Gateway Challenge: Class of 2023 Shooting Guards/Wings

Prep Girls Hoops Missouri takes a look at some of the top Class of 2023 shooting guards/wings from the recent USJN Gateway Challenge, which was held in St. Louis.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-287915" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/Elauni-Bennett.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> <span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">[player_tooltip player_id="143703" first="Elauni" last="Bennett"] (Della Lamb 3SSB): An athletic 5’10" wing from Lee’s Summit North who is capable of impacting the game in a variety of ways. She can get inside and get buckets with some slippery moves in the lane. She is also an excellent slasher with a nice pull up jumper. She can also create a lot of disruption with her length and athleticism on the defensive end. She helped lead her talented team to a pool championship with her all-around floor game.</span>     <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-425940" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/700E8AC0-212C-42B3-81C7-D35320656BF5.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> [player_tooltip player_id="187633" first="Emani" last="Bennett"] (Della Lamb 3SSB): A 5’11" wing from Lee’s Summit North who is impressive in many facets of the game with her length and athleticism. She could excel anywhere on the floor with her all-around game. One moment, she’s posting up and getting a bucket and the next, she’s picking up guards in the backcourt and hounding them with her defensive pressure. She can score on nice slashing moves to the basket and her mid-range game is very effective. She could also get out in transition and get easy buckets. She helped lead her team to a pool championship.     <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-432515" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/DC878DED-77AA-402F-9D5C-FADA305A0861.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> [player_tooltip player_id="107018" first="Tkiyah" last="Nelson"] (St. Louis Phenom-Haden): A 5’11" 2023 wing from Whitfield who is an excellent all-purpose player who can do many things to help her team succeed. She has the ability to score on drives and perimeter jumpers, but she is a very unselfish player who can handle the ball as a playmaker and facilitate offense with her passing skills. She is a versatile defensive player who can guard multiple positions and do it very well.     <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412602" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/472537C0-C4DD-4816-80C3-2972501C683B.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> Abby Schrake (Southern Illinois Hawks): A 6’1" guard from Quincy Notre Dame (IL) who was one of the top talents in the entire tournament. She is a smooth playmaking guard who can get a bucket at all three levels. She can post up and knock down 3-pointers, but she really gets in her comfort zone when she’s able to get into the mid-range area and shoot over a smaller defender. Her feel for the game is excellent and she can pick her spots as to when to take over a game offensively and when to get her teammates involved.     <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-344505" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/7-Myra-Claas.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> [player_tooltip player_id="107020" first="Myra" last="Claas"] (MO Phenom-Baggett): A 5’7" guard from Tipton who can really shoot the ball from long distance. However, she is much more than a 3-point shooter. She has the ability to create buckets off the dribble and score at all three levels. She has good footwork and uses ball fakes well to set up her defender. She also has a very nice runner in the lane.     <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-301722" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/5DE99450-C2ED-4CE1-805E-600DA71A3A70.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> [player_tooltip player_id="261896" first="Bailey" last="Burns"] (Della Lamb 3SSB):     [caption id="attachment_264105" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-264105" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/21E4B1F3-223C-47E8-9230-ED6A154C828D-300x212.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="212" /> Photo: Wiley Price St Louis American[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="170601" first="Raychel" last="Jones"] (Midwest United): A 5’10" guard from Vashon who is a versatile performer and a matchup problem. She has the skills and the basketball IQ to play the point guard role if needed. She also has the low post skills to score in the paint as well. She is a strong rebounder who is capable of taking it on the fast break without an outlet pass needed.   Jalilah Pelly (Lady Brad Beal Elite): A 5’10" wing from O’Fallon (IL) in metro east St. Louis who plays with tremendous energy and activity. She has a quick first step and can beat a defender into the lane any time she wanted to. She has an excellent first step when she can get by her defender before they can react. She is a strong finisher in the lane while also being able to find the open teammate if the help comes on her drive.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-432516" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/7ADD6D0D-A751-4B7C-A259-39DA5332D3F7.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> Annalise Dorr (St. Louis Phenom-Young): A 5’9" guard from Parkway South who is a solid all-around player who can really shoot the basketball. If she gets a good look from distance, she’s going to ring the ball. She handles the ball well and she’s strong off the dribble to keep defenders from pressuring her.