Best of the Best: Defenders
We’ve given love to the scorers and passer, and the guys who help wipe the glass. Now it’s time to give love to the guys that can get stops. The young men who make things slow in the paint blocking and altering the shots of the opposing team. This article is the for the guys who take the defensive challenge of guarding the opponent’s best player every night, and make it difficult for the guy there guarding every night. This is the last article in our Best of the Best series, this is for the defenders.
Jackson Ames/ West Clermont High School (2020)
We talked about Ames in our rebounders edition of the Best of the Best series and those same attributes we talked about in that article apply to this one as well. Jackson is 6’10 with solid mobility for someone his size. If he doesn’t block the shot then he will almost most certainly alter the shot.
Dylan Beaugard/ Wilmington High School (2018)
Over the AAU session I saw this young man just totally harass opposing ball-handlers. Dylan has excellent lateral quickness along with quick hands that helps him tremendously on the defensive end. Plan on Beaugard making it a long evening for the opponents of Wilmington this season.
Shawn Hawkins/ Hughes High School (2018)
This young man has the size (6’5) and strength to guard big men but has the athleticism and quickness to guard perimeter players as well. Hawkins will most likely guard the other team’s best front-court scorer this season for the Big Red, I task that he will definitely be up for.
Abba Lawal/ Withrow High School (2019)
He’s 6’11 and very athletic. Like Jackson Ames if he does not block the shot he will alter the shot. Can you imagine the matchups with him and Ames over the next couple of seasons?
Miles McBride/ Archbishop Moeller (2019)
One of the better perimeter defenders in the state regardless of class. Strong young man who also has the lateral quickness to harass ball-handlers full court while also having quick hands to pick the pocket of the defender. McBride suffered a lower left leg injury a few weeks back in a football matchup with rival St. Xavier, will be interesting to see how it will affect his availability during the basketball season.
Dominic Pierce/ Princeton High School (2018)
A very versatile defender for the Vikings who guards all five positions on the court. Really heady player who will be a key performer for a Vikings team with aspirations of making the trip to Columbus.