2026 Class Review: Upcoming Interior Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are a few highly intriguing tall defenders from the 2026 class, all of which boast notable value defending the paint and rebounding the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='471051' first='Deja' last='Burns'] - Sierra</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burns is an intriguing interior defender, swatting away plenty of shots last year with Sierra. Ranking second in the state among all classes and grad years in total blocks (122) per Maxpreps, tied with Emmalee Buhrle of 1A Kim/Branson and one block short of Peak to Peak's Alex Eschmeyer (123). Possessing a wide reach and quick feet, the forward will be among the more productive rim protectors through the coming seasons. She does well rotating into the lane early, maximizing her defensive skill set by walling off the lane well before the driver arrives. Burns stays true to the fundamentals on the glass, grabbing rebounds with both hands, keeping a strong possession on the ball to mitigate steals or second chance opportunities. Another aspect of her diverse defensive impact is her quick hands, deflecting away the ball from opposing ball handlers. Certainly capable as a roller on offense, the forward does well diving quickly and seeking out passing options should the lane close off. Her continued growth as a playmaker with the ball will be intriguing, given her proactive passing reads with the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='470967' first='Knikai' last='Starks'] - Vista PEAK Prep&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starks has shown prowess through her abilities as a rim roller and shot blocker. Possessing a wide reach and notable mobility, the forward will be a valuable defensive presence over the coming seasons. She has shown value getting up and down the floor on fast breaks, effectively slowing down opponent fast breaks or making them think twice about attacking the rim. Offensively, she showed value through her physical screen setting, making firm contact before diving downhill. Starks is especially active passing the rock within the halfcourt, facilitating ball movement to eventually find a weak point in the opposing defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='510723' first='Austin' last='Duncan']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duncan is a mobile forward who has quick instincts as a passer. Notably valuable on the defensive side, the forward has quick hands going for deflections or blocks. Effective at pressuring her nearest opponent, she constantly gets a hand into her opponent's comfort zone, forcing them into tough positions. Around the perimeter, Duncan looks to trap opponents quickly, utilizing her quick feet and hands to get into their comfort zone early. On the offensive end, the forward is a consistent team player, using her height advantage to reel in help before kicking it out to shotmakers. Her continued growth as ball handler will be intriguing, given her notable vision as a passer at her height.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='771339' first='Ilyne' last='Avila'] - Pueblo East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Avila will be a big worth keeping an eye on over the coming seasons, effective battling in the post and efficient as a dump off scoring option at the rim. She does well maneuvering baseline on drives, taking advantage of ball watching opponents for easy layups. At roughly 6'1 with a strong frame, Avila has potential to be a highly impactful help side rim protector . Continuing to add lateral quickness will have an immense impact on Avila's transition defense and perimeter contests. Through her initial season at Pueblo East, the center put up 6.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->