Finney No Joke on April 1st or Any Other Day
Much like her on-court persona, Jess Finney was no joke on April 1st, when she sent a tweet that would change her life and send reverberations throughout the West Coast recruiting scene.
A Proven Gamer
A 5’10 guard out of Chaparral High School in Scottsdale (AZ), Finney is a well-known and much sought after 2021 recruit because of her game-time ability to rise to any level of competition.
The on-court catalyst of the well-respected powerhouse Arizona Select UAA program, Jess is a combo/lead guard with a thin, rangy build and long arms and legs.
Jess is considered a combo guard because of her excellent ability to shoot from deep and score off the dribble-drive, but throughout a game Finney will often play like a classic point guard.
So Many Tools in Her Bag
In my review of game film, Jess Finney plays the game with a controlled pace, quickly but not hurried.
Finney consistently demonstrates a smooth shooting stroke to the three-point arc and beyond — to about the international three-point distance.
Jess has a quick shooting release off-the-catch or off-the-dribble, which allows her to comfortably get off her shot even if closely guarded.
When she is the primary ball-handler on offense, Finney exudes a confident presence.
Jess always plays the game with her head up, demonstrating good playmaker’s vision and court awareness of the defense and her teammates.
Finney is a crisp passer when feeding teammates, which shows the attention to detail in her game.
Jess has good quickness with the ball; and she uses an effective first step with a shifty change-of-pace, change-of-direction dribble to setup a drive to the lane.
Demonstrating a classic point guard technique, Finney uses a probing dribble against team defensive pressure to find a shot for herself or teammates.
Jess has some flair to her game, as she favors one-handed scoop finishes on the break or drives to the basket, which she consistently makes.
Without the ball, Finney shows good movement to maintain one-pass-away spacing.
Jess Finney’s exceptional basketball IQ is on display at all times; and coupled with her on-ball creativity and shot-making ability, it makes her a very tough matchup.
As a defender, Finney demonstrates good anticipation with quick hands and feet.
Future Looks Bright With Some Added Growth
Jess Finney’s all-business game demeanor is reminiscent of a point guard’s leadership; and it is easy to see her assuming that role, at times, with Washington.
However, Finney’s slight build will require added strength and muscle to withstand the PAC-12 gauntlet of exceptional guards — particularly to finish her shots around the basket, as well as be a physical defender.
Jess should be able to contribute at UW immediately as a freshman, because of her deep shooting range and her all-around game.
But Jess will probably need the benefits of a college strength and conditioning program to become an impact player comparable to the abilities she showcases at the high school level.
Overall, Jess Finney’s skills and style of play fit perfectly with Washington’s other two 2021 recruits, Avery Van Sickle and A.J. Marotte.
Finney’s talents seemingly bridge the gap between the two other UW combo guard recruits and it is easy to envision all three playing together at UW in the future.
Coach Wynn and her staff have created a three-headed monster with their 2021 recruiting class and they may not be done yet.