South Florida: On-Ball Defenders
Defense…defense…defense. Does defense win championships? Can a great offense stop a great defense? I tend to believe both can be correct, but it is paramount to be a good defender with the abundance of natural ability South Florida has. This…
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Continue ReadingDefense…defense…defense.
Does defense win championships? Can a great offense stop a great defense?
I tend to believe both can be correct, but it is paramount to be a good defender with the abundance of natural ability South Florida has. This region has a ton of raw talent, but talent in most cases can can only get you so far. Establishing a foundation of strong defense can lift you above your counterparts and impress college scouts.
Defense, in my view, is as much about physical talent as effort, passion and commitment. A smart and disciplined defender can play huge dividends in a game that might not always reflect in the box score. For every dunk you see on ESPN, there is a steal or missed shot in the last two minutes of a contest that makes a difference in the final outcome because of strong defense.
As much as we want to be perfect, every player goes through offensive slumps. A ball can rattle around the rim even when we think we took the perfect shot. Defense, on the other hand, should never go through a slump. The one thing it can expose is laziness and reflect yourself as an unprepared player. In my view, you can tell a lot about a player who makes an emphasis on defense. On the flip side, it can show you have a high character and relentless motor. Moreover, your unselfish mindset puts the common goal of winning for your team at the forefront.
On the professional level, guys like Patrick Beverley, Tony Allen, Kawhi Leonard and Raja Bell are names that come to mind of the past and present that play strong defense. All these names have been recognized on the NBA’s All-Defensive Teams.
Below is a list of players here in South Florida who prioritize defense in their games.
1)
Chayse Culpepper
Chayse
Culpepper
6'0" | CG
Stranahan | 2020
State
FL
– Stranahan: The 2020 guard was one of the better on-ball defenders I saw this season in South Florida and helped the Mighty Dragons to back-to-back state championships. Culpepper has good hands, evident when he picked up a key steal in the half-court to secure a victory over Blanche Ely back in January. Overall, the senior averaged just under two steals per game according to MaxPreps. Culpepper is also a tough kid who will fight off screens and stick with his assignment. In addition, Culpepper will be vocal on defense and make sure his teammates will be in the right place on defensive sets. With his namesake, the six-foot-one Culpepper has a good mindset and understanding of what it takes to be a complete player.
2) Jaden Grant – University School: Grant has been a unsung hero for the Sharks, who have won two state championships in his time with the school. The 5’11” point guard has strong ability to recover and reset himself when an offensive player makes his initial move up the floor. The 2021 Grant averaged 1.9 steals per game according to MaxPreps and has a high character. While the Sharks have a ton of D-1 talent on the floor, Grant is a sneaky weapon who maximizes his ability with his defensive play. I look at Grant as a sneaky, unselfish talent who is an asset on any team he plays for.
3) Gabe Taylor Gabe Taylor 5'8" | PG Gulliver Prep | 2020 State FL – Gulliver Prep: In terms of collegiate talent, few teams could match the firepower of Gulliver Prep down in suburban Miami. Leading the way at the helm for the Raiders was 2020 Gabe Taylor Gabe Taylor 5'8" | PG Gulliver Prep | 2020 State FL , who helped the team to a 23-win season. A compact guard, Taylor is lightening quick in shifting his weight to stay in-front of an opponent. A standout on the football field, Taylor had a good blueprint to bring onto the court, as he shut down wide receivers in-front of him at cornerback. According to MaxPreps, Taylor averaged an impressive 3.5 steals per game. Against Oxbridge Academy in December, the senior standout recorded a whopping ten steals. A Rice University (football) commit, Taylor has untapped potential as an athlete in both sports.
4) Ivan Reynolds Ivan Reynolds 6'4" | SF Dillard | 2020 State FL – Dillard: An unsigned sleeper, Reynolds is a 6’4″ guard who helped state power Dillard to 24 victories and a spot in the Class 6A final. Using his size to his advantage, the 2020 Reynolds averaged 2.8 steals per game according to MaxPreps. Against state champion St. Andrew’s, Reynolds recorded five steals and added six swipes the game after against West Nassau. Currently, he has an offer from North Florida but would be a nice addition to any college team due to his defensive versatility.
5) Kolby King – Blanche Ely: King emerged as a player to watch in the last second loss to Stranahan back in January. The 2022 guard looked strong on both ends of the floor and recorded four steals against the Mighty Dragons. Overall, the 6-foot King averaged 2.4 steals per game according to MaxPreps. Furthermore, King nearly quadrupled his season average with eight steals against Plantation. Along with his quick hands, King is an excellent rebounder for his size, as he recorded 11 boards against the Mighty Dragons. Look out for King in Pompano Beach as he has a chance to make tremendous strides into his upperclassmen years.
6) Amen Thompson – Pine Crest: A double-dose (see below) of skill resides at Pine Crest, starting with 2022 standout Amen Thompson. The 6’5″ guard has exceptional length at the position and is one of the more coveted talents in all of South Florida. With his natural ability, Thompson helped the Panthers to a 20-win season while recording just under three steals per game. In addition, the sophomore led the team with 1.4 blocks per contest.
7) Ausar Thompson– Pine Crest: Like his brother, Thompson is a talented back-court weapon for the Panthers. Ausar has the natural size you look for at the guard position while having good leverage to stay in-front of smaller players and pick up steals. On the season, the 6’5″ 2022 twin averaged 2.1 steals per game according to MaxPreps. With his versatility, Thompson can create mismatch problems for opposing coaches. The twin pairing should continue to shoot up the rankings charts next season.
For any South Florida Prep Hoops news or information…please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23.