Top-Notch Defensive Players in NorCal
As we all know, the defense is just as important as the offense. As a coach, you need to acquire players that have the perseverance to hustle and play defense to the last second of every game. Playing great defense…
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Continue ReadingAs we all know, the defense is just as important as the offense. As a coach, you need to acquire players that have the perseverance to hustle and play defense to the last second of every game. Playing great defense will always lead to more offensive opportunities. Coaches that develop a great defense on their team, will be a quicker way to develop a more competitive team.
Listed are 5 players in NorCal that should be recognized for their top-notch defensive abilities:
Kamaren Codding- (2020), Sr, C, 6”2’, #13, Santa Rosa High School (Santa Rosa, CA)
Up North at Santa Rosa High School, they have one of the most developed players in the game. Kamaren Codding, captain of her team, a very active defensive player, has shown that she has is one of the best defensive players in northern California. With 13.2 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and 5.6 BPG, she is a very flourished player that makes her presence known on the court. Her current statistics consist of 217 defensive rebounds, 69 offensive rebounds, and 128 blocks to date for the 2019-2020 season. Her physicality on the court is very prominent and is very active on the defensive end. Her soaring height also helps her ability to score over others efficiently. Codding will leave an everlasting memory at Santa Rosa High School, and I am excited to see her college career soar.
Lauren Green- (2022), So, PG & SG, 5”8’, #32, Castro Valley High School (Castro Valley, CA)
Lauren Green is a miraculous player and has become captain of her team just as a sophomore. She is one of the most spirited players I have ever witnessed. She is quick and energetic. During the 2019-2020 season, Green’s statistics consisted of 12.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 5.7 SPG. Green has a keen awareness of the court, and you can count on her to make a play in crucial moments in games. Her shooting is like no other, very quick release, and it’s very hard to defend. Driving to the basket is a simple task, her physicality shows when going up for a shot against a good defender. Green’s ball-handling is exquisite, and you really can tell she puts in a great amount of effort into her game. Athletic, and hustle are two words I would use to describe Lauren Green. She still has much of her high school career to go, and I am excited to see where she will soar in the years to come.
Aunika Hornung- (2022), So, C, 6”2’, #24, James Logan High School (Union City, CA)
Aunika Hornung is a player you won’t want to miss out on. The North Coast Section has an abundant amount of athletic players, and Aunika is definitely one of them. She is currently ranked at #1 for rebounds in the North Coast Section. During the 2019-2020 season, Hornung’s statistics consisted of 13.5 PPG, 13.5 RPG, FT% of 61%, and FG% of 44%. Aunika is a complete beast under the basket, not just on defense, but on offense as well. Her 6ft ½ in wingspan correlates well with her rebounding and blocking abilities. She is all over the place on the court, she is always on alert. Her towering height makes it difficult to be blocked, but also makes it difficult for her opponents to shoot a ball in her vicinity. Aunika is one of the most athletic players in the North Coast Section, and I only see her being successful from here on out.
Audrey Moulton- (2020), Sr, SG & PG, 5”9’, #5, California High School (San Ramon, CA)
If you want to talk about intense players, let us talk about Audrey Moulton. Recently committed to San Francisco State, she has shown that she is one of the most skilled players in Northern California. Max Preps Player of the Year for Varsity Basketball during the 2019-2020 season, captain of her high school team, she is a player that NorCal is going to remember. Audrey’s alertness on defense is outstanding. Her statistics from the 2019-2020 season consisted of 17.0 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 5.2 SPG, and 1 triple-double. That is really extraordinary stuff. Moulton finished her senior season with twice as many rebounds as any other player on her high school team. She scored 493 points during the 2019-2020 season alone. During her Junior season, Audrey eclipsed the 1000 pt mark. Audrey is an all-around talented and skilled individual that will go far in her college career.
Susie Kresch- (2021), Jr, PF, 5”10’, #5, Clayton Valley Charter (Concord, CA), Clayton Blaze
Let’s talk about underrated players, Susie Kresch. This girl has range, she can shoot threes for days. Kresch is always running down the court for her guards and is always ready for a jump shot beyond the arc all throughout the game. Those are just her offensive capabilities, her defensive capabilities are even more satisfactory. Her rebounding is outstanding. Kresch has a keen awareness of where the ball is going to land when a shot is going up. This just goes to show that having a good basketball IQ on defense is very rewarding. Susie averages 7.0 RPG, and her long wingspan helps her ability to rebound so well. Kresch has an understanding of the rim and is very intelligent when it comes to blocks and rebounds. Her hands are like glue, she rarely fumbles the ball when retrieving a pass or a rebound. Susie Kresch is a player that I believe should be recognized, and should not be overlooked.