Sticky Fingers: Top Bandits In The State

When you think of a lockdown defender, what comes to mind first? Someone who can keep their opponent in front of them? Create ball pressure? someone who is active with their hands and feet? Someone who can create chaos, be  a pest,  even someone who is a nuisance? Whatever it may be or what comes to mind, I will say being a phenomenal on ball defender is an art. To master the ability to steal the ball at a consistent clip takes skill, determination, and hard work. You have to study your opponent's weakness and strike when they aren't expecting it. Disrupting the timing of an offense takes precision because you don't want to be out of position.Do I sound like some kung fu kid? Real talk, basketball is competition and within that competition there are little battles that go on. Stealing the ball and providing an extra possession for your club to score is a valuable thing. Check the analytics, the more possessions normally lead to more wins.   According to area coaches, along with statistics from Maxpreps and other high school publications, in the state of Tennessee, we have some bandits within our mitts. True ball players who can cause disruption to any offense. They squeeze the confidence out of their opponent, providing the spark and extra momentum that can help propel a team to victory. Doing such an art takes will, trust me, we have some hungry and willing ballplayers within these borders.    Ever since I was a kid, stealing the ball was something I loved to do. Frustrating my opponent, getting into their head, talking trash (I kept it G rated I think), but the ability to eliminate their functionality was something I enjoyed. Yeah it was a gamble. A calculated risk, but when I did it, I got the easy transition buckets, my confidence and my team's confidence went through the roof. Talk about being pumped. Ooh wee! ( Rubbing my hands together) Those were some good times.   This state is one of the mecca's for women's basketball. We have some young ladies who have sticky fingers (legal) like myself. They can steal balls, create jump balls, get deflections, and so much more. They are artists who have an extra umph in them. They're some dawgs who get after it. If you got one or a few on your team, let's just say the stakes are high for you to reach new heights. Check out some notable kids who have sticky fingers in the state of Tennessee.   According to MaxPreps, here are the top 3 leaders in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='405843' first='Saviya' last='Morgan'] (5 '7/ Sr./CG/ Columbia Central)- The Tennessee Lady Vols softball commit is super tough on the hardwood. I can't imagine what she is like on the diamond. Saviya leads the state in steals, almost averaging 6.0 per game. Talk about someone who gets hands on balls, this girl does that. She gets easy transition buckets that lead to 2 points in her team's favor. She's a pest, disrupting an opponent's offense. She's crazy good and her play is taking the Lady Lions ball club to new heights.   [player_tooltip player_id='408997' first='Shelby' last='Gray'](5'11/ Jr./ CG/ Trezevant)- A tenacious defender, she has an innate skill of stealing the ball. She anticipates well and knows when to strike to get her hands on the ball. Poking it away and heading full steam for a lay up is what she does best. She uses her speed to create chaos, making it hard for opponent's to utilize their court vision. She is a heady ball player who strikes fear in opponents.   Tasha Hubbard( 5 '3/ Sr./ PG/ Southwind)- That girl is “poison.” The song comes from an old R&B song. Tasha is dangerous and when she is on the court locking you up, you are in for a long night. She has speed, great reactions, keeps her head on swivel. She can time up an opponent's dribble, enabling her to poke the ball loose. Turning her girl in the full court situations she is good at, exhausting them along the way. She is a phenomenal on ball defender and look for her to continue to be a nuisance throughout her career.   Other notable guards who have sticky fingers.   [player_tooltip player_id='506234' first='Leilani' last='Washington'] (5'6/ Jr./ CG/ Nolensville) - Go-Go Gadget! Leilani is like a superhero and when she steps onto the floor she springs into action. Yes she scores, rebounds, blocks shots, but using her length to poke balls away, add that to her repertoire as well. The kid is a phenomenal talent who leads her Lady Knights on a nightly basis. She is a problem to deal with and you never know how she will affect the outcome of the game. Just note by the time the final horn sounds, Leilani's prints will be all over the scene. Great kid who has a high ceiling.   [player_tooltip player_id='514119' first='Merli' last='Routh'] (5'4/ So./ PG/ CPA) - A sensational sophomore who uses her motor to her advantage. She just plays, leaving it all on the line. She is up in you, bursting through that personal bubble. She makes kids turn the ball over, or throw errant passes. She is a big disrupter that can not only take it , but then go score it. She is tough to deal with and will continue to haunt hardwood floors for two more years.   [player_tooltip player_id='513233' first='Natalya' last='Hodge'] (5'7/So./CG/ Bearden)- Possesses great foot speed, she is going to lock her opponent up the full length of the floor. She brings the energy and then some, and she is radioactive on D. She gets hands on balls, from poking them away to getting deflections. Her presence on the court strikes fear in other PGs trying to operate. A heady ball player who is a dominant two-way player who gets after it. Possession by possession, one opponent at a time, she goes out and tries to dominate. A no holds bar kind of kid who is a true hooper.

When you think of a lockdown defender, what comes to mind first? Someone who can keep their opponent in front of them? Create ball pressure? someone who is active with their hands and feet? Someone who can create chaos, be a pest, even someone who is a nuisance? Whatever it may be or what comes to mind, I will say being a phenomenal on ball defender is an art. To master the ability to steal the ball at a consistent clip takes skill, determination, and hard work. You have to study your opponent's weakness and strike when they aren't expecting it. Disrupting the timing of an offense takes precision because you don't want to be out of position.Do I sound like some kung fu kid? Real talk, basketball is competition and within that competition there are little battles that go on. Stealing the ball and providing an extra possession for your club to score is a valuable thing. Check the analytics, the more possessions normally lead to more wins.