Spotlight On The 695 Beltway: The Area’s Best Defenders
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We don’t talk about individual defenders and their impact on the games enough so I want to shine a light on some of the players in the area who can lock down an opponent. These are not rankings, they are…
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Continue ReadingWe don’t talk about individual defenders and their impact on the games enough so I want to shine a light on some of the players in the area who can lock down an opponent. These are not rankings, they are in random order.
Eniyah Stinnette
Eniyah Stinnette
Standing a shade under six feet. Eniyah has the length and mobility to defend just about every position on the court. At Gerstell she actually guards one through five, with Team Thrill she went one through four. College coaches like that versatility that she brings on defense. She’s strong enough to defend the post and has quick enough feet to blow up plays on the perimeter.
Genique Gaither
Genique Gaither
Genique is a straight up nuisance for ball handlers trying to get up the court. She is strong with a solid and sturdy frame and has quick feet. She uses those advantages to turn ball handlers and make them uncomfortable. She has good anticipation and quick hands so she is able to come up with steals and deflections.
Aliyah is all length, playing much bigger than her 5’10” frame. She covers a lot of ground with her speed and instincts and comes up with a ton of deflections and blocks. She rarely goes for the emphatic block out of bounds, opting instead to keep the ball in play. She is hard for ball handlers to get around, and if they do get past her she is always in the picture looking for the chase down steal or block.
Mt. Saint Mary’s landed a solid all around player in Gabby. On defense she has a solid fundamental base of footwork, strength and speed. She is always in the right positions and knows how to contest without fouling.
Highlights
Gabby uses her athletic ability to the fullest extent on defense. She is very versatile and is willing and able to guard multiple positions. She is hard to beat off the dribble and has great recovery speed if she does get beat.
Samiyah, also known as “Chicago”, is probably Howard county’s best on ball defender. She’s an explosive athlete with a high motor so if she’s defending you it’s going to be a long day. She is physically strong so she can handle bigger players if necessary, but she excels on the perimeter where she wreaks havoc.
Look for Sydney to have a much bigger role at St. Frances this season. Her competitive nature and intensity on defense will be two reasons why. She has the physical tools as well, including upper body strength to hold her position against bigger players. She is a disruptive force at the point of attack out on the perimeter, using her feet and quick hands to turn defenders into traps.
Maya has been on a tear this past year on defense. Starting with a sensational MPSSAA playoff run with Western, she was one of seven players who made a run all the way to a 4A state title. She played a big role by overwhelming guards defensively with ball pressure and constant activity. She stayed out of foul trouble by using her quick feet to cut defenders off and always being in the right spot. She will take a charge and is always first on the floor for a loose ball. She continued to contribute in the same manner during the summer.
Trinity is a ball of energy in the paint and not many players can match her activity for a full game. She is very physical in the post and is willing to sacrifice her body to come up with a loose ball. She is relentless is pursuing blocks and communicates well while anchoring the backline. George Mason University is getting a good one.
Chaniya is a warrior on the court and it shows up mostly on defense. She’s arguably the best rim protector in Baltimore because she is fearless and relentless. She talks to her teammates and to opponents as well. She has good timing when going for blocks and prefers to just tip the ball and grab it instead of swatting it out of play. She not afraid to mix it up with bigger players and is decent on the perimeter as well.
Milan is a gifted athlete with a high IQ and is not afraid to step up and take on the other team’s top player. She is strong and explosive with good footwork so she rarely gets taken advantage of on defense. She scores a lot of points off defense as a result of her quick hands and good instincts.
Anne Arundel County’s best on ball defender has recently committed to California State – Bakersfield. She is a physical guard with a strong upper body and quick hands. She is very hard to move so if she decides to lock someone down that is what usually happens. Defense is a mindset and she has the right attitude and approach to excel at it.