Class of 2024’s Top Defenders (Uncommitted)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PARKERSBURG - Defense wins championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duh.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As if the state of West Virginia needed more evidence after last season. The Mountain State watched great defensive efforts in all four classes at the state championship one year ago. It watched as Morgantown made its way to a championship by taking everyone but Wheeling Park's best player out of the game during the Class AAAA final. It watched as Philip Barbour bullied its way to a Class AAA state championship game appearance. We were awed at Wyoming East's dominant brand of defense as they won the title, and we ogled as Webster County nearly pulled off a Class A stunner with defense and the heart of Sydney Baird.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There really is no counter to a great defense. And there are no counters for the Class of 2024's top uncommitted defensive players:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='474664' first='Laneigh' last='Brooks'], Wayne, 5-7, SG, Sr. </strong>&nbsp;- Brooks serves as a menace on both man-to-man and zone defenses thanks to a combination of her length, intelligence and instincts. Nearly every time she's close to a passing lane, she's already taken away the bounce and chest pass because of her understanding of how basketball works. Her quick limbs help her make those passes impossible. If someone does try to attempt those passes, they are going to pay dearly. She's off and jumping the lanes as soon as the ball leaves an opponent's hands. That is just on the perimeter. She's even harder to stop in and around the basket, she's faster than most bigs and her help defense makes any post-play a futile effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='384128' first='Emma' last='Freels'], North Marion, 5-6, SG, Sr.</strong> – Freels defines a great defensive player. She's a kid who loves getting down in her stance and then going to work. There's never a day at the office she doesn't enjoy making life difficult for her assignment. You can look at any game from the past three years and see this defensive intensity. What makes her so good on the defense end? She has great length and really moves her feet well, but she's also a kid who enjoys watching the belly button of her defender. What does that mean? By looking at her assignment's center of gravity, she doesn't fall for the head fakes, arm movements, or false steps from her defender. She understands her assignment can only go where her center of gravity takes her. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='383617' first='Madison' last='Clark'], Wyoming East, 5-8, CG, Sr. </strong>– Clark could redo her entire Hudl defensive highlight reel after any game she plays in. For sure. Blessed with a quick first step and a fantastic feel for defense, she's going to rack up steals, blocks, deflections, and everything else you could possibly want game after game after game. Do you need her to take out an opponent's best scorer? Done. Want her to initiate help defense without a request? She's on it. Do you want someone to constantly pressure her opponent to the point of causing absolute frustration? No problem. Clark can do it all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722890' first='Kendal' last='Connolly'], Point Pleasant, 6-2, PF, Sr.</strong> – Point Pleasant's best player doesn't often get a lot of the spotlight. And, that is too bad. Her instincts in the post when it comes to blocking shots are tremendous. She always puts herself in the right place, and as a bonus, and perhaps the best part about her, she trusts her length on block attempts and doesn't leave her feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385543' first='Kennedy' last='Kaposy'], Petersburg, 5-9, SF, Sr. </strong>– In the state of West Virginia, [player_tooltip player_id='385543' first='Kennedy' last='Kaposy'] must receive consideration as one of its top defenders. In the class of 2024, she must be included in the conversation, too. As strange as it sounds, she cannot be left out of the conversation. She reads the offense's plan of attack well and then executes her counterattack. The strike comes quickly and she wastes little effort in making her presence felt. There won't always be a steal involved, but you won't be executing your first offensive option with her on the floor. She directs her teammates well and can take just about anyone 1-on-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->