Prospects Who Could “Steal” the Limelight this Season

There's a unique energy when a guard flips the momentum of a game with a single defensive play. The crowd rises, teammates feed off it, and the opposing coach burns a timeout to slow the storm. These guards don't just rack up steals — they steal the limelight in the process.    Sharpe has earned a reputation for her on-ball defense and ability to speed up opposing guards. She wreaks havoc up top, pressuring ball-handlers and forcing them into mistakes that often lead to steals for herself and for her teammates. Her speed and quickness allow her to cut off angles before opponents can react, turning simple possessions into layups for her team. Beyond just swiping the ball herself, she creates chaos that fuels her entire team's defense. When Sharpe does get her hands on the ball, she's explosive in transition — finishing layups off her steals with the same burst she shows on defense. She has the ability to finish on the left and right side of the rim. That blend of tenacity, anticipation, and game-changing speed makes her one of the toughest defensive guards to deal with.     Cremen plays with high intensity, constantly pressuring the ball and playing in the passing lanes. She embraces defensive challenges, often guarding the best perimeter scorer and wearing them down. What separates her is her anticipation. Cremen has a six sense and makes game changing steals as a result. When the game needs a momentum swing, Cremen's hands and effort often deliver it. Cremen has been among the State leaders since day one and her senior season will be a duplication of the last three seasons.     Haygood is a guard with instincts you can't teach. She sees plays developing before the ball even moves, often baiting opponents into risky passes she's ready to pounce on. Her anticipation is next level stuff. Once she has it, she pushes the tempo and finishes at the rim on the left and right. Haygood's defensive presence not only produces steals, it alters how teams run their offense. She can get on a role and before the offense can adjust she has already produced steals and changed the momentum.       Dalhoff has active feet and hands, constantly pressuring opponents without fouling. She's crafty at poking the ball loose in tight spaces, creating steals for herself and also her teammates. What sets her apart is her off-ball defense — she sees plays develop early, positioning herself to get the steal before the ball arrives. With a high defensive IQ, Dalhoff baits offenses into turning the ball over. Her discipline and anticipation allow her to be a disruptive force on the court.     Morris is always drawing headlines for her solid offensive play, but she can turn the game on her defensive effort alone. She positions herself well defensively, understands spacing, and capitalizes when an opponent gets too comfortable. When Morris takes it away, she stays composed, making the right play at the rim with speed and explosiveness.    These guards have the ability to transform possessions, spark energy, and turn the game simply by taking the ball away. This season, expect them to not only put points on the board but also steal the limelight with their defensive performance.

There's a unique energy when a guard flips the momentum of a game with a single defensive play. The crowd rises, teammates feed off it, and the opposing coach burns a timeout to slow the storm. These guards don't just rack up steals — they steal the limelight in the process.