Midseason Watchlist Class of 4A: Best Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest class in girls' high school basketball in TN, the class of 4A, has had many standout defenders this season. With a large list to choose from, here are five players in the class having notable seasons together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241381"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697bda7368104"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1241381' first='Kailey' last='Hilvers'] has established herself as one of the biggest steal threats in the class of 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hilvers this season has had a large number of games with four or more steals. This includes a game against the Chattanooga School of Liberal Arts, where she had 14 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5'11", Hilvers is a unique defender. That is because she possesses the skill and capability to guard both wings and posts. Her high-level post defense was displayed especially in a contest against Sodday Daisy High School, where she recorded five blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["821985"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697bda7368165"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For Overton High School, junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='821985' first='Kierra' last='Baldwin'] is also having an impressive season when it comes to creating turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 19 recorded games, Baldwin has 88 steals. She sets the tone for her team's defensive unit with her relentlessness. One of her best defesive game thus far this season was against Germantown High School, she had 14 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baldwin, on the other side of the ball, is also a great offensive player. She is a great perimeter shooter and a crafty scorer around the basket. This goes into her averaging 13.4 PPG through 19 recorded games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1559068"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697bda73681ac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A teammate of Baldwin, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1559068' first='Alexis' last='Williams'], is also having a great defensive season, but her expertise is in interior defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams, in her first season of high school hoops, has been denying shots regularly. She has a total of 62 blocks this season through 19 recorded games, averaging 3.2 blocks per game. One of her most notable defensive performances was against Memphis Central High School. She had 11 stocks, eight blocks, and also three steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And for what all Williams brings defensively, she is also just as elite offensively. She has multiple games this year with over 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1122554"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697bda73681ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1122554' first='Rianna' last='Rourk'] at the small forward position, veteran play as a senior, stands out on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rork often plays on the backline in her team's zone defensive sets. She excels in these spots on defense. Rourk, through all the time she has played high school hoops, reads opposing offenses at a different level than most players. Her rotations are quick and accurate based on where an opposing player attacks in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This defensive IQ Rourk has led to big block totals in singular games this season, including a game against Bullitt Central High School. She had nine blocks in this contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["821982"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697bda736822a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior for Wilson Central, [player_tooltip player_id='821982' first='Brylee' last='Fly'], has been an elite rim protector this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fly in 22 recorded games has a total of 48 blocks. This level of defense from Fly has been a big piece in her team holding teams to 40 points or fewer in 10 of their wins this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Fly's best individual defensive performances this season was against Macon County, where she had 10 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fly as an interior player also brings playmaking upside to the table. She has a few games this year where she has had four or more assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->