Ohio Top 250 Expo Defensive Menaces

<p>Defense wins championships and is also one of the first things college coaches look for in potential prospects. When looking at defenders on Saturday, I was watching for guys that could move their feet and stick with their man, versatile and able to defend multiple positions, or protect the rim/perimeter with active hands and smart play. The 5 guys below did all of this and earned my respect as it is sometimes is hard to find good defensive talent in a showcase setting.</p> <p>Ben Knostman (2021) 6’4 Tippecanoe</p> <p>Knostman knows how to use his length on both ends of the floor. While he played well on the offensive end, I especially liked how he disrupted passing lanes and used active hands while defending on the ball. An under the radar talent thus far in his career, Knostman will have an opportunity to step into such a bigger role alongside Nolan Mader at Tippecanoe this upcoming season.</p> <p>Khalil Luster (2022) 5’5 Lima Senior</p> <p>Although he was one of the smaller performers on Saturday, Luster caught my attention early on as such an elite on-ball defender. Simply put: the guy is fast. His footwork and agility is impressive and he defended against opposing guards with ease. The fact he is only a sophomore and playing so well makes me think this guy could be such an elite player as he continues to grow.</p> <p>Tyler Jackson (2021) 6’3 Garfield Heights</p> <p>Similar to Ben Knostman, Jackson impressed me with his high basketball IQ and ability to jump passing lanes consistently. Definitely one of the better ball defenders during the day, I really liked how Jackson was able to contain the perimeter especially for a 6’3 player. With Lue East having so much talent back from their Division III Runner-Up season, Jackson will have an opportunity to earn playing time with his defensive skillset.</p> <p>Gavin Schoeneman (2020) 6’6 East Canton</p> <p>In terms of guys that saw their stock rise, Schoeneman definitely was one of those guys. Such an athletic frontcourt weapon, Gavin could have made the list for top rebounders as well, but defense is where he impressed me most. He defended the paint and was not afraid to play physical with some of the size that was on display. He is so lengthy and protected the rim with his shot blocking abilities. To cap it all off, the guy even defended the perimeter with his strong footwork.</p> <p>Aidan Reichert (2021) 6’4 Jackson Center</p> <p>If you have read some of my articles, you would know I’m big on Reichert because he does the fundamentals and plays hard. He again did this on Saturday on the defensive end. At 6’4 he is not afraid to defend anyone and specifically will play physical with anyone. Able to defend the perimeter and in the paint, Aidan is versatile and did a nice job of playing physical with Gavin Schoneman who is mentioned above.</p>