Class 5 Guards to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Girls Hoops Missouri continues its preseason previews with a look at a group of Class 5 guards to watch this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top guard in Class 5 is Class of 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='777605' first='Amaya' last='Manuel'] of Lift for Life. The Hawks will be without Manuel for the season as she suffered a knee injury this fall. She is gradually moved up the national lists of top point guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='488377' first='Zha' last='Harris'] (Lift for Life): A 5'6 2026 point guard who is a two-way standout and a main cog in the Hawks back to back state championship seasons. As a junior, she averaged 13.5 points, 4.2 assists and 5.1 steals a game. She has multiple Division l scholarship offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='970743' first='Jazlyn' last='Rhodes'] (St. Teresa's Academy): A talented 5'9 2027 guard who led STA to a berth in the state championship game last season. As a sophomore, she averaged 14 points, four rebounds and three assists a game. She had nine steals in the state semifinals in a win over Helias.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='803071' first='Cara' last='Manuel'] (Lift for Life_): A 5'7 guard who is an excellent two-way player. As a sophomore, she averaged 9.2 points, two rebounds and two assists while shooting 42 percent from 3-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='722134' first='Quinn' last='Aldridge'] (Marshfield): A 5'10” 2026 guard who will be a four-year standout for the Jays. She was an All-State selection after averaging 12 points, two assists and two steals as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nylah Scales (Cardinal Ritter): A 5'6 2027 point guard who has good quickness and an uncanny ability to finish in the lane at a variety of angles. As a sophomore, she averaged 12.7 points while making 40 percent on 3-point range with 50 made triples.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ansley McWilliams (West Plains): A 5'6 2028 point guard who is a talented young prospect in the SWMO area. She has speed and good 3-point range. She was the Prep Girls Hoops Missouri Class 5 Co-Freshman of the Year last season. She has already received offers from Division l and ll programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='690379' first='Malia' last='Stolte'] (Hannibal): A 5'8 2026 point guard who is a three-sport standout who also excels in soccer and volleyball. On the basketball court, she is an outstanding scorer and playmaker. She averaged 22 points, six assists and six steals a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='457728' first='Jael' last='Green'] (University City): A 5'5 2026 point guard who has been a standout for the Lions since her freshman year. She averaged 13 points, four assists and three rebounds a game in leading the Lions to a 21-8 record and a district championship </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ava Vanacek (Webster Groves): A 5'9 2026 guard who returns for her fourth season of varsity duty. As a junior, she averaged 12 points and three rebounds a game while making 58 3-pointers. She has given a commitment to Lincoln University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='493372' first='Alanah' last='Howard'] (Cardinal Ritter): A 5'7 2026 point guard who is a standout floor general and team leader. As a junior, she averaged nine points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='493477' first='Diamond' last='Polk'] (Lift for Life): A 5'8 2026 guard who provided consistent perimeter shooting for the defending state champions. As he averaged 10 points a game while making 61 3-pointers on 38 percent shooting from long distance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1124567' first='Jayli' last='Howell'] (Helias): A 5'7 2026 guard who returns after leading the Crusaders to a Final Four berth last season. She averaged 12 points and four rebounds a game as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->