5 Returning Defensive Standouts in West Virginia
Obviously, there are two ends of the floor when it comes to evaluating prep basketball players. Defensive stoppers are every bit as valuable to team success as offensive standouts. Here are five players in the Mountain State that will return…
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Continue ReadingObviously, there are two ends of the floor when it comes to evaluating prep basketball players. Defensive stoppers are every bit as valuable to team success as offensive standouts. Here are five players in the Mountain State that will return next season that have already proven to be exceptional on the defensive end.
Maliha Witten Maliha Witten 5'10" | PG South Charleston | 2021 State WV — South Charleston — 2021 — G
Defensive-oriented game plans dominate the world of basketball on all levels. The Black Eagles have hung their hats on defense under long-time coach Gary Greene and currently, that effort is led by Witten. The junior has started from the beginning and has cut her teeth in the rugged Mountain State Athletic Conference, being matched up with some of the state’s most elite scorers. Witten prides herself on the defensive end. She’s much more athletic than she’s often given credit for and at 5-foot-10, she’s equally as effective in the post or on the perimeter. SC’s half-court, grind-it-out style gives opponents with uptempo aspirations fits and it is Witten’s job on a night-in, night-out basis to limit the opposition’s best offensive option. The bigger the game and the more dynamic the scorer, the more Witten seems to rise to the occasion.
Haley Wallace — Wayne — 2021 — G
The Cardinal Conference has consistently produced some of the best single-season offensive outputs found anywhere in the state with four players averaging over 20 points per contest this season. Yet the Pioneers have remained one of the most successful programs in the league over the last handful of years riding a stingy defense in the face of offensive fireworks. At just 5-4, Wallace doesn’t necessarily look the part of a player that can shut down the state’s elite scorers yet, nearly every night, she holds opponents well below their scoring averages. She found herself in early foul trouble in a regional co-final against Nitro and it’s no coincidence that the Wildcats rallied from 21 points down to win a two-point nail biter. With Wallace on the floor, Wayne remains one of the state’s best defensive teams. Don’t let her size fool you.
Keanti Thompson Keanti Thompson 5'4" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2023 State WV — Woodrow Wilson — 2023 — PG
Thompson turned a lot of heads in this, her freshman season, as she fought her way from the JV squad to the varsity starting lineup by season’s end. She remains a player with an extremely high ceiling as all the pieces seem to be in place. Extremely quick, a plus-ballhandler and comfortable driving into the lane amongst the trees, there’s plenty to be excited about. But, perhaps where Thompson made her biggest mark this season was on the defensive end where her quick hands and instincts led to steals and transition points for an offense that largely relied on half-court sets for success. Positioned at the top of the key, Thompson has great anticipation when it comes to perimeter passes and her speed allows her to recover quickly if she’s momentarily out of position. Thompson figures to continue to make waves as her responsibilities increase in the coming years, but her defense will likely be the catalyst for her offense.
Kristen Lowers Kristen Lowers 5'8" | SG State FL — Parkersburg — 2022 — G
Lowers is one of several Parkersburg players that could have found themselves on this list. The Big Reds have used a full-court, blitzing pressure defense to pave the way for success over the past few seasons and few teams, if any, have been able to find success against it. Buoyed by long, athletic, combo guards such as Lowers, the Big Reds present a big problem for opposing offenses. Lowers is a player that has garnered significant playing time since she was a freshman, but with three senior starters exiting this season, a significant uptick in minutes and responsibilities should ensue. Lowers has flashed big-time potential throughout her two years and will likely have more opportunities moving forward. It’s unlikely that with the athleticism Parkersburg still has, a significant defensive change will happen. Look for Lowers to burst onto the scene as a force on both sides of the court next year.
Kaitlyn Ammons Kaitlyn Ammons 6'3" | PF Morgantown | 2021 State WV — Morgantown — 2021 — C
Any talks of defensive teams in West Virginia have to have Morgantown near or at the top. Coach Jason White has long relied on defense and it has led him to three state championships so far. The Mohigans will return its entire roster next year, buoyed by Ammons who recently committed to DePaul. At 6-foot-2 and supremely athletic, Ammons is comfortable clogging the lane and cutting off penetration while letting four surrounding guards lock down the perimeter. Morgantown is comfortable in low-scoring, grinding contests, yielding 50 or more points just five times in 26 contests this season. And with Ammons in the center, the Mohigans are comfortable filtering everything to the middle and letting their post make life a nightmare on the inside. Morgantown will be a team to watch next season and with a full, cohesive unit back for yet another go-around, it figures that the Mohigans will be even tougher to find success against.