2022 2-Guard Review
The featured image is of Makayla Hinshaw Makayla Hinshaw 5'8" | SG Hamilton Southeastern | 2022 State IN of Hamilton Southeastern High School and Indiana Flight UAA-Kincer.. The off-guard position in the Class of 2022 is not necessarily one of…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Makayla Hinshaw Makayla Hinshaw 5'8" | SG Hamilton Southeastern | 2022 State IN of Hamilton Southeastern High School and Indiana Flight UAA-Kincer..
The off-guard position in the Class of 2022 is not necessarily one of great depth, but if you look closely enough as a college recruiter, you can find just about anything you are looking for. There are ball-handlers and creators, nice on-ball defenders, plus ladies who can really shoot and/or score the ball. There are long, bouncy athletes, and there are strong, physical guards as well. Below is a look at the 37 2-guards who currently reside in our Class of 2022 Top-175 rankings, along with a review of seven of those prospects who have been singled out for a trait we think they do better than anyone else on this list. We will be following this article with one on small forwards, one on power forwards, and one on posts in the Class of 2022 very soon.
Best Feel For The Game
When I think of having a feel for the game, not only do I think of someone who is somewhat versatile, but I also think of a player who understands which play to make in each situation. I’m not sure there are many/any girls in this position group who compare with
Rayah Kincer
Rayah
Kincer
5'10" | CG
Franklin Central | 2022
State
IN
of Franklin Central. You can call her a point forward, a point guard, or anywhere in between. But one thing is certain, and that’s the fact she really understands how to play and has a nice feel for the game with the ball in her hands. She can score the ball herself, and she really started to shoot it well in August, but it’s her playmaking ability and vision that set her apart of other girls on this list right now. Coming off of an injury, look for her to have a much-improved Winter in 2020-2021 for the Flashes.
Best Shooter
There are a number of girls in this position group who shoot in the upper 30s and low 40s percentage-wise from behind the arc, which obviously made selecting this category more difficult. For me, though, I went with someone who also did it on the big stage, helping her team to the 2020 Class 1A State Finals.
Hailey Cripe
Hailey
Cripe
5'6" | SG
Pioneer | 2022
State
IN
of Pioneer is a star on the softball field, but she isn’t too shabby in the basketball arena either. She is a strong, tough-nosed competitor, but she has great touch from the perimeter, she can stop and pull-up in transition, she can make shots cutting off of screens, plus she’s almost automatic if she catches it wide open in rhythm. Last season for the Panthers, Hailey knocked down 89 3-pointers and shot 39% from outside. She also knocked down 78% of her free throw attempts.
Best Scorer
There are many more specialists than complete scorers in this group, but I still feel like
Alaysha Brandenberger
Alaysha
Brandenberger
5'6" | CG
Boonville | 2022
State
IN
of Boonville is one of the better scorers in the state, regardless of size or position. She is a tough-nosed, strong, physical guard who likes to play on attack. She can get downhill in a hurry, and she does a tremendous job of getting to the free throw line. Having scored 980 points already in her career, she has done so at the basket, from the charity stripe, and from around the arc. She has diversified her game in the last year, taking on more ball-handling and point guard responsibilities, but she can still get a basket just about anytime she wants. Look for her to put together another big year and possibly eclipse the 2000-point mark before it’s all said and done.
Best Defender
This was one of the easier selections in this article. Whether it’s her high school coach, her travel coach, local newspaper columnists, or simply the eye-test,
Makayla Hinshaw
Makayla
Hinshaw
5'8" | SG
Hamilton Southeastern | 2022
State
IN
of Hamilton Southeastern has a reputation as being a talented, high-level defender. She has tremendous length, quickness, and speed. She is one of the better athletes in the class, and I’m not sure she’s fully appreciated for her athletic talent. She has begun scoring the ball at a more consistent rate, but with her virtually eliminating one of the better opponents every game, her value right now is definitely at the defensive end of the floor. Add to that the fact that she can defend forwards, wings, and even some point guards, and hopefully the right college program will come along and appreciate her unique abilities.
Best Athlete
This was actually another fairly easy selection for me. If you have ever seen
Le’Aije Ellington
Le’Aije
Ellington
5'6" | SG
Warren Central | 2022
State
IN
of Warren Central, you will understand why. I was scanning the list above looking for candidates, and her name just stood out. Le’Aije is an absolutely explosive athlete in all directions. If she doesn’t already, you could almost envision her competing in multiple events for the Warriors’ track team. She has elite speed and quickness on the basketball floor, she changes directions in an instant, and she is bouncy as well. She has good length, wiry strength, and a lot of energy at both ends of the floor. She needs to add some discipline to her game, sure, but she rates as one of the best athletes in Indiana high school basketball right now, regardless of class or position.
Best Motor
Many girls play hard often, so this is always a very subjective category, and for the prospect I’ve selected, this is something that was evident each time I watched her team play over the Summer.
Halle Shelt
Halle
Shelt
5'8" | SG
Park Tudor | 2022
State
IN
of Park Tudor has really developed into a nice, versatile, and productive wing guard. She is strong, competitive, and assertive at all times, but this July and August I noticed a lot more intent and engagement on her part. She always seemed focused and determined each possession, as she played in the 17U division all Summer long. Maybe playing for her father had something to do with it, as he’s also her high school coach, but I was just more impressed with Halle’s game and effort this year than ever before. Look for her to lead the Panthers by example this Winter.
Most Under The Radar
I’m sure many prospects above think they are under-recruited, as that’s just a competitor’s mindset. So similarly to my point guard selection, in this category I have chosen someone I doubt many of you are familiar with…kind of the whole point of being considered under the radar.
Montasia McAllister
Montasia
McAllister
5'10" | SG
Lawrence Central | 2022
State
IN
of Lawrence Central had been biding her time, waiting for an opportunity for the Lawrence North Wildcats. In just six games last Winter for the State Champion ‘Cats, she averaged a robust 7.8 points per game, so she can obviously fill it up in a hurry. With her now attending backyard rival Lawrence Central, I feel like this year could be a big breakout opportunity for the talented wing guard. Montasia is extremely long, very fluid and smooth, and she can explode in an instant and either pull-up quickly or get to the rim. She has some similarities in both appearance and style of play to 2021 Lawrence North star
Jayla Smith
Jayla
Smith
5'11" | SG
Lawrence North | 2021
State
#73
Nation
IN
(2021). Look for Montasia to get a lot of opportunities early and often in 2020-2021.