2025 Rankings: Top Perimeter Defenders
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Defending the perimeter is the starting point of a teams defensive efforts and in the 2025 class we have plenty who do just that. Here we take a look at just a handful of the better perimeter defenders in the…
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Continue ReadingDefending the perimeter is the starting point of a teams defensive efforts and in the 2025 class we have plenty who do just that.
Here we take a look at just a handful of the better perimeter defenders in the class.
Olivia Owens
Olivia
Owens
5'10" | PG
Phoenix Country Day | 2025
State
AZ
Phoenix Country Day
Owens athleticism alone sometimes puts her in a defensive class of her own. She has long arms and covers a lot of space. She uses good timing as well when it comes to getting steals. Her physicality also makes it very hard for the person she’s guarding to get anywhere with the ball.
Dylan Swindle
Dylan
Swindle
5'6" | PG
Desert Vista | 2025
State
AZ
Desert Vista
Swindle uses her track background to make it very difficult to get by her on the perimeter. She works hard to beat the opponent to their spots and also has very active hands. I like that she goes at the ball handler as opposed to waiting for them to come at her. One of the smarter defenders in the class.
Michaela Fairwell Michaela Fairwell 5'10" | SG Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC Desert Vista
Working hard should be Fairwell’s middle name because that’s what she does. She puts the kind of energy into her defense that most players put on offense. She is one of the more versatile defenders in the state as she guards almost any position on the court.
Trinity Jones
Trinity
Jones
5'7" | PG
Desert Vista | 2025
State
AZ
Desert Vista
I’ve only seen her in a handful of games but you already see that Jones takes pride in her defense. She has very good lateral quickness and makes the opposition work for everything that they get.
Aiyanna Perkins
Aiyanna
Perkins
5'7" | CG
Bella Vista Prep | 2025
State
AZ
McClintock (Featured Image)
Concentration and quick hands make Perkins a pest on defense. She collects steals in a hurry by being aggressive at all times. I believe some of that aggressiveness comes from when she was younger playing club against boys. She doesn’t back down from any defensive challenge.
Alexa Simpson
Alexa
Simpson
5'11" | SF
Saguaro | 2025
State
AZ
Saguaro
Alexa takes pride in her defense, whether getting steals or blocks. Her long arms allow her to pester the defense while they’re dribbling. She has good footwork to keep the opposing player in front of her.