ECI Spring Preview: Top Defenders
ECI Hosted its annual tournament last weekend in Moorhead and the competition was fierce throughout Saturday and Sunday. Play culminated with ECI teams taking the championships at the 16U and 17U levels. Here are some of the top defenders from…
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Continue ReadingECI Hosted its annual tournament last weekend in Moorhead and the competition was fierce throughout Saturday and Sunday. Play culminated with ECI teams taking the championships at the 16U and 17U levels.
Here are some of the top defenders from the 16U and 17U levels:
Cayden Rickard, Inspired Athletics 17U
Rickard was a force on the defensive end of the floor in the action I saw for Inspired Athletics. His ball pressure was terrific and his awareness away from the ball created countless turnovers which led to easy offense. He’s not the tallest guard but he’s got good length and he puts it to use, playing with active hands and physicality. Known as a scorer in the EDC with Fargo North, Rickard’s defense was attention-grabbing over the weekend.
Cam VanDam, ECI Prospects 17U
VanDam is one of the best defenders in the state. At 6-foot-7, he’s long and strong enough to defend in the post and he’s quick enough to defend on the perimeter. He’s a terrific help defender and rim protector and his ability to rebound in and out of his area helps key ECI (and Fargo Davies’) early offense. VanDam’s offense is a work in progress but his ability to dominate a game on the defensive end of the floor cannot be overlooked.
Brady Dvorak, ECI Prospects 17U
Another touted scorer turned impact defender this spring, Dvorak was a sparkplug for ECI over the weekend, providing awesome defense and hustle throughout the day. He’s compactly built and he uses his strength to bully opposing ball handlers on the court. His quickness and awareness make him difficult to screen cleanly and he’s active as a help defender.
Jase Crockett, ECI Hanson 16U
Crockett looks like a linebacker on the basketball court and he puts that physicality to good use on both ends of the floor. On defense, he combines great strength with good quickness, allowing to put constant pressure on the ball. He came away with a number of steals throughout the games Saturday with simple pickpocketing and away from the ball, he’s talkative and disruptive. He looks to push the pace of the game and it is clear that he uses his defense to trigger offense.
Grant Nelson, ECI Prospects 17U
Nelson has been ECI’s best player through the first few tournaments and while his offense can come and go at times, his defensive potential is going to garner him a lot of interest. He averaged five blocks per game during the high school season at Devils Lake and it’s easy to see how what with the combination of mobility and length allowing him to cover inordinate amount of ground. He’s not real thick but his length allows him to pursue rebounds at a high rate and it just gives guys so much trouble when trying to score if he’s anywhere in the vicinity.
Peyton Zaun, ND Attack Green 16U
Zaun was one of the more impressive guys for ND Attack Green over the weekend. His offense is solid and he’s proven he can score but his defense was just as eye-opening. At 6-foot-2, Zaun has good size to defend on the wing but he’s also strong enough to guard bigger guys and quick enough to chase smaller ball handlers around. He’s active on the glass and in the passing lanes and when he sticks to a guy in man-to-man, he’s hard to get a clean shot off against.
Will Obioha, ECI Prospects 16U
Obioha does a lot of things well. His best attribute right now might be his defense. He’s 6-foot-5 but he moves like a guard and his instincts allow him to be really disruptive. He can get a little undisciplined trying to jump passing lanes and create turnovers but when he balances the gambling with playing fundamental defense, there aren’t many players he can’t effectively guard.
Cole Benson, ECI Selects 17U
Benson was a key guy in helping ECI Selects get to the championship game, with a lot of his value coming on the defensive end of the floor. He’s 6-foot-4 with really good length and quickness. He causes a lot of problems for smaller guards because he’s good at contesting but also staying in front of people and he’s very instinctual off the ball as a helper.