Bruce’s Best: Top Defensive Backcourts
Defense wins championships, and IMO any good defense starts by cutting off the head. That means having relentless guards willing to take the challenge of stopping the other teams’ best perimeter options. The ability to create turnovers and guard multiple…
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Continue ReadingDefense wins championships, and IMO any good defense starts by cutting off the head. That means having relentless guards willing to take the challenge of stopping the other teams’ best perimeter options. The ability to create turnovers and guard multiple positions factors in heavily on my ratings. In this article, PH takes a look at the best defensive backcourts in Nevada.
(1) M’Wani Wilkinson/Will McClendon – Bishop Gorman: This is a clear case of production and versatility. Wilkinson can guard every position on the floor, and as a rim protector, he is elite. You can make the argument that he technically is a post player. However, he has had no problem switching out on guards, in fact, I’ve seen Gorman play 7-10 times this year and I don’t remember anyone even challenging him off the dribble. As for McClendon, he may have the quickest hands of anyone in the class of 2021. If you ever wondered what high IQ looks like on the defensive end, watch him. He does a great job of creating havoc with back taps and jumping passing lanes. At 6’4 with Scottie Pippen arms, he often plays at the top of the Gaels vaunted press.
(2) Larry Holmes/Donavan Yap – Arbor View: This may come as a surprise mainly because Yap is viewed as primarily a scorer. However, the man is averaging nearly 3 steals per game. He has great anticipation and understands how to play passing lanes. With his size, he can easily defend 3 positions at the high school level. Larry Holmes is simply a dog. Pound for pound one of the toughest players in the state, Holmes has quick feet and a strong enough build to defend both backcourt spots effectively. Together they are a devastating duo, that can turn defense into offense and guard multiple positions.
(3) Anthony Hunter/Keshon Gilbert – Durango: For my money, Anthony Hunter is the best defender in the State. He has quick hands and feet and defends with a Bulldog mentality. He is adept at playing the passing lanes, but his specialty is pickpocketing The ultimate don’t play with the ball in front of him guy. Hunter has the guts of a cat burglar and swipes faster than single guys on Tinder. Gilbert is not a natural defender, he won’t wow you with run and jump athleticism, however, he has a terrific basketball IQ which allows him to always be in the correct position. In addition to his IQ, he’s an absolute dog, that plays the game with a competitive chip on his shoulder. The sight of he and Hunter in Durango’s full-court press strikes fear into the heart of most ballhandlers.
(4)Semaj Threats/Dayshawn Wiley – Desert Pines: This is a more specialized duo because Threats rarely starts. When they are on the floor together, it becomes tough for opposing guards. Threats is one of the best on-ball defenders in the state. He has great lateral quickness and uses his size to get underneath ballhandlers. Wiley is flat out special. He is an undersized version of M’Wani Wilkinson. Wiley can guard 1- 3 effectively and some fours if the matchups are right. He is a tremendous weakside defender who averages over a block per game. He has great anticipation in the passing lanes and can stay in front of most point guards. The scariest part about these two is that their speed and athletic ability allow them to turn defense into offense instantly.
(5) John Board/Jaylen Berry – Basic: I just saw Basic play this week so I may be a bit biased, however, you’re going to have to name the duo to put in front of these two. Board is another on my all Pit Bull team. He doesn’t care who it is, he will battle. Berry has quick hands, and the size to dominate both backcourt positions. What makes these two so lethal is how tied together they are, The Killer B’s do a tremendous job of funneling ballhandlers into mistakes. They are like a pair of synchronized swimmers on defense that understand each other’s moves without saying a word. They are both averaging over 2 steals per game, and Basic has turned into the team everyone dreads facing.