Top Unsigned 2020s : The Point Guards
We have reached the last of the series of four articles about unsigned 2020s. Previously we reviewed 2020 bigs, wings and small forwards, and combo and shooting guards. In this concluding article we take a look at a dozen point…
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Continue ReadingWe have reached the last of the series of four articles about unsigned 2020s. Previously we reviewed 2020 bigs, wings and small forwards, and combo and shooting guards. In this concluding article we take a look at a dozen point guards. All statistics are drawn from MaxPreps.
Topeka’s Ariyana Grassity and Olathe North’s Amiah Mack share a smile after their last PGH 250 Expo Iowa games.#13 Ariyana Grassity, 5’4″, Topeka, Team KC Hoops – Grassity was a first team all-Centennial League selection a year ago. A year ago she led the state in assists, 136 at 6.8 per game, with a state leading 2.9 assists to turnovers ration. Through the first seven games of this season she is averaging 4.4 points, 4.3 assists, 3 steals, and an astonishing 5.1 assists to turnovers ratio. Quick with terrific ball skills versus back court pressure, she sees the floor extremely well. She is super quick to the rim off the bounce, finishes athletically, and can shoot the three quickly off the pull-up. With fast hands and good off-ball anticipation she is a serious steal threat. At the summer Reign the Plains event she showed how dangerously quick and fast she is, and that she has 30′ three point range. Grassity attended the Prep Girls Hoops Iowa Top 250 event in October. To read about how she impressed PGH’s Mason Asher enjoy a read of this article.
#28 Ashlyn Henrie, 5’6″, Shawnee Mission West, KC and One – Henrie is fast with good ability to jump passing lanes. A three point threat she also has a quick first step. Off the drive she makes good use of a jump step to create a shot.
Highland Park 2020 Dariauna Carter.#29 Dariauna Carter, 5’5″, Highland Park, Kansas Elite – Has returned to the court after missing most of 18-19 with a ACL injury. As a sophomore she averaged 18 ppg, 2.4 spg, 1.7 apg. Carter has solid, controlledhandles with good mid-range and three point shooting abilities. She has good vision and passes well in the half court. Carter elevates well on her ump shot and can finish athletically in transition.
#46 Chloe Stanley, 5’7″, Bennington – Stanley was first team all-Heart Of America League a year ago. She is a strong ball handler, is fast with the ball in transition, can create own shot off the dribble, and finishes athletically. On the other end she is solid and has the ability to jump passing lanes off the ball. Stanley is the class 2A 300m hurdles state champion and a member of the 4x400m state champion team that also set a new school record.
#54 Taylor Bohannon, 5’7″, Belle Plain – Bohannon earned honorable mention honors in the Central Plains League. She is a three point threat including off the step-back. She makes good use of a crossover and head and shoulder fakes to create shots. Finishing in transition and off the bounce is a strength. She also has strong back-to-the basket ability on the block.
#57 LaMyah Ricks, 5’6″, De Soto, Kansas Elite – Ricks was a United Kansas Conference first team selection. Quickness and aggressiveness on the defensive end enables strong ability to deny passes and jump perimeter hand offs. Good spot up and free throw shooter. PGH contributor Israel Potoczny wrote in December that “Ricks is an exceptionally quick player with a burst to the basket off the dribble. She can finish around the basket and score over bigger, taller players in the lane. A solid point guard who handles the ball well, Ricks can also make plays at the defensive end of the court where she uses her quickness to pick up easy steals.”
#60 Maggie Knoblauch, 5’4″, Andale – Knoblauch was a AVCTL Division IV first team selection. In 2019 she averaged 2019 averaged 10.2 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.5 spg. 39% 3p% with 38 makes. Through seven games this season she is averaging 6.1 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals. She is shooting 40% from three on 10 makes.
#64 Sarah Thomson, 5’4″, Riley County – Thomson was a KBCA 3A honorable mention all-state and Mid-East League first team selection. In June PGH’s Israel Potoczny wrote that she is “A smart point who can handle the ball and bring speed and understanding to the floor. She can shoot when she’s open and has good ideas with the ball. She is very good on the defensive end and looks to force turnovers jump passing lanes and kickoff for teams fast-break looks.” A year ago she averaged 10.5 points (35% from three) and 4 rebounds per game.
#71 Liz Taylor, 5’7″, Wichita Southeast, BGCB – Taylor was a Greater Wichita League honorable mention selection a year ago. She is fast in transition with the ball, has a very quick step, and goes aggressively to the basket from each side. A perimeter threat, she also is a strong free throw shooter. Where she improved in the summer was in her floor leadership. Read more about her in this June, 2019, article about point guards at the MAYB Summer Kick-off.
Kinsley 2020 Josena Frame, playing for the Twin Lakes Stars, awaits action to resume during a summer tournament game,#79 Josena Frame, 5’5″, Kinsley, Ohlde Elite & Twin Lakes Stars – Frame was a Central Plains League first team selection. At the MAYB Summer Kickoff Wichita she and a NJCAA D II guard went at it repeatedly during their game. Frame got the best of the battle, repeatedly showing a strong ability to get to the basket off the dribble and to defend basket attacks. After averaging 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game she has averaged 19 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists through the first four games.
Sunrise Christian Academy 2020 Isabelle Anes from 2019 Sterling Invitational.#82 Isabelle Anes, 5’7″, Sunrise Christian Academy, Next Level Eclipse – Quick first step and good transition speed with the ball. Very athletic around the basket she has three point range but needs to improve perimeter consistency. Anes at times does not play within herself, leaving her susceptible to charge calls and turnovers. Despite her quickness she has difficulty defending opposing guards in the half court who have the ability to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket.
#83 Jessica Meier, 5’5″, Beloit – A year ago Meier was a North Central Activites Association honorable mention selection. Meier is a strong passer with the ability to hit post cutters in stride for scores as well as entry passes from the top of the key to the low post. She has improved her ability to score off the dribble and around the perimeter. In June PGH’s Israel Potoczny wrote that “Meier is a strong point guard who can score well for herself and make small openings a large problem for the opposing team. She has great speed and is a good ball handler in open space and likes to push the ball up the floor. She has a solid transition game and can finish shots through contact. Also an excellent three-point shooter as a dribble and pull up as well as after the catch.”
Featured image: Hugoton 2020 Toby McClure defends Beloit’s Jessica Meier during their 2019 Sterling Invitational contest.