Neville Jones Invitational: 2024 STANDOUT GUARDS

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm dropping the STANDOUTS at the guard position now, followed by Forwards/Centers, all from Texas 2024 class. I'll then close out my coverage of the NJI with OUT-OF-STATE 2024 Standouts, but here ya go</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='782594' first='Alice' last='Thackston']-5'9 ([program_tooltip program_id='716243' first='Lady' last='Sharks'] United)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thackston immediately grabbed my attention when she followed her shot, I love #THRO[program_tooltip program_id='715726' first='WBA' last='']CK things that either aren't being taught or comprehended yet that, along with her court vision in the set as well as in transition stood out. She also did a good job attacking the basket and finishing after contact, well dished off the dribble as well </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaslyn Marsh-5'6 ([program_tooltip program_id='716243' first='Lady' last='Sharks'] United)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marsh was one of the huge bright spots for me on the PGH Circuit as she found ways to be relative and help her team compete. Nothing changed as her ability to create her shot under pressure and knock down the mid to long-range jumper while being defended was nice, and so was her explosiveness off the dribble, this includes the open court</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Janea Williams-5'7 ([program_tooltip program_id='715730' first='Hoop' last='Culture'] DFW 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams used a deceptive first step which included a slight HEZ at times to get to the basket and finish. Her court vision was solid, and so was her defense yet she also did a good job of dropping the stop-and-pop jumper in transition or showing she could hit the outside shot with a hand in her face in the set </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rhylei Hendrick-5'7 (TSF 17 U Black)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hendrick left me speechless as I placed her on my <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/07/2023-super-64takeover-players/">Super 64 Takeover Players</a></strong> articles yet I had to give another shot with one of the shots of the year. I spoke about how she defied gravity in the previous article but her acrobatic finish, after a flagrant foul, had her do a somersault, sort of, and stay with it to finish had me smiling up a storm </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tariyah Ford-5'10 (TSF 17U Red)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ford is "long and athletic" and if you haven't been attention to things I constantly say, that is the BASE, and her intangibles included playing pressure defense in the set as well as baseline to baseline, along with playing the passing lane. She rebounded and handled the ball afterward, she also showed she could drop the pull-up jumper as well as see the floor </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331966' first='Cassidy' last='Gladney']-5'8 (Competitive Edge)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gladney is one of those guards that uses her athleticism on both ends. She's always up for the challenge and her "on the ball" defense was smothering but it always is as she understands how to pick pockets and create scoring opportunities afterward for herself as well as her teammates. She's strong, has good body control, and finishes after contact </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ariel Cebreco-5'5 ([program_tooltip program_id='712785' first='Rock' last='Nation'] 2024) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cebreco also did a good job of setting the defender up to score and watching her attack the basket off the dribble, with either hand was nice, so were finishes using that body control I keep emphasizing, yet I do that for a reason most novices will never understand. Her court vision was solid, and so was her defense </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->