2025 Rankings Update: Top Shooting Guards
The class of 2025 is absolutely loaded with talent. Each year espnW only names 25 freshman across the country to their watch list and Kentucky already has 2 players on that list which is tied for 2nd most of any…
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Continue ReadingThe class of 2025 is absolutely loaded with talent. Each year espnW only names 25 freshman across the country to their watch list and Kentucky already has 2 players on that list which is tied for 2nd most of any state. We’ve already explored the top point guards and combo guards in the class of 2025, but let’s take a look at the top shooting guards.
Hayden Barrier Hayden Barrier 5'6" | SG Montgomery County | 2024 State KY | Montgomery County
If you haven’t seen Barrier play, you’re missing out. She’s an absolute stud and she can do just about everything. Defensively, she really works hard and constantly has her arms out and ready. She is very active and reads the passing lanes so well. She consistently crashes the boards as well. On the other end, she has really great shooting form and extremely deep range. If you don’t guard her from the time she crosses half court, you’re risking giving up 3 points. Barrier is so poised on the court and just looks like she belongs out there. She’s got a high basketball IQ and she can really handle the ball well. She is a phenomenal and extremely willing passer. She can get to the rim at-will and is a very versatile finisher. As a freshman, Barrier accomplished things some players strive for throughout their entire career, like being named the 10th Region Co-Player of the Year and joining Montgomery County’s 1,000 point club. The sky is the limit for Barrier.
Lainey Johnson Lainey Johnson 5'11" | SG Anderson County | 2025 State KY | Anderson County
Johnson is a stat stuffer. She defends well and comes up with a lot of steals by reading the offense and always thinking a play ahead. She is an excellent rebounder and she works hard to get those boards. She’s a good ball handler and can easily get to the rim on her drives. She is also a fantastic shooter and shot nearly 40% from deep. She deferred a lot in her freshman year, but with Anderson County graduating their top 3 scorers, including the 2022 Kentucky Miss Basketball winner, I’d expect to see Johnson take it to the next level next season as she is already fully capable of being the go-to player. And when I say she deferred a lot, I really mean she made some phenomenal passes to her extremely talented teammates rather than taking it or shooting it more herself. Johnson has great size and strength as well.
Kinsley Molden Kinsley Molden 5'6" | SG Southwestern | 2025 State KY | Southwestern
Molden is a fantastic all-around player. She does the little things, like putting herself in perfect rebounding positions and making the extra pass, but she makes everything look so natural. She has such a high basketball IQ and you can see that the game truly matters to her when she’s on the floor. Despite being a freshman, you can see her leadership shine when you watch her play. She is a great shooter and she catches ready to fire. Her ball fakes are extremely effective and she knows when to use them and how to truly sell them. Molden is strong, especially when she has the ball and you’ll have to fight hard if you want to take it from her. She can block shots, she can get to the rim, she has a high motor, she was a top 35 3-point shooter and top 3 free throw shooter in the state this past season – basically, she does it all. Molden was also 1 of 14 total players that earned a spot on the 2022 KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16 All-Tournament team.
Maleiyah Moore Maleiyah Moore 5'8" | SG Scott County | 2025 State KY | Scott County
Moore was impressive in her freshman campaign. She is a really good ball handler and she’s super comfortable dribbling with her weak hand. She’s also skilled driving on the weak side and finishes really well with her left hand. Moore is a great shooter off of the catch and she really moves into the openings to make it easy on her teammates to get her the ball. She can also knock shots down off of the dribble which makes it her really hard to defend. She makes some excellent cuts and she cuts hard. Moore excels at drawing help and making a good pass to the open player.
Bailee Duck Bailee Duck 5'8" | SG CAL | 2025 State KY | CAL
Duck is a very versatile player. She’s extremely quick and athletic. Defensively, she has all the skills a player needs to be a great defender. She gets steals both on and off of the ball, and off of the dribble and the pass. She reads the passing lanes and the ball handler’s eyes really well. She makes a lot of hustle plays and she has the potential to be a fantastic rebounder. She’s faster with the ball than a lot of players are without the ball. She can get into the paint or to the rim almost any time she wants. She’s got a strong floater and can score in a multitude of ways. Duck has a quick release and can really knock down the 3. She also plays with zero fear when she’s on the court.
Grace Bale Grace Bale 5'7" | SG Taylor County | 2025 State KY | Taylor County
Bale finished her freshman season as one of the top 25 free throw shooters in the state, but that isn’t the only place that she can knock them down. She’s an excellent 3-point shooter and really just has a good shot overall. She doesn’t make things easy on the defensive side of things either. She’s constantly reading the offense to see where she can come up with a steal and it’s not odd to see multiple steals by Bale on the stat sheet after any given game. The lefty has good passing abilities and makes good moves with the ball in her hands. She reads where rebounds will come off of the rim and was a really good rebounder all season long.