Day 1’s Must-Watch Guards at PGH’s Northeast Region Finals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Saturday, we got to see some high-end basketball for one of the biggest events on the Prep Girls Hoops calendar in Massapequa, NY. The guard play in particular was dynamic, with all sorts of impactful players showcasing their talents. Here are five of our top standout guards from Saturday afternoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1776045"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1cee2466d01"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaelyn Polanco absolutely dominated in UA1 Basketball's win over [program_tooltip program_id='713118' first='Hoopers' last='NY'] 16U on Saturday with her red-hot shooting from beyond the arc. The consistency of her shot-making was impressive to watch. She puts a nice arc on her shot and can shoot from long range off the catch. Her ability to also space the floor played a key role in their success. She knows how to be in the right spots, showcasing a good feel for the game as an off-ball threat. Polanco did a great job getting out in transition and running the floor hard. She for sure made her presence felt on the court with her combination of high motor and ability to fill up the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Analyah Tejada","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"The Hewitt School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Dreamers Elite","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1cee2466deb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Analyah plays with an infectious competitive energy when she's on the court. She competes on both ends of the floor, applying heavy ball pressure in the backcourt while serving as a primary initiator on offense. On the offensive side of the ball, Tejada is a smooth ball handler who can get to the rim and finish with a nice touch. She also displayed the ability to knock down jumpers on the perimeter. As we mentioned earlier, she gets after every possession and leads not only by example but also vocally on the floor. Tejada did a great job of keeping her team composed through adversity and in good spirits, which was one of her best traits as a player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1261621"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1cee2466e50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1261621' first='Natalee' last='Derricotte'] was a true 3-level scorer on Saturday afternoon. Her versatility as a scorer was exceptional; she showed off her perimeter shooting from both distance and mid-range. Derricotte was extremely comfortable getting to her spots off the dribble and rising up on defenders. She can get to the basket while finishing over rim protectors, showing that Natalee is not afraid of the moment. Derricotte also did an outstanding job getting out on the break for easy scoring opportunities, especially off turnovers. Her balance and creativity as a scorer impressed many for Team Museum on Saturday afternoon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["934225"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1cee2466eaa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elsa was one of the most fluid offensive players in the tournament on Saturday. She handles the ball at an elite level, keeping her defenders off balance, and gets to her spots anytime she wants. Xhekaj can get into the paint, read the defense, and find teammates for kickout passes. She also does a great job of playing out of the pick-and-roll. Elsa throws accurate passes. She makes life infinitely easier for her teammates. Xhekaj's instincts as a lead guard make her a fun player to watch. She can get into a scorer's mentality when it's needed as well. Her proficiency as a paint toucher can lead to some nice finishes at the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1231618"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1cee2466f00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jackson does a great job playing at different speeds. She can change pace, but when she turns on the jets, she can put a huge amount of pressure on a defense. Aerianna is a capable shot-maker but can get to the rim when she really wants to. She has legitimate floor-general traits as the primary ball handler, such as directing her teammates into the right spots. Jackson can also be a pest on the defensive end of the floor. She moves her feet well laterally and makes sure she's as disruptive as possible. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->