Best Defenders from 4A State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is no surprise that the biggest class, 4A, featured some of the most talented defenders at the state tournament. Here are five standout defenders from the class in the tournament that took place at MTSU.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["889363"],"_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-69cae15bba300"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior for Bearden High School, [player_tooltip player_id='889363' first='Theola' last='Mills'], managed to make a statement that she was one of the best defenders at the state tournaments, despite only playing in one game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mills in Bearden's opening round game against Bartlett High School recorded four steals and five blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mills at the PF position, although not the tallest defender, excels at defending from the paint, especially in a zone defense. She knows where to be and rotate. And Mills also, if a guard slips through the crack of Bearden's perimeter defense, has an impressive vertical and can rise and erase shot attempts with blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["513228"],"_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-69cae15bba3ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The number one-ranked player in her class and in TN, [player_tooltip player_id='513228' first='Kimora' last='Fields'],like Mills, was eliminated in the first round. However, in her final high school game,Fields proved to be an elite defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first round against Sevier County High School, Fields had three blocks and three steals, both stats tied for game-highs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fields' shiftiness on the interior not only shows up offensively, but it's part of what makes her a great defender. She can maneuver around screens and opposing offensive actions while being able to stay with her assignment on defense. That, combined with just her overall stamina and speed, she has at 6'3", will undoubtedly translate to her continuing to be a good defender at the college level.</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":["900276"],"_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-69cae15bba489"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior guard for Bartlett, [player_tooltip player_id='900276' first='Kaylin' last='Sheffield'], played at an extremely high level defensively in the state semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sheffield in the semis was a disruptor on the perimeter, generating a game-high four steals against Cookeville High School. One thing Sheffield does that makes her such a good defender is her helpside defense. Sheffield does a good job at staying on her assignment while constantly looking for avenues to initiate a double team. When the moment presents itself, Sheffield swoops in and often creates a mistake from the opposing player or a steal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["496297"],"_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-69cae15bba50f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On their road to Cookeville High School becoming state runners-up, senior [player_tooltip player_id='496297' first='Allie' last='Gillies'] was undoubtedly a top defensive player in the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gillies, through three games for Cookeville had a combined 10 blocks and steals. Her best defensive game came in the state final against Sevier County High School. In the contest, Gillies had three blocks and three steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the main ways Gillies generates steals is by reading passing lanes. Through her experience, it is notable that she sees the game differently than the large majority of high school hoopers. This led her to be able to jump passing lanes and get multiple turnovers by steals in the state tournament. She was in the right place at the right time. That feat also led her to generate the amount of blocks she did in the state tourney.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["821812"],"_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-69cae15bba597"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior [player_tooltip player_id='821812' first='Mia' last='Hauptman'] could be a big riser in the Prep Girls Hoops ranking in her senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hauptman has an aggressive offensive and defensive game. In the first round of the state tournament against Cookeville, she was tied for the most steals on her team with three. The relentlessness Hauptman provides goes largely into her being able to generate turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hauptman's aggression on offense was on display, too, at the state tourney in the first round. She had a game-high 17 points, with 13 of her points coming via the free throw line. Hauptman is definitely a player people should keep an eye on before the start of the 2026-2027 school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->