Young Guard Standouts in the High School Playoffs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the playoffs continue, a lot of guards have been balling out and making significant contributions to their team's success, In this article, we hilight a few of the top non-senior guard performances in the post season from around the State. Some guards have bowed out of the playoffs and others are still making a push for the high school finals to be held in Lakeland Florida later this month. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='514550' first='Kendall' last='Perry'] (cover) is quietly getting it done in the playoffs, averaging near 15 points in the last 2 playoff games. The Sophomore is talented and can make her mark in a lot of different ways. She can rebound, defend, and pass the rock. She had 7 assists in her last playoff game to go along with her 14 points. That accounts for nearly 30 percent of her team's total output. Perry has been a standout throughout the season and is one of the top Sophomores in the State of Florida. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='738971' first='Gabi' last='Iturralde'] displayed great basketball IQ in the District playoffs and a lot of poise for a Freshman. She is definitely a three level scorer who has ice water in her young veins. In the Districts, Iturralde showed she could get to the rim, especially with her strong right hand. Defensively, she plays good man to man and an even better job in the passing lanes. She has great instincts and a great feel for the game, and it all showed in the District playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='346853' first='Janai' last='Jordan'] has been as good as advertised. After watching her last summer in AAU, it was apparent that her season was going to be a special one for her. Three hundred and fort-five points later and a 13.3 point scoring average, it's safe to say that she has hit the mark. She can shoot the three ( 63 three pointers at 44 percent), she can score in the midrange area, she has a very high basketball IQ, and always seems to make the right play. Jordan has all the tools and she continues to use them in post season play. In her last three post season games, Jordan has averaged right at 15 points per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='430261' first='Janie' last='Boyd'] has been a standout in the playoffs and has really shown a lot of versatility scoring from everywhere on the court and not just from the three point mark. Boyd is using that high IQ and taking what the defense gives her. She has been a leader on the floor and gets her team in the right offensive sets and makes good passes on the floor. Sometimes she makes the pass before the pass that gets the assist and just doesn't get credit for the assist. Boyd has done a good job of putting her stamp on these playoff games, on and off of the scoresheet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='752544' first='Ja'Niyah' last='McCoy'] went out swinging in the high school playoffs, averaging over 20 points per game in her last three post season games (Season average 16.6 points per game). A lot of things jump off the page, including 84 three pointers out of 137 attempts (59 percent). McCoy finished as the second highest ranked Sophomore in threes and eighth overall. On the defensive end, McCoy balled as well averaging over two steals per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='495953' first='Jiyah' last='Hamilton'] closed out the season with a 16-point effort and a 13-point effort in the high school playoffs. The points are impressive, but its the little things that Hamilton does on the floor that are impressive. Her passion for the game, her fearless drives to the paint, and her dishes to her teammates (6 assists in the final playoff game) stand out. Hamilton does a great job in transition and can score and pass the ball. She brings energy on both sides of the floor. A scorer like [player_tooltip player_id='752544' first='Ja'Niyah' last='McCoy'] will continue to get the ball from Hamilton. This combination will be fun to watch next basketball season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='857487' first='McKenzie' last='Mabry'] shot the lights out in the District playoffs going for 17 and 13 points, and connecting on 8 three pointers over that 2 game stretch and finishing the season with 45 threes. Mabry was impressive shooting the ball, but it was her confidence and execution in big moments that were most impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->