PGH Top 250 Expo – All-Defense

As important as it is to have players that can score, it is also key that coaches have players that can keep the opposing team off the scoreboard. This year’s Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo had no shortage of talent that brought their defensive a-games to Cartersville. Approximately 170 participants arrived at Lakepoint Sports for the festivities, including a handful from the neighboring states of Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina. Which young talent that was on hand managed to keep opposing would-be scorers off said scoreboard? Here is a look at who caught our eye. [caption id="attachment_336282" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336282" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/122-Nailah-Mayes-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="335914" first="Nailah" last="Mayes"] – 2023 – Minor HS (Alabama)</strong> – Mayes may play for a school called Minor but her impact on the girls basketball team is anything but. She is an effective setter of screens and knows how to get her hands up on defense to make her a tougher out for either opposing or would-be opposing ball handlers. Mayes has no problems absorbing contact and will get to the free throw line. She will create enough space on the floor where it opens her up to take a number of long distance shots. Mayes is 5-foot-9 and her height serves her way on the basketball court and near a volleyball net since it is the other sport she plays. [caption id="attachment_336281" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336281" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/90-LaNya-Fostere-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="188323" first="La’Nya" last="Foster"] – 2023 – Lovejoy HS</strong> – Foster is loved by Wildcats fans and her play brings those fans plenty of joy. She is a major reason why the Wildcats made it all the way to the semifinals of the AAAAAA tournament last season. Foster will give a team a number of rebounds while also being a consistent threat to compile a steal or reject an opposing team’s shot. She displays versatility in her skill for shooting and making 3-point tries. Foster will get into iso situations where she eventually put her speed to good use and getting past defenders and finishing strong. [caption id="attachment_336278" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336278" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/21-Sanaa-Tripp-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="246288" first="Sanaa" last="Tripp"] – 2024 – Newton HS</strong> – Another who may come away as having one of the more impressive showings at Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo. Tripp was making a number of plays on both offense and defense. She will do the little things, such as hustling, to eventually create additional scoring situations for her team. Tripp can manage to haul in offensive rebounds then put them back through the basket for two more points. While on the floor, Foster will call for the ball and can also provide stout defense on the perimeter. She will get creative at times with her shot selection as well. &nbsp; <img class="size-medium wp-image-336268 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/77-DMya-Griffin-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="211076" first="D’Mya" last="Griffin"] – 2022 – Grovetown HS</strong> – She is not only one that will be on the radars of many Georgia basketball fans because she is a senior but because she missed last year. She will help out in double team defense situations and can make the transition game look easy at times. Griffin has a high basketball IQ and has the talent for rebounding and shooting. Griffin also will absorb her fair share of contact which will put her at the free throw line for tries at the stripe. She will handle the ball and slice her way through defenders en route to the basket. [caption id="attachment_336272" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336272" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/143-Branae-Modisett.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="335867" first="Bra’nae" last="Modisett"] – 2022 – Paulding County</strong> – Along with what she does during the regular season with the Patriots, she also plays basketball on the travel circuit with FBC EOTO, which stands for Each One Teach One. Modisett will get herself in position to take advantage of an opposing ball handler’s miscue and make it into a turnover for said ball carrier. Modisett will also corral in rebounds in addition to putting a good number of points on the board. In one of the games at Prep Girls Hoops Top 250, she scored the game winning basket which occurred via a layup in transition.