side of the lane. She showed the ball terrifically to freeze a couple defenders and create a clear lay-up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->