Film Study: Don't Bring That Up In Here - Type Defenders

Over the next few months leading up to the season we will be participating in several film study sessions to look in depth into some of the conferences across Iowa and their top players to see what they might be able to accomplish this upcoming season.    Below we highlight a pack full of prospects that have an act for Blocking the ball whenever the opponent is trying to make an offensive attempt.   (Make sure to check out The 2026 PGH Iowa Expo Showcase taking place in Des Moines on October 3rd from 10AM-2PM. Compete against some of the best prospects in the state and get in front of our scouts before the 2026-2027 High School season begins. More info is available at <a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/2428/register/the-expo-iowa">https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/2428/register/the-expo-iowa</a>. Use code Jeremy26PGH25OFF for a discount at checkout!)   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!    A few weeks ago we highlighted some of the most influential defenders per Class, from a state wise perspective and someone that we brought up because of her mixture of size + production the last couple of years was Kenzley Bruck. Bruck, the 6'2 Center, has been the middle presence from her program for three seasons now and that will be the case for her Senior year over the next eight months as well. You want to talk about a player that is terrorizing a Conference as a defender as a whole and this is it. Not only does she have the height but she has athletic ability to pair with that height, she has discipline, and she is a dedicated worker within each possession down the floor. It's not a surprise to anyone that Bruck recorded over 70 Blocks throughout her Junior year. She might even put up better numbers this Winter if her opponents haven't learned their lesson yet.     5'11 as a Small Forward isn't the tallest but for the Twin Lakes Conference throughout Iowa, it is one of their taller individuals as a whole. We are talking about Sadie Wheelock of South Central Calhoun High School. Wheelock is a versatile Forward. She is one of the tallest on her team, which places her near the basket but she has demonstrated that she can spread the floor on both sides of the ball too. Offensively, she is at her best by the hoop going over smaller defenders but she will also step out to shoot the rock from behind the three point line if the defense doesn't want to respect her. Defensive is where she really makes her presence felt. She is the type that understands how to hold control in the middle of the lane, she can move into help-side in a flash - always keeping her head on a swivel, and she can make up space in her hurry because of how quick her reactionary times are within the moment. Last Winter she led the conference in total Blocks with 55. If she continues to work hard, she could blow that number out of the water this Winter.     Every few seasons we find a prospect at the Guard position that has an act for getting their hands on the basketball when their opponent is looking to attack them going towards the bucket. These prospects understand their opponents timing, where they like to put the ball when they are about to shoot near the rim, and what leads up to all of that. Someone who did a GREAT job of this last Winter was Freshman - Brooklyn Weldon of Fremont-Mills. Weldon was the second leading BPG prospect out of the Corner Conference last season. She recorded over 35 Blocks within their 24 games, averaging out to right around 1.25-1.5 Blocks Per Contest. That is an impressive number for a 5'5 PG that primarily works the top of the key within her team's action. We have only seen glimpses of what Weldon can do so far. She has a long way to go still but she stepped onto the Varsity floor last Winter and made a name for herself throughout the state. There is nothing wrong with that!     One of the best abilities that Tenley Levin brings to the floor is her athletic ability. She has height already. When you lock in her athletic ability along side of that, you get a prospect who could really put it together over the next few seasons before taking her talents to the D1 level. Obviously Levin is the #1 rated 2029 in the state of Iowa right now but like all others in her Class, her progression within the game will be the key to holding onto that spot. Within the WaMaC-East last season Tenley led with over 25 Blocks on the defensive end of the floor. That's a nice number and fact but as she gets older, I expect this number to continue to rise each and every season. She will return this season for the Spartans and she will be WAY more comfortable than she was a year ago as a Freshman. Now that she knows what to expect - she can account and prepare for that leading up to things, which is going to help her thrive in almost every aspect of the game as she continues to get older.     The WaMaC-West Conference was led in total Blocks by Grace Fish last season. Fish, the 5'10 PF, competes for Vinton-Shellsburg High School and she is basically their leader in every positive statistical category that you can name off the top of your head. She production is no joke when you look at the stats and her game-film backs that up as well. VS always plays a sound style of basketball. They teach and do things the right way. We see that first-hand with Fish in the middle right now. She plays a fundamental game and she leaves it all out of the floor. Not much more you can ask for from a coaching perspective. We hope that Fish can create another memorable season ahead. There is no reason to think that it would play out any other way so now she just has to make it happen.

Over the next few months leading up to the season we will be participating in several film study sessions to look in depth into some of the conferences across Iowa and their top players to see what they might be able to accomplish this upcoming season.