Top 2026 Defensive Performances During the Orlando Live Periods

There was good defensive play during he live period and some of the good defensive play came from players who are heading to high school this year. In this article, we look at the defensive efforts given by some of the talented 2026 players.   [player_tooltip player_id='248551' first='Alanna' last='Tatum'] / 2026 / 5'6″ / ECU 2025 Family   The word “unflappable” comes to mind when describing [player_tooltip player_id='248551' first='Alanna' last='Tatum']'s demeanor on the court. She is cool, calm, and reliable. Tatum has been through the wars and got a fresh dose of pressure-packed moments (as an 8th grader), playing and starting on Varsity at University Christian High school. In 2021, University Christian arguably had the toughest schedule on the First Coast. In addition to experience, Tatum is just a special young talent. She is super athletic with speed, quickness, instincts, and heart. She is a nuisance on the ball with great on-ball skill and she can stay in front of anyone trying to drive pass her. Tatum is at her best in transition defense. Usually the last line of defense, Tatum can turn an offense away from the paint and give teammates time to get down the court. When she is challenged on fastbreaks, she is exceptional at making the opponent take a difficult shot or swatting the shot out of bounds.   Senaia Asanya / 2026 / 6'0″ C / J Sizzle 2025   Asanya has been impressive throughout the 2022 AAU season. The matchup between Asanya and [player_tooltip player_id='346836' first='McKenzie' last='Neal'] is what caught my attention early in the AAU season. The younger Asanya was going toe to toe with one of the most talented “bigs” in the 2025 class. Asanya does a good job of anchoring the middle on the defense and has the versatility and the quickness to defend out on the wings. She also blocks out well and does a good job on the boards. Another impressive part of her game is her ability to communicate on the courts. She constantly communicates on the court to ensure everyone is on the right page.   Saige McCloud/ 2026 / 5'11” F / Tre Mann 2025   Mccloud looks the part on the court and plays it as well. She has a college body already. She was hard to contain offensively and was a force when she got the ball in the paint. She spent a lot of time covering on the wing and had very quick feet. She consistently kept players from penetrating to the goal. When anchored in the middle, McCloud was equally effective. She contested every shot and erased mistakes when there were defensive breakdowns. Her help side defense was very good. Her rebounding skills on the defensive side were impressive. She repeatedly limited the opponent to one shot and was excellent at out letting the ball to her explosive guards.   Ashlyn Young / 2026 / 5'8 Guard / Tre Mann 2025   Young has played varsity basketball since 6th grade and her experience shows on the court. She's a versatile and high-IQ player who can guard multiple positions on the court. She has a knack for stealing the ball and has done so throughout the AAU season. At Orlando Splash, she showed that when she steals it, she knows what to do with it in the open court. She is tall and lengthy and does a good job of playing in the passing lanes with great anticipation. In high school last year as an 8th grader, Young averaged 4.1 steals per game and 10.1 rebounds per game.   Narjhanni Harris / 2026 / 5'7 Guard/ Tre Mann 2025   Harris is a big guard that thrives off getting to the basket on offense and is equally gritty on the defensive side of the ball. She is a tough-nosed player and as the mature body to compliment her physical style of play. She does a great job of playing the passing lanes and just outright taking the ball away if it's in the air. Experience plays a role in her confidence and defensive success on the court. Harris has been playing varsity basketball since the 6th grade. She helped her high school team get to the State Championship game last year. Harris delivered a great defensive effort during the "Splash" live period. She is poised to have a special season as a true Freshman.   [player_tooltip player_id='400786' first='Imani' last='Henderson'] / 2026 / 6'1″ C / ECU Barrett 2026   Henderson is making a name for herself on the defensive end of the basketball courts. She has the great shot-blocking ability and can also clean the glass and get rebounds. In one tournament this season, Henderson averaged 12 rebounds and 5 blocks per game. During National Championship, the talented 'big" had two games with double-digit blocks, including one game with 11 blocked shots and 10 points. Henderson was truly a rim protector at the National Championship and helped her team win a championship. She is poised for a special Freshman season at Atlantic Coast.

There was good defensive play during he live period and some of the good defensive play came from players who are heading to high school this year. In this article, we look at the defensive efforts given by some of the talented 2026 players.