Pesky Defenders to keep an eye on this season

The game of basketball is constantly evolving, and players are more skilled now than they were ten years ago. However, some players rely on good ole’ fashion defense to help propel their teams to the next level. This up-and-coming season these players are looking to lock down and lock up the state’s best offensive players. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245224" first="Zyion" last="Shannon"] - 5’7 Sr. Guard, Stewarts Creek High School</strong> A long, athletic guard who can close out from distance and start the fast break with quick hands and deflections. Shannon has shown the ability to slide with quick guards and read and react when the ball handler makes a decision. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245385" first="Mauryah" last="Jones"] - 5’0 So. Guard, Fayette Ware High School </strong> An undersized guard who makes up for it in heart and grit. Jones is not afraid to sacrifice and put her body on the line for her teammates. She dives for loose balls, reads and reacts to passing lanes, and does not let the ballhandler make lazy crossovers in front of her. She is only a sophomore and with time she can develop into a ball hawk in future seasons. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="290943" first="Katie" last="Shea Collins"] - 5’3 So., Guard, Pope John Paul II</strong> Katie is a high IQ basketball player that understands the game of basketball. She can recognize plays before they happen and bait ball handlers into making the wrong pass.  Katie’s ability to cover the three-point line to the block on the weakside shows her heart and determination to not give up easy baskets. She plays the game with the next pass in mind, and is not afraid to act on her instincts to try and make a play for her team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245258" first="Katie" last="Burdette"] - 6’0 Sr., Center, Summertown High School</strong> Burdette is a center and plays to her strengths. She uses her size and physicality on the defensive end as a deterrence and does not leave the floor unless the ball is in the air. This allows her to block shots without fouling and limits the cheap fouls that post players sometimes get. Burdette has also shown the ability to defend the pick and roll from the elbow. She can make a powerful two slides and make a play on the ball when smaller guards try to take advantage of the post. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="276718" first="Krysonie" last="Mitchell"] - 5’9 Sr., Forward, Northeast High School </strong> Mitchell is an aggressive forward, who is looking to make an exciting play. She is an undersized post, but she is not afraid of the challenge of defending bigger players. Mitchell fights through ball screens and has the ability to recover when she is beaten. She has a raw emotion that is fun to watch and brings a sense of urgency to the game.