2019 Rankings Breakdown: Best Perimeter Defenders
The defensive side of the floor doesn’t receive nearly as much hype or accolades when it comes to basketball coverage at any level, which lends to the fact that few high school kids fancy themselves defensive stoppers.
There are no stats for how long a player sits in a defensive stance or how many times a player turns his opponent when picking up 94-feet from the basket.
And how many times do you see stories or tweets based solely on a prospects ability to lock down the opposition?
Not often.
The prospects listed below have dedicated themselves to the less-pretty aspect of the game and proved they aren’t afraid of a little (or a lot) of grit and grime on the defensive side of the ball.
5. Giordan Williams (Long Beach Poly/Fastbreak)
Williams is one of the best containment and team defenders on one of the best high school defensive teams in Southern California year-in and year-out. Not only can Williams defend each guard position with ease, but at 6-2 with good length and prototypical Jackrabbits toughness, he’s also called upon to guard threes and fours due to Poly’s lack of size this season.
4. Sedrick Altman (Colony/IEBP)
Altman was the dynamic defensive playmaker for a Colony high school team which allowed opponents to score just 54.2 points per game last season en route to a CIF-SS Division 2AA championship. The Titans’ suffocating, all-out pressure scheme allowed Altman to roam the middle of the floor as a “free safety” of sorts, which resulted in countless steals leading to easy baskets. When a team was able to get the ball into the front court, the long-armed, 6-3 wing rarely let a ball handler get by him and into the paint.
3. Jordan Hilstock (Vista/Gamepoint Pump N Run)
Hilstock is another super versatile perimeter defender due to the fact that he’s one of the tallest players on his high school team at 6-3. The Vista guard can defend point guards and all the way down to power forwards when called upon to do so. While he’s an impressive on-ball and team defender, what makes Hilstock an elite defensive player is his ability as a weak-side shot blocker.
2. Julien Franklin (Villa Park/Dream Vision)
Villa Park’s Julien Franklin is one of the more versatile perimeter defenders in So-Cal.Franklin is really the quintessential perimeter defensive stopper in Southern California. At 6-5 with an imposing frame and length, the Villa Park wing is called upon to stop the opponents best perimeter scorer each and every game and has the strength and base to switch on to big men and compete on the block. Franklin’s commitment to the defensive end helped Villa Park to an appearance in the CIF State Division III state championship game.
1. Robert McCrae (Fairfax)
If there’s one guy in Southern California who can legitimately defend all five positions on the basketball court, it’s McRae. The 6-4 wing has everything a coach wants in a defender – strength, lateral speed, length and toughness – and, best of all, he understands how to use all those attributes in both isolation and team defensive situations. McRae is one of the best at switching out on high-ball screen action and forcing the ball handler out toward half-court instead of allowing him to turn the corner.