Class of 2019: Top Guards
Class of 2019 is deep with high caliber guards. Many of the top ranked guards have already committed to colleges. With colleges like Maryland, Iowa, Iowa State, Creighton, Loyola of Chicago and Minnesota State Mankato represented in top six. That…
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Continue ReadingClass of 2019 is deep with high caliber guards. Many of the top ranked guards have already committed to colleges. With colleges like Maryland, Iowa, Iowa State, Creighton, Loyola of Chicago and Minnesota State Mankato represented in top six. That list right there proves how tough the Class of 2019 is in guard play this year. Here are our top six guards for Class of 2019.
Zoe Young – West Des Moines Valley
Zoe Young is not only our top point guard for the Class of 2019, but she also ranks #1 overall. She has been a mainstay on the Valley roster for the past three years. Valley’s record with Young in the roster is 53 -23, and playoff berths the last two years. Valley won the title in 2017 with Zoe leading the team in scoring with 21 points in championship game. So this Maryland commit will have plenty of experience and leadership going into her senior year. Young is a long, strong guard who is not only able to finish at the rim, but also can hit the long ball. Her vision and creative play in the half court helps setup her teammates for easy buckets. With added experience on Valley’s roster this season, Young will have plenty of help to punch another ticket to the Well.
Megan Meyer – Mason City
An Iowa commit, Megan Meyer led 4A in scoring last year with 602 points. Meyer has played varsity for Mason City for the past three years. Each year her scoring has increased, and if that continues this year she will be knocking on the 2000 career points mark. Mason City won the 4A title her freshman year, and Meyer led them back last year. With Mason City returning 80% of their scoring from last year, another trip to state should be possible. Meyer is deadly from the three point range, knocking down 71 last year. That is not all she has in her arsenal though. A guard who always has her head up, she is able to slice defenses to find her way to lane. She finishes at the rim, but with 72 assists last year, she also has ability to find the open player.
Maggie McGraw – Southeast Polk
Maggie McGraw has played on varsity all three years. Each of those years she has shot over 40% from 3 point range. Averaging 2.8 assists a game proves this guard has ability to find her open teammates. So it is not hard to see why Iowa State grabbed this long ball shooter early in her career. Indianola has advanced to the State tournament all three years she has been in the roster. The last two years, they have advanced to the semi-final game. Last Spring she transferred to Southeast Polk. With a young, talented SEP group returning, I am sure we will see McGraw at State one more year.
Shea Fuller – West Des Moines Valley
Minnesota State Mankato commit, Shea Fuller, is second Valley guard on this list. This could make the argument that Valley may have one of the top back courts for the 2018-2019 season. Last season Fuller averaged 16.0 ppg, 3.04 apg, and 1.38 spg showing her all around ability on floor. She is known best as a 3 point shooter, shooting 41.7% last year. A scrappy guard, who throws her body on floor, she also helps Valley on defense. Playing alongside Zoe Young for 3 years, they have become a great dynamic duo for Valley. With addition of post players to the lineup this season, look for Fuller to get more shots off. Valley will be a team to watch this season.
Anna Brown – Waukee
Shooting 42.4% from 3 point land is a great statistic. Now note that many of those three pointers are 3 steps behind the arc – that’s impressive. That is the range for Anna Brown, who will be heading to Loyola -Chicago next season. With that range, defenses will be coming out further on Anna this year. For this physically strong guard, that is okay because she knows how to use her body in the paint. In fact, Brown will not hesitate to post up her defender, and finish with a low post move. She is impressive on the boards for a guard as well. Averaging 5.1 rpg last year, shows this guard isn’t afraid to body for position in the lane. Brown’s post mentality in a guard’s body, combined with lights out range makes this a difficult player to defend.
Dee Dee Pryor – Urbandale
The most impressive part of Dee Dee Pryor’s game is her defense. With quick feet and hands, she reads angles well and is a pest on defense. She turns defense into easy offense averaging 3.17 spg last season. On offense, her speed and ball handling allows her to get to the lane with ease. In the lane she is a great finisher at the rim shooting 44.2% last year. She also has great vision, so when the defense collapses on her she is able to find open teammates for easy shots. This Creighton commit, averaged 3.6 apg last year to prove she is a tough true point guard to defend.