Kansas PGH Top 250 Expo All-Defensive Team Released

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Okun Fieldhouse, Shawnee, KS, hosted the Kansas PGH Top 250 Exposure Event Sunday, October 15. Talented players from three states gathered to show their stuff and I thoroughly enjoyed watching and talking to as many players as I could. Several players earned honors but where I am going to start is with the all-important defensive team. And it can be rightfully assumed that those that earned their spot here peppered the all-event first, second, and third teams that will follow this one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525612' first='Addie' last='Hotchkiss'], 5'7", CG, Staley (MO), 2024 - One of the first things I look at when I start watching a player is their feet. Hotchkiss played consistently terrific perimeter defense while guarding some of the toughest, quickest opponents. To have great feet a player has to have consistent balance to stay in solid position all-the-while adjusting during plays. And she was all event long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='515445' first='LaNicia' last='Parker'], 5'9", CG, North Kansas City (MO), 2025 - The wiry Parker flat ate people up on the perimeter. Quick feet, terrific hand speed, and well balanced she also was excellent playing passing lanes off the ball. She stuck with every strong point guard throughout the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='396412' first='Kodi' last='Greer'], 5'6", SG, Basehor-Linwood (KS), 2024 - Another defender with great balance and positioning was Greer. She defended with physicality and was consistently disruptive with her hand speed and lateral quickness. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525609' first='Regan' last='Becker'], 6'0", PF, St. James Academy (KS), 2026 - Without question, and this is influenced by players who had to work against her, Becker was the strongest and smartest post defender in the house and it wasn't close. Upperclassmen were shocked to learn Becker is just a freshman. Offensive players had to be wary of Becker's ability to pressure and release to get them off balance. She was difficult to score against because of her strength. Becker's length and hand speed also generated turnovers by knocking passes down or poking away balls. Very workmanlike play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='100472' first='Mallory' last='Miller'], 6'4", PF/C, Wolsey-Wessington (SD), 2023 - Being the tallest and longest big in the house is quite an advantage. Add in hops, athleticism, transition speed, and shot blocking sense and you wind up with a heck of rim protector. She altered and swatted shots so consistently that opposing bigs had to really get an idea of where she was before thinking about trying to score inside. Rare was a score made over her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Featured image: Basehor-Linwood 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='396412' first='Kodi' last='Greer']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->