Top Shot Blockers: Class of 2021

Donovan Finan

August 30, 2020 @ 08:00 AM

Continuing our look at some of the returning statistical leaders in the state of Kentucky, we look today at the top shot blockers, While unfortunately, this is another area that is not kept as an official stat, there are some unofficial numbers to look at. Combining these numbers with the best rim protectors based on scouting gives us a list of the top returning shot blockers from the class of 2021. Olea Woodall, Bryan Station- The unofficial leader in blocked shots in her class, Woodall established herself as an elite rim protector last season. She blocked an average of 1.3 blocks per game, making her mark as a top defensive player. Woodall’s combination of size and athleticism helped her reject plenty of shots last season. [player_tooltip player_id="36208" first="Ella" last="Thompson"], Bethlehem- Another player with a great combination of size and athleticism, Thompson does it all for the Banshees. Part of that all includes blocking shots. While not necessarily a traditional rim protector, Thompson’s physical abilities combined with naturally strong defense makes her a top shot-blocker in her class. [player_tooltip player_id="31853" first="Macey" last="Blevins"], Wayne County- While most top shot-blocker are interior players, Blevins managed to send plenty of shots flying last year despite playing primarily as a wing. She unofficially averaged a block per game, using superb timing and defensive instincts to show another skill in her massive repertoire. [player_tooltip player_id="88419" first="Raigan" last="King"], Pineville- One of the more traditional post players in the state, King has certainly served as a solid rim protector. While she could be stronger inside at times, King has such great physical skills and plays so well in the post that she surely rejected plenty of shots last year. As she gets more aggressive, expect King to further improve as a rim protector and block even more shots. Ally Maggard, Owensboro Catholic- Another player who deserves mention, Maggard established herself as a strong shot-blocker despite more limited playing time than most players on this list. While not as highly ranked as other top shot blockers, she averaged nearly a block per game for the Aces. If Maggard can expand on this skill, she can establish herself as an elite interior player next year.