Class of 2023: NEPSAC Combo Guards
The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) is one of the country’s most prestigious basketball conferences. Not only are the athletes on these NEPSAC teams talented, but they are flexible players who can play multiple positions. Here are some…
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Continue ReadingThe New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) is one of the country’s most prestigious basketball conferences. Not only are the athletes on these NEPSAC teams talented, but they are flexible players who can play multiple positions. Here are some players who can take charge of being their respective team’s primary facilitator and play at a high level at the shooting guard position.
Aoibhe Gormley – Thayer Academy – 5’8” – PG/SG – 2023 (pictured above)
On defense, Gormley is as fierce a competitor as they come. A tremendous post defender, Gormley is valuable because she is strong enough to lock down bigger 2 guards when they try to back her down. She also possesses the lateral quickness to shut down the perimeter as well. Gormley is an intelligent playmaker and scorer and knows how to get to her spots on the floor. Not a player who will rely on speed to get to the hoop but rather crafty ball-handling that keeps the defense off balance. She is such an efficient outside shooter that defenses bite on her head fakes when she is sizing up the opposing teams on the perimeter. Once she has the defender on their heels, she makes her way to the basket and finishes the play with a creative layup. An excellent player with her off-hand, Gormley is a threat to score going right or left. She moves well without the ball and her pinpoint accuracy from three makes her a great scoring option when she comes off screens.
Chayil Mauristhene – Noble and Greenough – 5’8” – PG/SG – 2023
Noble and Greenough is a team that plays defense at a high level and wants to push the tempo and run and transition. Mauristhene’s game fits this mold because of her physical gifts along with her basketball I.Q. She is active in passing lanes, denying the ball, and can register steals regularly, leading to easy fastbreak layups. She has a nose for the ball, gets on the floor for loose balls, and gives maximum effort on defense, making her one of the most fun defenders to watch. A tenacious defender who moves her feet well and infuriates opposing teams with her relentless ball-hawking nature. Mauristhene leaps out in transition using her blinding speed, and her teammates do a good job hitting the sophomore guard in stride, where she showcases her creativity in the open court. She runs the floor beautifully, fills the lanes nicely, and has a great feel for the game and playing uptempo.
Shayne Burton – The Winchendon School – 5’7” – PG/SG – 2023
Burton’s playmaking from the wing is extraordinary. Her willingness to move the ball on offense and penetration and kick out ability keeps the Winchendon half-court offense flowing and opens up scoring opportunities for the other players on the court. Burton’s first step is lightning quick, and she can get by the first line of defense with ease. Although she is lethal with the ball in her hand, Burton is a great spot-up shooter. Her range extends beyond the three-point, proving to be a dangerous three-level scoring threat. A wizard in transition, there are not many players who strike more fear in a defense running downhill than Burton. Off a rebound, she flys up the court, showcasing her elite athleticism and can get to the rim or set up her teammates beautifully with pinpoint passes. A chippy defender who digs in every possession, Burton has the skillset and makeup to be a valuable two-way combo guard.
Mariana Padilla – Dexter Southfield – 5’9” – PG/SG – 2023
Padilla is one of the deadliest shooters at the guard spot. The lefty does not need much space to get her shot off, and has picture-perfect form and follow through. Padilla will pull up from anywhere on the court, and if the 5’9” guard has a little breathing room, she has no problem connecting from long range. A valuable player at the 2 because of her court awareness and ability to find open holes in the defense for catch and shoot opportunities. A terrific help-side defender, Padilla is always forcing turnovers and capitalizes on the mistake by running the fastbreak flawlessly, moving the ball up the court to her teammates. A great anticipator of inbound passes, Padilla picks off passes when Dexter Southfield switches to their full-court press. Her quick reflexes and reaction time is off the charts, and she gets under the skin of opposing teams with her intense aggressive defense.
Alana Scott – Bradford Christian Academy – 5’9” – PG/SG – 2023
Scott is a scoring machine, and when she isolates, the combo guard will dance on any defender scoring on them at will. Scott’s tight handle, mixed with her long strides, allow her to get by her defender, leading to mid-range pull-ups. A polished three-level scorer, Scott can sit behind the three-point line and be an automatic knockdown shooter. When the defense does closeout and gets in her shooting space, Scott can make a play on the fly for herself or the team. A quick trigger release, length, and concentration allow her to shoot over taller defenders. Scott is a smart playmaker and does not have to shoot to impact the game on offense. When she draws the defense, she does an excellent job hitting cutters giving them easy layup opportunities. You can tell that Scott is an unselfish facilitator by watching how her team moves on offense. No one is standing around watching her go one on one. They are continually moving into open areas knowing that Scott will hit them with an accurate pass at any given time.