Shootout Dallas: Top Defensive and Post players in 16U and 14U

Nicole Douglas April 6, 2026 @ 11:52 AM

The Shootout Dallas: April 4th, impactful defensive and post players in the 16U and 14U divisions   Very rarely do sports writers and scouts write about defense or the impact that post players can have in the game. I have been coaching for 6 years (AAU and High School Basketball), and I have seen firsthand that defense wins championships at all levels. Unfortunately, the traditional post player seems to be relegated to the past because of the belief that players must play in positionless offensive systems. I am not opposed to that, but I think that players should be trained to do both. So, you can imagine my excitement this weekend when I saw a couple of traditional basketball post players. The following players stood out for their ability to be active on defense and a dominant presence in the post.   Armor Green (PF, Team Mamba, 16U): After watching Armor relentlessly attack the basket with power and passion in the semifinals, I knew she was a baller—but her championship performance sealed the deal. She took command of the court as a true leader, directing traffic and consistently knocking down high-post jumpers. Armor plays with passion and aggression; she dominated the boards on both ends of the court, creating extra scoring opportunities for her team. Defensively, she is a level-1 defender whose elite on-ball pressure completely stifled her opponent. She is a definite player to watch over the next few seasons.   Ka'mara Thomas (C, Prime Time Family, 16U): Exceptional performance this weekend. She is a true post player. She rebounded, blocked shots, trapped offensive players, and was a force to be reckoned with. Her versatility on defense and ability to get out and run the lanes in transition caught my attention. Most of the time, she beat her opponent down the court. After watching her play, my takeaway is that she is a hard worker and would be an asset to any team.   Laila Garcia (PF/C, Team Mamba, 16U): Garcia is a force to be reckoned with, although she is an undersized guard playing in the post. She is aggressive on both ends of the court. She rebounds and boxes out aggressively. She can drive to the basket, score, and convert rebounds into layups. Her coach started her in the second half of the championship game, and her presence on the court was felt immediately. Garcia is the ultimate hustle-and-energy player—an athlete who proves that elite impact is not always measured in stats.   Channing Eiskine (C, Max Level East, 14U): Channing is a promising young player who understands how to use her body on defense. She takes up space in the post, forcing offensive players to change their shots. She can also drive to the basket and score efficiently. She had a lot of energy and looked like she was having fun on the court. In closing, she has good upside, and I look forward to seeing her play in the future.

The Shootout Dallas: April 4^th, impactful defensive and post players in the 16U and 14U divisions