PREVIEW: A look at some of state’s top defenders (Part II)
With the basketball season set to begin in a few weeks, Prep Hoops Kansas is taking a look at some of the top players across the state in a wide range of categories.
Today, we take a look at several players who were nominated as the state’s top defensive players.
Norman Massey, 6’4, G/F, 2020, Wichita East. @Wavy_norman
At 6’4, 190-pounds, Wichita East wing Norman Massey was mostly a role player for East a year ago, as he averaged 2.7 points, 2.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore. However, Massey is gearing up for a big junior season for the Aces and brings good length and athleticism to the floor.
Trace Leners, 6’0, G, 2019, Sacred Heart @traceleners10
Also a football standout, Leners has earned an offer from Doane in that sport after helping Sacred Heart to a basketball state championship in 2017. He is a tough, well-rounded guard who does the little things exceptionally well. He averaged 6.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and nearly two steals per game a year ago while shooting 55 percent from the field.
Trey Sides, 6’1, G, 2019, Phillipsburg @TreySides11
Sides is the reigning Kansas Class 3A Player of the Year and while he may be mostly known for his offense, he is a standout defensive player as well, capable of getting steals, gets in the passing lanes well and can turn defense into offense in the open court.
Aaron Hamilton, 5’9, G, 2019, Junction City @aaronhamilton33
Hamilton is a bit undersized at 5’9, 150-pounds, but helped Junction City by running the point, playing solid, fundamentally sound basketball and is a tough, scrappy defender who gets in the opposing team’s shorts and creates havoc by pressuring the ball.
Ty Cooper, 5’11, PG, 2019, Wamego. @tycooper42
At 5’11, 170-pounds, Cooper is poised to take on a bigger role in the Wamego backcourt after the graduation of PG Thomas Dillon. Cooper is strong with the ball, can shoot from the outside and plays terrific defense, able to lock up opposing guards in the backcourt.