Top-Ranked ’28 Jhaliana Guy Keeping Open Mind

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last spring, shortly after her freshman prep season concluded, [player_tooltip player_id='643486' first='Jhaliana' last='Guy'] believed she'd already found her college home. The dynamic 2028 point guard verbally committed to prestigious Stanford University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A year later, she began having second thoughts. On May 31, the Clinton (IA) High junior reopened her recruitment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I felt like I needed to take a step back and make sure I was making the best decision for myself long term," Guy said. "Right now, I'm keeping an open mind and giving schools the opportunity to show me what they have to offer in terms of development. I'm excited to learn more about different programs and find the best fit for me."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There will be no shortage of opportunities for Prep Girls Hoops Iowa's top ranked player in '28. National champion UCLA is back involved in the pursuit of her services. So are home state Iowa and Iowa State as well as a bunch of other top programs. More will follow as she swishes and dishes with Mac Irvin Fire next month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patience and perseverance will be important for schools seeking her pledge. Guy wants her next commitment to be her last. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I'm trying to take my time and really evaluate everything. I'm looking for a place where I can continue to develop as a player and person, build strong relationships with the coaching staff, and feel comfortable in the environment and culture," she said. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I don't have an exact commitment timeline right now. I just want to make sure I make the right decision for my future."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guy still is putting together a visit schedule. A list of campuses she'd like to see speaks to her status.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Right now, I plan to visit Duke, UConn, UCLA, USC, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Iowa State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and TCU. I'm looking forward to learning more about each program and seeing what makes them unique," she said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guy, who averaged 24.4 points, 3.3 steals, 1.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds as a sophomore, isn't just the state's top '28, she's among the country's best players in the class. She's a finalist for the 2026 USA Basketball Women's U17 National Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high-profile player reopening her recruitment brings with it adulation and recognition. It can interfere with focus and development. Guy is prepared for it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I try not to focus too much on the attention. I have great people around me who keep me grounded and remind me that there's always more work to do. At the end of the day, I know I still have a lot to improve on, so I stay focused on getting better and helping my team succeed,” she said. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guy's commitment to Stanford spoke to the importance of education in choosing a college. That hasn't changed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Academics are very important to me because I believe how you do anything is how you do everything. Basketball won't last forever, so I want to be somewhere that prepares me for life beyond the game and provides opportunities for my future,” she said. <br><br>“I'm still exploring what I want to study, but I want to choose something I'm passionate about that will help set me up for success. Right now, though, my focus is earning a degree in basketball while preparing for whatever comes next.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->