Class of 2023: Intriguing Guards
The Class of 2023 is loaded with talent, especially at the Guard position. The players listed here are found outside the Top 10, but many of them could find themselves higher up the rankings within the next several months because…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2023 is loaded with talent, especially at the Guard position. The players listed here are found outside the Top 10, but many of them could find themselves higher up the rankings within the next several months because of how competitive this class is.
Jasmine Brown Jasmine Brown 5'8" | CG Example Academy | 2023 State IL , 5’8” Guard, Joliet Catholic
Jasmine is one of those players who could easily be ranked higher by the end of the summer. She is a dynamic athlete who can play on or off the ball with her wide range of offensive skills. At 5’8”, she is a strong ball handler who can get in the lane with ease and finish strong at the hoop. Brown also has a nice shot from deep that she can hit at a high rate off the bounce.
Lenee Beaumont Lenee Beaumont 6'0" | SG Benet Academy | 2023 State IL , 5’10” Guard, Benet Academy
Lenee is a poised and talented Combo Guard with a high IQ. She played a reserve role for Benet Academy this season, but still showed that she is among the best in her class. She can shoot the ball very well from beyond the three-point line and uses her playmaking abilities to set her teammates up for success.
Azyah Newson-Cole Azyah Newson-Cole 5'7" | PG Lincoln-Way Central | 2023 State IL , 5’7” Guard, Lincoln-Way Central
Azyah is strong and quick with the ball, making it tough for defenders to stop her without help. She’s a smart and creative player who improvises well on the court. Her ability to score at all levels with a smooth shot from deep make her such a dynamic player.
Ava Gugliuzza Ava Gugliuzza 5'7" | SG Lincoln-Way West | 2023 State IL , 5’7” Guard, Lincoln-Way West
Ava is among the best three-point shooters in the state, and made her case known very early on in her high school career with multiple games of 7+ Three Pointers Made. She knocked down 115 threes for the season, while shooting 47.5% from deep. While shooting was her biggest strength for much of the season, I was really impressed by how polished her ball handling and finishing at the rim became as the season progressed.
Erin Henry Erin Henry 5'8" | CG Example Academy | 2023 State IL , 5’8” Guard, Plainfield North
A Lead Guard who is crafty and shifty with the ball, Erin also has a level of toughness that most players don’t have. She is a terrific playmaker for both herself and her teammates and keeps possessions alive by crashing the boards hard on both ends. She’s constantly diving on loose balls and making game-changing plays for her team.
Aspen Weeks Aspen Weeks 5'7" | PG West Aurora | 2023 State IL , 5’7” Guard, Aurora Christian
Aspen is an electric Point Guard who does a really nice job scoring from the wing. She has a quick first step and uses a variety of moves to set up her defender for the blow-by. Once in the lane, her instincts take over and allow her to slide past post players for good looks at the hoop. She also has a nice shot from deep and often shows good court vision with impressive passes to set up her teammates with scoring opportunities.
Lexi Salazar Lexi Salazar 5'7" | SG Plainfield North | 2023 State IL , 5’6” Guard, Montini
Lexi is a high-scoring Combo Guard who can shoot lights out from three. When playing the Point, she does a nice job of breaking down her defender and deciding whether to pull up with a shot or drive by. She shoots it very well off the bounce and uses her speed and strength to get in the lane and finish in traffic.
Kora Kipley Kora Kipley 5'7" | CG Buffalo Grove | 2023 IL , 5’7” Guard, Buffalo Grove
Kora is well-rounded player who consistently does a lot of things at a high level. Mostly playing off the ball, she scores well from the wing with a good-looking lefty jumper and can beat her defender off the dribble. Her length and physicality allow her to guard bigger players and contribute in the lane. Kora is a big-time hustle player and rebounder on both ends to contribute her team’s success.
Morgan McDermott Morgan McDermott 5'11" | SG Beecher | 2023 State FL , 5’9” Guard, Beecher
Morgan is a very athletic and skilled player on the wing who scores well at all levels. She is a constant threat from beyond the three-point line with her jumper but can take defenders off the dribble. Once she gets in the lane, she’s a good decision maker and finishes with some craft around the rim. Defensively she uses her length and athleticism to defend multiple types of players and crashes the boards hard.