Top Defensive Players of 2023

<span style="font-weight: 400;">2023 has a lot of upside of precocious talent that went out there this past season and made their marks through individual talent that helped out their team.  As these players know, if you want to get significant playing time, the one thing you must be able to do is play defense.  These players showed their considerable skills and talent on the defensive end through a mix of their physical attributes as well as their sheer effort.  You have athletes like [player_tooltip player_id="158542" first="Kennedie" last="Shuler"] from Barlow, who examples the quintessential on-ball defender, as she is lightning quick and is the definition of a ball hawk.  [player_tooltip player_id="158561" first="Amy" last="Dickover"] of Sutherlin was a daunting center who made her presence known defensively by being an anchor for her team.  Or you have the players that can do it all like [player_tooltip player_id="158538" first="Sofia" last="Bell"], an all around player who infused her abilities on the defensive side of things as well.  Here are the top defensive players of 2023.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158545" first="Rhyan" last="Mogel"] 2023 5’10” SF La Salle HS</strong> - Tall, athletic, very fluid forward that takes full advantage of her physical attributes on the defensive side through her effort.  Never gives up on a play, which results in unexpected blocks due to her long wingspan.  Her length especially helps her out as a perimeter defender, where she covers a lot of ground and is able to keep a lid on her opposition.  Gets into the passing lanes with her long levers, resulting in steals.  </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158542" first="Kennedie" last="Shuler"] 2023 5’8” SG Barlow HS</strong> - Kennedie is a quick, agile guard for Barlow who picks up her assignment at half-court and immediately makes things difficult for them.  Her quick reaction and good lateral movement, most likely from the fact that she plays soccer, provides for great defensive outcomes.  Works tenaciously on defense with discipline and effort, as she is truly a masterful perimeter defender.  She has quick hands that will jab at the ball and will result in a turnover.  The Bruins’ defensive scheme is initiated and anchored by the efforts of her gritty play.  </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158539" first="Lizzy" last="Bennett"] 2023 5’11” SF West Salem HS</strong> - Lizzy has a lot of size, skills, and awareness as a guard her age, and it certainly showed in stretches.  Her biggest x-factor defensively is hounding down the fast break, where she comes full speed ahead and graciously blocks the lay-up from behind.  She is an above average perimeter defender that utilizes her length well, which enables her to get tipped passes and steals.  At 5’11”, she has a nose for the rebound and through pure effort.  </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158538" first="Sofia" last="Bell"] 2023 6’0” SG St Mary’s Academy</strong> - Sofia’s size, physicality, and effort make her an intriguing, versatile, and effective defender for St Mary’s Academy.  She can hold her own in the middle through her height, where she makes the opposition work for their points.  Bell is also the focal point of the Blues’ full court press, where she is the main ball attacker, using her awareness and quickness to come up with the ball.  She isn’t afraid to establish her presence when the ball is up in the air, asserting herself amongst the crowd and grabbing the rebound.  </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158556" first="Rose" last="Koehler"] 2023 5’6” PG Summit HS</strong> - Rose is a disciplined guard with good defensive awareness and great hands for coming up with the steal.  Versatile in how she comes up with the ball, as she doesn’t wait for anyone else and makes a move for the ball as soon as it’s in the air.  She is an underrated defender at the basket, as her timing and hand for the ball are above average.  Because of her overall sense of where the ball is in the air, she is a good rebounder for her height as well. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158561" first="Amy" last="Dickover"] 2023 6’1” C Sutherlin HS</strong> - The center for Sutherlin has a lot of size and length and uses it to her full advantage for Sutherlin.  She boxes out well and grabs quite a bit of rebounds within her jurisdiction.  The most memorable effort of this skill being a 20 rebound performance versus Clatskanie at the MLK Yoda Showcase.  She contests a lot of shots at the basket and gets quite a bit of blocks by simply bringing her arms up.  If she continues to improve athletically, she will be a dominant force in the middle.  </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158550" first="Beaux" last="Bruegman"] 2023 5’10” SF Sheldon HS</strong> - Beaux is another athlete whose combination of size and skill transition into defensive tools.  She can defend multiple positions, as you can put her on the wing, where  her long wingspan hone in on passes.  Interiorly, she is a tough defender that won’t back away without a challenge, this combined with her strength makes her a worthy shot blocker.  Her natural physicality makes rebounding pedestrian for Bruegman. </span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158554" first="Bailey" last="Donohue"] 2023 6’0’ C McKay HS</strong> - Donohue is a physically imposing player, speaking of simply by looking at her.  She is a big body and makes it difficult for opposing players to get points inside the paint when she is there.  Bailey also has active hands for making plays on the ball and has good instincts and overall awareness.  Rebounds come her way, as she is very difficult to block out for the ball.  Can be a formidable force is she continues to work on her overall skills and mobility.