A Look at Recently Seen Point Guards
After sharing my thoughts on posts, wings, and shooting guards I now turn to the point guards. Again, all players are from 1A-3A schools. A fairly narrow category, players included clearly own the role of the team’s floor general. #21,…
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Continue ReadingAfter sharing my thoughts on posts, wings, and shooting guards I now turn to the point guards. Again, all players are from 1A-3A schools. A fairly narrow category, players included clearly own the role of the team’s floor general.
#21, 2022, Kali Briar, 5’4″, Sterling, KS Dream Team – A year ago Briar earned Sports In Kansas 2A state tournament team and Heart of America League second team honors. As she has gotten stronger Briar has steadily developed into one of the best point guards in her class. Quick with strong handles, she effectively incorporates a great crossover into her moves to get to the basket or break pressure. Fast in transition she is adept at generating assists, attacking the basket, and pulling the trigger herself. In the Sterling Invitational championship loss to Hugoton, in January, she led the team in scoring (13), assists (4), steals (4), finished 6/6 from the line, and shot 50% from three (3/6). At the July, 2019, Reign the Plains tournament she showed end-to-end ability with change of pace, the ability to look off defenders (which she still needs to sell stronger), perimeter shooting, and the ability to challenge defenders off the bounce.
Smoky Valley 2021 Ellie Brumbaugh. Photo by Robert Kelly.NR, 2021, Ellie Brumbaugh, 5’3″, Smoky Valley – Brumbaugh was a Central Kansas League honorable mention a year ago. She has three point range but improving her shooting percentage will make her scoring and playmaking ability that much more effective. Brumbaugh makes her team better just by being on the floor but also needs to cut down the unforced turnovers. Defensively she has notable hand speed to generate steals.
NR, 2020, Brittany Foss, 5’1″, Colby – Foss has solid handles and is fast with the ball. She sees the floor well but needs to spy defenders looking to make a play on the ball better when she passes. Foss has good half court IQ to abuse cheating and chasing defenders. A strong free throw shooter she is also, if she gets her feet set, a good perimeter shooter.
Hugoton 2021 MaKenna Hamlin. Photo by Robert Kelly.NR, 2021, Makenna Hamlin, 5’3″, Hugoton – Hamlin is strong, fast, and hustles in transition. She attacks the basket with speed, using her strength to get to the basket and draw fouls. Hamlin has developed into a consistent threat beyond the three point line. Against Sterling at the Sterling Invitational she finished with 15 points, including 4/8 from beyond the arc. Defensively her quickness, speed, and strength make her a difficult challenge for who she guards.
Hutchinson Trinity 2021 Haylee Hughes. Photo by Robert Kelly.#56, 2021, Hayley Hughes, 5’9″, Hutchinson Trinity, Wheat State Elite – A year ago Hughes was a Kansas Basketball Coaches Association 2A honorable mention and Heart of America League first team pick. She has developed a strong all-around game. Hughes continues to show the ability to finish drives but has added more moves to get to the hole and to finish once she gets there. One move you do not see everyday is a jump step move to split a double team and then go up. Hughes has the ability to score from beyond the arc and in the mid-range, shoots more than 80% from the line, and has good half court vision to generate assists. Her size and length also give her an advantage rebounding.
Central Christian 2023 Josie Ibarra skies for a layin against Elyria Christian. Photo by Robert Kelly.#118, 2020, Josie Ibarra, 5’9″, Central Christian – A year ago Ibarra was a first team Heart of the Plains League first team selection. While Ibarra has improved her perimeter shooting her strongest ability is her passing. A year ago she was among the state leaders in assists & assist/turnover ratio and that continues to be the case. She is almost too unselfish but she has the handles and quickness to finish around the basket and doing it in the transition game. Slightly built, she gets overpowered at times rebounding. Recently she was a 2020 Fairfield Tournament all-tournament team selection.
Central Christian 2023 Lindsay Kauffman considers her options against a Elyria Christian defender.NR, 2020, Lindsay Kauffman, 5’5″, Central Christian – A year ago Kauffman was a Heart of the Plains League honorable mention selection. While she has quick hands to generate steals Kauffman needs to improve defensive positioning on the wing as she gave up too many Elyria Christian dribble drives. A solid three point threat, Kauffman’s development at the point has freed up teammate Josie Ibarra to play other roles to take advantage of her passing ability. Recently she was a 2020 Fairfield Tournament all-tournament team selection.
Elyria Christian 2022 Kylee Penner hustles to help on a wing drive by a Central Christian player. Photo by Robert Kelly.NR, 2022, Kylee Penner, 5’8″, Elyria Christian – Penner was a Wheat State League honorable mention selection a year ago. She has good quicks, speed, and some length but she needs to improve her confidence in her left. She is most effective off the bounce on the right side and she does so with abandon. She is an aggressive rebounder on both ends of the floor including slipping in for offensive rebounds when not boxed.
Featured image: Hutchinson Trinity 2021 Haylee Hughes shoots a jumper over Lyons defenders in their Sterling Invitational contest. Photo by Robert Kelly.