’25 Rankings: Guards to Know
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The guard position representing the ’25 class is arguably the deepest talent-wise in comparison to the other classes. Below are a few of those prospects who caught my attention and will be on my radar this month. Narissa Smith…
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Continue ReadingThe guard position representing the ’25 class is arguably the deepest talent-wise in comparison to the other classes. Below are a few of those prospects who caught my attention and will be on my radar this month.
Narissa Smith Narissa Smith 5'6" | CG Rivers | 2025 State NewE – MCW Starz/Rivers – 5’6’’ – CG
Rank: #18
I watched one game featuring Smith’s MCW team, and she hit a three confidently from the parking lot. I am no stranger to the “Rissi Smith laser show” but did not know she had unlimited range. This is significant because she is on the court with two of the best penetrate and kick guards from the ’24 class in Ahnay Adams Ahnay Adams 5'6" | PG Tilton | 2024 State NewE and Orlagh Gormley Orlagh Gormley 5'6" | PG Dexter Southfield | 2024 State NewE . Smith’s ability to be a threat from that far out creates more space in the halfcourt for her teammates to drive and forces the defense to play up on her at the perimeter. You have to pick your poison when defending Smith. If you lay off her, she will snipe from anywhere behind the arc, and if you pressure Smith and run her off the three-point line, she will blow by you, showcase her elite passing, and hit a teammate for a bucket. She is an x-factor for her team because of her unique skill set and how it blends with the other players on the floor.
Sophia Florio Sophia Florio 5'3" | PG Tabor Academy | 2026 State NewE – Bay State Jaguars/West Bridgewater – 5’4’’ – PG
Rank: #20
What has impressed me most about Florio this spring is how efficient she has been as the off-guard for the Jaguars. Over the past few months, her shooting accuracy has been insane, and she has developed into one of the best catch and shoot guards in her class. Florio’s ability to play the 2 adds another dimension to her game. She facilitates at a high level and can create for others, moves well without the ball, and spaces the floor for her slashing teammates ready to shoot at all times. Her unselfishness and sacrifice to lower her use rate on offense to fill a shooting void on the wing has played a significant role in the ’25 Jaguars team success thus far.
Highlights from this weekend at the @PRIMEeventBBall @PBRhoops in Texas!! Had a great time with my team and can’t wait to keep working this summer!💛🖤 @BayStateJags @JagsRecruiting @LaurieBollin @mrodrigues423 @tiffrod45 pic.twitter.com/gVYHqpeE6V
— Sophia Florio (@SophHoops) June 30, 2021
Bleu Kerr Bleu Kerr 5'9" | CG Boston Latin | 2025 State NewE – Lady TNE/Boston Latin – 5’8’’ – CG
Rank: #21
Bleu Kerr Bleu Kerr 5'9" | CG Boston Latin | 2025 State NewE is a name everyone needs to know. The dynamic scoring combo guard can destroy opponents at all three levels while doing so effortlessly. Going downhill, Kerr is at her best and changes pace as well as anyone in her class. It is impressive how she can go full speed down the court, stop on a dime, change directions and then explode to the basket under control and fluidly. When penetrating, Kerr’s strength and body control lead to many and-1’s and powerful finishes around the hoop. She is also a willing passer who has no issue finding the open teammate off her aggressive drives. Watching her in practice and seeing how fast she is with the ball is eye-popping. Kerr has top 10 talent, and I believe she can slowly climb up the ranks by the September update.
Meet Bleu Kerr Class of 2025. Check out her performance from the fall of 2020 @LadyTne @TNEBBallClub pic.twitter.com/8mLjR05RfQ
— LadyTeam New England (@LadyTne) May 17, 2021
Hijjah Allen-Paisley Hijjah Allen-Paisley 5'5" | PG Cathedral | 2025 State NewE – Boston Showstoppers/Cathedral – 5’5’’ – PG
Rank: #27
Allen-Paisley is a terrific distributor who delivers some of the best post entry passes you will see in the ranks. The Showstoppers are a team that can dominate the inside with bigs Chinenye Odenigbo Chinenye Odenigbo 6'6" | C Noble & Greenough | 2023 State NewE and Sophia Fontaine Sophia Fontaine 6'2" | PF Putnam Science | 2023 State NewE , so it is vital to have perimeter players who can throw on time, and on-target post passes. Allen-Paisley does a good job getting a good angle and hitting the post player right in her hands. Outside of her passing, Allen-Paisley runs the point under control and always has her head up, scanning the floor looking to make a play. She is a threat from three and can knife through the paint en route to the basket when run off the line.
Cortney Howell Cortney Howell 6'0" | CG Belmont | 2025 State NewE – Lady TNE/Belmont – 6’0’’ – CG
Rank: #41
Howell is the biggest guard ranked, and her ability to handle the ball and facilitate the offense at her size gives her one of the highest ceilings of anyone at the position. She is becoming an efficient outside shooter who shoots over the defense with ease which compliments her inside game nicely. Lady TNE plays positionless basketball, so Howell having the skill set to play anywhere on the floor and be a primary ball-handler at times makes her dangerous on the court. I like how Howell can bring the ball up, pass to the wing and then seal down in the post and score with her back to the basket. Her versatility and knowing that she can beat you in numerous ways elevates her stock moving forward.
Cortney Howell has been working hard on her outside game. Standing in at 6feet tall she has been showing up. She is mixing it up on the court, giving you inside and out@zg_newengland @TNEBBallClub @LadyTne pic.twitter.com/T604HbjBIQ
— LadyTeam New England (@LadyTne) May 16, 2021