Rankings Review: 2020 Point Guards
Last week we updated our Class of 2020 rankings, so I wanted to follow-up and offer a look at the top prospects by position. The point guard position group in 2020 hasn’t really ever had that High-Major Division-I prospect, but…
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Continue ReadingLast week we updated our Class of 2020 rankings, so I wanted to follow-up and offer a look at the top prospects by position. The point guard position group in 2020 hasn’t really ever had that High-Major Division-I prospect, but there are several really nice lead guards throughout, and small colleges can definitely find their floor generals of the future in this group. With that said, below is a look at the Top-25 point guard prospects in Indiana’s Class of 2020, with additional comments to follow.
Overall |
Prospect |
Ht. |
Pos. |
High School |
Commitment |
20 |
Jackie Maulucci |
5-8 |
G |
Hamilton Southeastern |
|
23 |
Maya Chandler |
5-7 |
PG |
Triton Central | Loyola-IL |
25 |
Kristian Young |
5-4 |
PG |
Lawrence North | Illinois-Chicago |
35 |
Jaci Jones |
5-4 |
PG |
FW South Side | Detroit Mercy |
38 |
Ilani Williams-Harris |
5-7 |
G |
Covenant Christian | Indianapolis |
41 |
Darrian Carmean |
5-8 |
PG |
Vincennes Lincoln | |
43 |
Lexie Green |
5-8 |
PG |
Southport |
Southern Indiana |
48 |
Kyrstin Green |
5-5 |
PG |
Lafayette Jefferson | |
50 |
Bayleigh Runner |
5-7 |
PG |
Hamilton Heights |
|
51 |
Fatima Valiente |
5-8 |
G |
Carmel |
|
61 |
Ally Lorntz |
5-5 |
PG |
Angola | |
66 |
Lauren Morris |
5-4 |
PG |
Hamilton Southeastern | Holy Cross-IN |
73 |
Cherrelle Newsom |
5-4 |
G |
Ben Davis | |
77 |
Isabell Claywell |
5-4 |
PG |
Eastern (Pekin) |
|
80 |
Maddi Fulks |
5-4 |
PG |
Bethesda Christian |
Cornerstone |
81 |
Leah Miller |
5-6 |
G |
Salem |
|
87 |
Kelsie James |
4-10 |
PG | Jeffersonville | IU-Kokomo |
90 |
Kiara Gill |
5-4 |
PG |
Carmel | Grace |
98 |
Payton Dissett |
5-6 |
PG |
Hamilton Heights | |
100 |
Molly Ream |
5-5 |
PG |
Bishop Dwenger | Olivet Nazarene |
101 |
Brooke Shelton |
5-4 |
PG |
Avon | |
114 |
Ellie Vermillion |
5-5 |
PG |
Marion | |
127 |
Brooke Nottingham |
5-4 |
PG |
Jasper | |
136 |
Kalissa Fosskuhl |
5-5 |
PG |
Floyd Central | |
143 |
Annie Anderson |
5-6 |
G |
Columbus North |
Jackie Maulucci of Hamilton Southeastern High School missed much of the Spring season due to an injury, but she returned over the Summer months and played very well. She is one of the steadiest, most well-rounded guards in the class, and she’s a plug-n-play kid who you can insert into just about any lineup and into any system, plus she’s going to adapt and be productive. She can handle it and run the offense, she can play off the ball and knock down open jumpers, she’s athletic to the basket, and she’s a versatile defender who can take on a variety of perimeter players. She initially committed to Indiana Wesleyan University, but she has since reopened her recruitment and has already heard from a number of schools.
A newcomer to Indiana I touched on briefly in the 2022 reviews because of her sister, Lara, is Spanish-born combo guard Fatima Valiente of Carmel High School. While I have yet to see her, I’ve heard from a number of colleges that she is a really nice athlete with skill and a good feel/understanding of the game. If what I’ve heard about her so far is true, she could be in the starting lineup of a very talented and improved Greyhounds team during the 2019-2020 season. I look forward to catching them and her early this Winter.
A player I have mentioned before who I have always been a big fan of, is Cherrelle Newsom of Ben Davis High School. Cherrelle is a dynamic little guard with strength, explosiveness, and the ability to make shots in bunches. She had a couple of outstanding games during the IBCA’s Top-100 Showcase in July, and she could end up being the heart & soul of a gritty, tough-nosed Ben Davis team this year. Chrerrelle battles at both ends of the floor, and she can really bother the ball defensively. As she’s gotten older, her ability to create offense for herself or others has really improved, and she could be primed for a big year.
Another smallish guard who I have always enjoyed watching, is Kelsie James of Jeffersonville High School. The thing I think makes Kelsie special, is she has always been shorter than everyone, so she learned at an early age how to adapt and play against size. She is quick/fast, feisty, strong, and tough-nosed. She understands how to run a team and get the ball to the hot hand, but she too can score it with a variety of runners & floaters, plus she can knock down an open rhythm jumper. Kelsie has already given a verbal commitment to Indiana University-Kokomo.
One player who I feel has always slipped under the radar is Ellie Vermillion of Marion High School. Ellie was a huge contributor last season, and she’s one of the best pure basketball players on Marion’s team. She has a good feel/basketball IQ, she takes care of the ball, and she’s a very dangerous shooter from around the perimeter. She’s strong, fairly physical as a guard, and she will rebound and defend. I also really like her motor, and I think she could be an outstanding small college lead guard because she’s just tough and unphased by anything.
Feature image of Jackie Maulucci of Hamilton Southeastern High School. Image courtesy of her own Twitter account.