Rankings: Standout Defenders in the 2025 Class
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While many of the players in the class get it done on the fast break and on the offensive end, the players listed below are prospects who also get it done on the defensive end. In this article, we hilight…
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Continue ReadingWhile many of the players in the class get it done on the fast break and on the offensive end, the players listed below are prospects who also get it done on the defensive end. In this article, we hilight the prospects who lead statistically in blocks and steals, and we also hilight those we see at games who wreak havoc on the defensive end.
Jaida Civil Jaida Civil 5'11" | PG Palm Bay | 2025 State FL (cover) is arguably the top defender and athlete in the 2025 class. Civil can guard and shut down the 1, 2, and 3 on almost any roster. Offensively, she can run through, jump over, or shoot over most defenses. Civil is that special of a talent. She has multiple power 5 offers and is highly ranked nationally in the 2025 class. Civil is humble, a hard worker and a team player. The scary part is that she is still getting better, and she has yet to reach her ceiling.
Sumayah Lewis-McIntosh Sumayah Lewis-McIntosh 5'10" | SF Lakewood | 2025 State FL had a great year on the defensive end. The talented player had 2.6 blocks per game and to top it off, she had 5.3 steals per game. If that wasn’t enough Lewis-McIntosh averaged 15.7 points per game was a force on both ends of the court. We’re looking forward to seeing this talented player on the courts this upcoming season.
Trinidy Harris Trinidy Harris 5'4" | PG Wildwood | 2025 State FL averaged 3.4 rebounds per game, and nearly three assists per contest. Meanwhile, she found time to torch teams for nearly 23 points per game. Her defense is the focus here – she was a thief on the court with 4.2 steals per game and a total of 100 steals for last year’s season.
Thatiyana Holiday Thatiyana Holiday PG Gateway | 2025 State FL Averaged 4.5 steals per game and 15.2 points per game. Holiday is an all around player and obviously one of the best defensive players in the 2025 class.
Leandrea McCloud Leandrea McCloud 6'2" | PF Ed White | 2025 State FL averaged 2.7 blocks per game and threw 65 shots into the cheap seats. McCloud also averaged 14.5 rebounds per game and 11.7 points per game. Last season, McCloud led Ed White to one of their best seasons in recent years.
Jhalea Jackson Jhalea Jackson 6'0" | PF Hawthorne | 2025 State FL Jackson anchored the middle on her Tre Mann travel team and turned players away from the paint all summer long. Last high school season she was a force in the middle with 2.9 blocks per game .
Dayla Christopher Dayla Christopher 5'9" | SG Wesley Chapel | 2025 State FL took 11 charges last season and took 5 in one game in the live AAU period. Christopher averaged 9.4 rebounds per game, 2 4 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game. Christopher has a high basketball IQ and uses that intellect on the defensive side of the ball. She is one of the top Defenders in the 2025 class.
Saige McCloud Saige McCloud 6'0" | PF Meadowbrook Academy | 2025 State FL averaged 1.7 blocks per game in high school, and that output was equal or greater during the AAU season. McCloud was impressive at the Inside Exposure tournament in Gainesville and in a Jacksonville tournament I covered. She is versatile can defend inside and outside. She is a mixture of speed and power and has always stood out on the defensive end.
Mia Heredia Mia Heredia 5'6" | CG Dr Phillips | 2025 FL is another player in the 2025 rankings who can really get after it defensively. Speed is her weapon on the court and the plays she made in Louisville 2 years ago still rank high on the list. She stole the ball two times in one possession, dished to her teammate for the assist, then came down again and got another steal and scored the layup.