In a game increasingly filled with combo guards and scoring-first playmakers, finding a true point guard is becoming a rare thing. Tanna Tsuchikawa Tanna Tsuchikawa 5'5" | PG/SG Bellevue | 2029 State WA is a reminder of what the position is supposed to look like.

Playing on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit with the Northwest Greyhounds 16U, Tanna showed me what it means to run a team. I watched her handle pressure the length of the floor and for the length of the game. Rarely coming off the court, she consistently faced some of the best defenders in the country, yet maintained her poise, protected the basketball, and found ways to put her teammates in positions to succeed. This type of stamina and focus as a player is not something you can coach.

Tanna plays with pace, composure, and a high basketball IQ. Her hesitation dribble is particularly effective, keeping defenders off balance and creating the space she needs to attack the rim. Once she gets downhill, she does an excellent job drawing help defense before making the right read, whether that means dumping the ball off to a teammate for an easy finish or using a floater to score over defenders. She understands how to turn penetration into an advantage without forcing the play.

As a coach’s kid, Tanna understands that being a point guard is about much more than bringing the ball up the floor. It’s about reading the game, recognizing the right moment, and getting the ball to the right person. She takes pride in possession, rarely gives the ball away, and makes decisions that keep her team moving in the right direction.

Her defensive intensity is another part of what makes her stand out. Tanna understands how to turn defense into offense, creating opportunities for herself and her teammates. That combination of ball security, defensive effort, and decision-making is what separates a capable ball handler from a true floor general.

And basketball isn’t the only place where Tanna demonstrates those instincts. She also plays center midfield for her Bellevue soccer team, a position that demands vision, communication, composure, and the ability to control the flow of the game. Different sport, same mentality. And her Bellevue soccer team are the defending 3A State Champions, continuing to perform at a high level this season.

Being able to handle relentless pressure without sacrificing poise or decision-making is a skill that deserves more recognition. Tanna does it possession after possession, taking pride in the little things that don’t always show up in a box score.

True point guards are hard to find. Tanna Tsuchikawa Tanna Tsuchikawa 5'5" | PG/SG Bellevue | 2029 State WA is one worth watching.

Tsuchikawa is a point guard who can really go with the ball. Plays with great speed and has great burst out of her moves to get by defenders and get to the paint. She also has some crafty moves to score at the hoop and shows some toughness to take contact and still finish.