Senior Spotlight: Defensive Stoppers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the new school year just around the corner, there's only one thing on my mind: HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS! And while I know it's a winter sport and still months away, it's hard not to look forward to the excitement that this season will bring. Anticipation is building for the following hoopers who are ready to show off their lockdown defense and help their respective teams achieve success come tournament time. These young ladies are ready for their moment in the sun… or snow, because winter ;)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325184' first='Joi' last='Johnson'] | 5'11" | Ewing</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joi's game is the picture of versatility. Undeniable speed, size and toughness allows her to play and defend multiple positions on the floor. She commands the paint and is fearless going up against much taller post players because of her sheer athleticism and ability to play much bigger than her 5'11" frame suggests. Joi does a fantastic job swatting shots while remaining vertical to avoid racking up fouls. Her final season with the Blue Devils could prove memorable indeed, as she looks to eclipse 1,000 rebounds, 400 blocks and 200 steals for her illustrious career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='662072' first='Mia' last='Cruz'] | 5'4" | Secaucus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mia puts the clamps on defensively, plain and simple. Ever-present hands, electric energy and excellent lateral movement make her nightmare fuel for ball-handlers. She applies stifling ball pressure and does a great job rushing the opponent, which in turn causes a slew of turnovers. With her ability to disrupt the passing lanes at a high rate, it comes as no surprise that Mia may eclipse the century mark for steals before her senior season is over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406937' first='Brenae' last='Jones'] | 6'1" | Montclair Immaculate</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Have you ever seen a Guard-Center before? Well, meet Brenae "Play 1-5" Jones. This superstar-in-the-making can truly do it all defensively; ferocious on the glass, crafty with the steals and a furious rim protector, sometimes coming way out of frame to block a shot that surely looked like money. Career highs of 10 steals (vs Warren Hills as a freshman), 10 blocks (vs Middlesex as a sophomore) and 20 rebounds (vs Watchung Hills as a sophomore) are testaments to her wildly impressive and versatile game. This season, Brenae may see career milestones of 800 rebounds, 200+ blocks and 200+ steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='588710' first='Madison' last='Palek'] | 6'2" | Middle Township</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With problematic length and underestimated speed, Madison poses match-up problems for opponents far and wide. This summer with her Soldiers squad, she dominated the interior and made girls think twice before entering her space. Whether it's rejecting shots while remaining vertical under the rim or chase-down blocks in transition, Madison never allows an easy bucket. She comfortably stretches out and guards the perimeter, wreaking havoc with her long arms and impressive reach. With monstrous rebounding on both ends, she can easily turn the tide and swing the momentum in favor of her team. Come March, she may see career milestones of 100+ steals, 100+ blocks and 500+ rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406892' first='Conley' last='Smolokoff'] | 5'9" | Shore</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the scrappiest defenders in all of Group 1 last season, Conley has excellent anticipatory skills and a knack for forcing turnovers and swiping steals at a furious pace. At nearly three per game, she applied intense on-ball pressure, cut off passing lanes and tightly guarded opponents. Her quickness and relentless defense wore down opponents from December to March. Equally as aggressive on the boards, Conley uses her size and undeniable athleticism when crashing the glass and pulling down rebounds on both ends. Career totals of 450 rebounds and 200 steals are within striking distance for the Shore standout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->