Undiscovered Junior Guards for 2024

Introduction: There is an abundance of outstanding junior guards throughout the state of Arizona. Here's a look at five of them with two of them having played at the same school at one time - Westwood High School.   [player_tooltip player_id='530985' first='JAYLA' last='McLIN'] - is a 5-11 junior combo guard who recently transferred from Westwood to Mesquite High School in Gilbert. To date, Mesquite has a 14-5 record this season although Jayla is just averaging 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. She had ten rebounds in a game in December against Campo Verde High school. She also played in 11 games this past year with the junior varsity, averaging 4.6 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per contest. With many players returning to the Mesquite team, Jayla and her teammates should make a strong run in the 2023 state tournament.   EVALUATION: Jayla is a work in progress who has improved her game considerably since her freshman year in high school. She has gained more confidence in both her offensive and defensive play by increased playing time. The best part of her game is on the defensive end. She is a smart and frisky defender who always gives 100%. She should begin to come into her own later this season.   ELA MALEE - is a 5-9 junior shooting guard who plays for Hamilton High School in Chandler as well as her club team, Militant - CA. Thus far for the 2022-23 season, she has played in 16 games and is averaging 9.3 points per game 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 steals. Over three years, Ela has played in 46 games for the Lady Huskies, averaging 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 steals. Her scoring, assists, and steals have improved each year since she was a freshman. In one game she had six steals against Tuba City High School and, in another, she had two fast breaks for baskets. Ela plays in the always competitive 6A Premier League. At the MLK Classic Tournament last January she was selected as Most Valuable Player. With all that, she also maintains a GPA of 4.77.   EVALUATION: Ella is an outstanding two-way player that is ready for a breakout junior season. She has improved both her shooting and ball-handling skills significantly since her freshman year of high school. Ella has lightning-quick hands as she leads the Lady Huskies in steals. Her motor is constantly going on both offense and defense. Her team should go deep into the playoffs later this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='339406' first='ANGELINA last='MONTOYA'] - is a 5-4 junior shooting guard who plays for Westwood High School as well as her club team, NWT. She is a Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian community member. She played in the annual Junior Nationals in Las Vegas which was a tournament with all Native American teams participating. She has shown considerable improvement in both driving for lay-ups and hitting the perimeter jump shot. Captain of the WHS Lady Warriors, Angelina was selected as Player of the Game a total of four different times by Max Preps while a sophomore. In two years, a total of 47 games, she averaged 8.3 points and 2.6 steals per game.   EVALUATION: Angelina has an outstanding work ethic and is improving her overall game daily. She runs the fast break well and drives the lane ending at the rim. Her jump shot also has improved considerably. She is a tireless defender who makes all of her teammates better. She should have an outstanding junior year at Westwood.   VANESSA SEPULVEDA - is a 5-6 junior guard who plays for Mesquite High School as well as her club team, Arizona elite 16U Gold Class. She also has a GPA of 3.0. Vanessa stood out as an all-around player at last October's Top 250 Expo that was held in Gilbert. She also played with her club team in last spring's "Oasis in the Desert." Through early January, Vanessa is averaging 12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds for her Mesquite team which is currently 14-5. She recently scored a career-high of 29 points against Vista Grande, shooting 90% from the two-point line, 50% from beyond the arc, and 100% from the free-throw line. She was named Player of the Game by Max Preps for her efforts. For her career spanning three plus seasons, she is averaging 9.7 points and 3.8 rebounds.   EVALUATION: Vanessa has remarkably improved her offensive game in three varsity seasons. She has become a better shooter including both mid-range jump shots as well as beyond the three-point line. She has also become the team's vocal leader as well as being an outstanding defender. Her Mesquite team is loaded for 2023 and they should make a strong run in the AIA State Playoffs.   [player_tooltip player_id='263401' first='Torah' last='Dial'] - is a 5-5 junior shooting guard for Dysart High School in El Mirage. She recently had a double-double earlier in January vs. Apache Junction High School. She also had four steals in a game vs. Paradise Honors. Additionally, she had seven fast-break baskets vs. Cactus High School. She was selected as Player of the Game by Max Preps twice - against Buckeye, she had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals and against Youngker, Torah had 17 points and five rebounds. In her first two years on the varsity, a total of 42 games, she averaged 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Her sister, Talia, is a high-scoring upperclassman on the team who scored 50 points in Dysart's game against Scottsdale Coronado High School.   EVALUATION: Torah, for the past two years, has been shadowed by her high-scoring older sister, Talia. During that time Torah has improved her offensive game considerably and is regarded as an outstanding defender. She has also become both a vocal leader for the team as well as a team leader, both on and off the court. She should be able to come into her own this season.

Introduction: There is an abundance of outstanding junior guards throughout the state of Arizona. Here's a look at five of them with two of them having played at the same school at one time - Westwood High School.