Adrian’s I-35 Top Defensive Guards
The I-35 was a huge success and what stood out was these elite defensive guards that got after it full court and got their hand on the ball every chance they could get. From full-court pressure to gap-help defense, diving…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe I-35 was a huge success and what stood out was these elite defensive guards that got after it full court and got their hand on the ball every chance they could get. From full-court pressure to gap-help defense, diving for a loose ball, and being the defensive anchor for their team, these 5 guards showcased it all on the defensive end on Sunday.
Amani Lipscomb Amani Lipscomb 5'2" | PG Houston | 2024 State TN – Well known on the circuit now and has gained tons of college interest, she showed exactly what you would get from her at the next level. Outside of shooting ability and elite speed, you will always get her tenacity and defensive instincts. She’s a big-time pest on and off the ball the entire game. There were multiple times the ball rolled on the floor and it didn’t roll long because Amani was the first on the floor to it. Although she’s undersized in a lot of people’s minds, the chip on her shoulder gives her the advantage. Constantly getting extra possessions from jump balls after fighting for the rebound, she will only get better with time.
Misora Nambara- Nambara, silent but deadly showed she was a playmaker and had a knack for the ball defensively. I can’t count how many interceptions steals she had just from sprinting back to play defense. When she is around you can’t be lazy with your passes or your dribbling or else she would find a way to come up with it on or the ball. How does her defense turn into playmaking on the offensive end? After her spectacular steal in transition, she’s making a one-arm pass full-court to lead her team to a layup.
Destiny Maze Destiny Maze 5'8" | CG Wichita Heights | 2027 State KS – Maze showcased what you can expect to see from her for years to come. Destiny showed she could impact the game right away with or without the ball. Defensively she was extremely sound and did a great job of keeping everybody in front of her allowing her teammates to be in the gaps to produce steals. This is a huge attribute because the team’s defense falls apart when players on the ball don’t guard it very well, making it hard to get stops and Destiny didn’t allow that to happen. On top of that on the offensive end, she showed she could play make-and-get team open looks passing the ball with either hand.
Trinity Dixon- It was hard to not notice Dixon, what stood out first was her communication. Her constant talking while she was on or off the floor was impressive. Her communication was constantly positive and helped get her teammates in the right spots defensively. While she was on the bench she was coaching her teammates, encouraging them to finish at the rim and coaching what to do in transition. When she checked back in, she pulls out an impressive spin move and goes to finish at the rim leaving the crowd in shock.
Tristin Pierce- Tristin finished the showcase on a good note competing on both ends of the floor. Displaying her shooting and ball handling, she also got scrappy and forced a couple of jump balls her self. While the bigs are fighting for rebounds and getting second-chance points, pierce dives in there poking the ball loose and getting it out. Tristin out of Lawton Oklahoma has been showcasing herself very well lately, she will be fun to watch as she gets better and we watch her in the years to come.