Top 250 Expo: Defensive Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the Top 250 Expo, a lot of players stood out on the offensive end, but only a few really stood out on the defensive end. Many players put up some lofty numbers, but not when these defensive players were putting the pressure on. In this article, we look at the players who stood out on the defensive end. These players blocked shots, they were great on-ball defenders, and some were great on the help side. These players put the clamps down on the defensive end and were the standout defenders at the Top 250 Expo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["248674"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":769807,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='248674' first='Kiarra' last='Orphelia'] played lights out on defense and really showed a high basketball ball IQ on the defensive end. She forced elite players to use their weak hand and with great quickness and speed.      Orphelia literally just halted teams from getting set, overwhelming the ball handler with her aggressive defensive play.    She was one of the most athletic players in the building with great speed, quickness,  and superior lateral movement, along with an unbelievable vertical jump.        Combine all of  these attributes  with her basketball IQ and you get an amazing defensive player.     She stood out on defense and used her defense to stand out on offense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["248428"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":774817,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='248428' first='Kalese' last='Salter'] played very well on defense and her on-ball defense was on point. She aggravated one team so badly that they started setting picks just to separate  her from the ball handler. Salter had some nice steals and turned them into layups.   Salter is a smart defender and she uses her speed and quickness to create an advantage on the offense and defensive side of the ball.    All day she  was salty with the defense and was one of the best on ball defenders in the building.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["767590"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":774748,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='767590' first='Alaysha' last='Williams'] really got after it on the defensive end at the Expo.   She  was super aggressive guarding the ball and used her quickness to her advantage.    She constantly beat the ball handle to the spot and forced them to pick up their dribble..   Williams also played  aggressive help-side defense and if her teammates were  giving up a drive, Williams was there to stop the drive  and force a kickout.     Williams was a ball of energy  all over the court.     She dove on the floor  to secure loose balls.   Williams also did a good job of turning steals into scores on layups, assists, and even knocked down some threes after creating steals and setting up for the jumper.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["514590"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":774722,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='746624' first='Leandrea' last='McCloud'] was a beast at the Expo and in addition to putting in a solid offensive performance, her defense was special. Players would shake their defenders only to find their shot in the bleachers.    McCloud  blocked shots on the help-side and also straight up.  She has a quick jump with impeccable timing.    McCloud was also versatile enough to play outside the paint and defend on the perimeter.  She played the passing lanes and got several steals and had multiple deflections to her teammates.   McCloud showed a lot of versatility (after a steal)  taking the ball coast to coast for the layup.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["730176"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":774818,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='730176' first='Salyse' last='Dillihay'] Really stood out on the defensive end, defending opponents the full length of the court.    Diihay also was good on help-side defense.  On several occasions,  she stole the ball from an opponent unexpectedly and went coast to coast for the layup.  Dillihay used her quickness and speed to put pressure on the ball handler.  She also did a good job of getting deflections and playing in the passing lanes.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["470396"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":775309,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='470396' first='Skye' last='Thompson'] was one of the best defenders at the Expo.   She was strong in the painted area and went about her business in a quiet manner.     In addition to being physical in the paint against some elite ballers, Thompson also demonstrated some very quick hands.      She deflected and denied a lot of entry passes that were thrown to the post.   A few times, Thompson camped in the lane and ball handlers just settled for the jump-shots,  wanting no part of Thompson.    She  also did an excellent job of advancing the ball  after steals and rebounds.    On the offensive end,   Thompson connected on a few midrange jump shots,  but it was her defense that really stood out.   The u0022Skyeu0022 is the limit for this young player.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["766316"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_player_featured_image":774747,"_player_evaluations_6_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='766316' first='Maleeya' last='Brammer'] played well and was all around the ball.  She was physical in the paint and had no problem putting her body on somebody.      Brammer also showed a lot of versatility on defense, defending guards and wings on the perimeter.    Her offside defense was great and she rejected any shot attempted in the paint.    She had strong hands and once she got them on the ball,  it was hers.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65175d4f62214"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->