Top “Board Men” from OK State Tournament
In last weekend’s tournament, there were a lot of points scored. When that happens, you tend to sleep on defense, and the players playing close attention to that aspect of the game. While there were many points scored, a lot…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn last weekend’s tournament, there were a lot of points scored. When that happens, you tend to sleep on defense, and the players playing close attention to that aspect of the game. While there were many points scored, a lot of blowout losses, and a ton of individual 20-to-30-point games recorded, there were the occasional lockdown defenders that flew under the radar.
A few players led their team on the defensive end of the floor, thus helping their team remain competitive throughout the tournament.
Diante Palmer Diante Palmer 6'0" | PG El Reno | 2023 State OK , Tulsa Hawks (2023):
Palmer was one of the most enjoyable payers to watch during the tournament, not only because of his vibrant personality off the court, pretty much talking to any and everyone, but because of his vibrant personality and endless energy on the floor, and specifically on the defensive end of the court.
Please don’t get it misunderstood, Palmer holds his own on the offensive end, but he makes his name by providing superior defense, wreaking havoc for whoever he’s guarding.
Mike Taffe, FOE (2023):
It’s surprising that Taffe’s only entering his junior year of high school because he plays so much bigger and mature. That dates back to school ball, where he was clearly one of the on-court leaders for Bishop McGuinness. Taffe is about 6-foot-1 but plays four inches taller. He’s a football player, so he has the agility to defend the perimeter but the toughness and lower-body strength to anchor the paint. Taffe also plays baseball, making him a legitimate three-sport athlete, but he could have a bright future on the hardwood.
Jaxson Daniels, OK Energy (2023):
Daniels is the second player on this list that attends Mount St. Mary. They will be a hard team to score on once school ball ramps back up. Daniels is a guy that can guard four positions simply because he tries hard and hustles on every play. He’s antonymous to the word ’timid,’ seemingly taking on any challenge that’s presented. Daniels recorded four steals on day two of the tournament.