Top 3-and-D Players in Class 5A

As players are playing for their respective club basketball team and getting some 5-on-5 this summer, these players can certainly defend and score among the best in Colorado. They show that they can stop the ball at will and make it extremely uncomfortable for opponents. Let’s take a look at some of Colorado’s best 3-and-D players in Class 5A. &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_188843" align="alignright" width="260"]<img class=" wp-image-188843" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Timiya-Guevara-Denver-South-300x231.jpg" alt="" width="260" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="116758" first="Timiya" last="Guevara"][/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116758" first="Timiya" last="Guevara"] (Denver South, 2021)</strong> Guevara plays with a lot of heart and grit, and does not shy away from tracking the ball from a miss shot or battling for rebounds. She is one of the state’s best defensive players with her ability to get down in a great stance and move her feet quickly to force turnovers. Guevara also shows the ability to be efficient from behind the arc, stretching teams out. Guevara is a tough player at both ends and a nightmare for opposing guards to compete against. In 2019-20, she averaged 22.0 points per game on 167-for-324 (52 percent) shooting from the field in 2019-20 and made 43 of her 98 attempts (44 percent) from behind the arc. Defensively, she averaged 5.8 steals per game. [caption id="attachment_188844" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-188844" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Kindyll-Wetta-Valor-Christian4-300x209.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="209" /> [player_tooltip player_id="95124" first="Kindyll" last="Wetta"][/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95124" first="Kindyll" last="Wetta"] (Valor Christian, 2021)</strong> One of the best all-around players in the state, Wetta has a high motor and has relentless effort when she steps on the court. The University of Colorado commits also has the offensive skill and shooting ability to match her intensity and defensive awareness. A physical player for her position, Wetta has tremendous foot speed and can light it up from behind the 3-point arc. With her quickness and ability to change directions, Wetta is able to beat opposing players to the spot and force turnovers. On a talented Valor Christian roster, Wetta is the floor general and creates opportunities for herself, as well as for her team. She also does well anticipating the pass getting her hands on a lot of steals. As a junior, she averaged 13.2 points per game on 134-for-275 (49 percent) shooting from the field, 28 for 73 (38 percent) of shots that came from behind the arc, and also averaged 4.3 steals per game. [caption id="attachment_188845" align="alignright" width="245"]<img class=" wp-image-188845" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Breanna-Linnear-Rangeview-300x285.jpg" alt="" width="245" height="233" /> [player_tooltip player_id="116777" first="Brianna" last="Linnear"][/caption]<strong><span style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="116777" first="Brianna" last="Linnear"] (Rangeview, 2021)</span></strong> Linnear can spark her team and always brings the energy. She is a passionate player with good fundamentals and foot speed who never gives up on the defensive end, making it tough on the opponents' best ball handler. She also shows the ability to knock down shots from behind the arc and can get to the rim through traffic. She averaged 13.4 points per game on 122-for-328 (38 percent) shooting from the floor as a junior, went 24 for 75 (32 percent) on shots from behind the arc, and came up with 3.3 steals per game. Linnear is also a tough player to stop in transition with her ability to get downhill quickly. [caption id="attachment_188852" align="alignleft" width="288"]<img class=" wp-image-188852" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Grace-Talbot-Chatfield3-300x228.jpg" alt="" width="288" height="219" /> [player_tooltip player_id="95173" first="Grace" last="Talbot"][/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95173" first="Grace" last="Talbot"] (Chatfield, 2022)</strong> Talbot has really quick hands, a great feel, and anticipates on the defensive end. She can create her own shot off the dribble, and does a great job creating space for herself. She is capable of scoring in a variety of ways when she puts the ball on the floor, and attacks the rim relentlessly. Talbot does well shooting either off the catch or the bounce, making her tough to guard. She averaged 19.2 points per game on 156-for-416 (38 percent) shooting from the floor throughout her sophomore season and went 68 for 218 (31 percent) on shots came from behind the arc. With her quick hands, Talbot is able to come up with a lot of steals, averaging 3.2 in the 19’-20’ season.