Holiday Tournament: Top Defenders

<p>It was a busy week of basketball action over the holiday season!  Let’s now examine the superlatives from the events that we attended.  Here are our <strong>Holiday Tournament: Top Defenders</strong>!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Joe Green (Marian Catholic)</strong></p> <p>Really like what Green brings to the table on the defensive end with his wiry frame.  Pesky perimeter defender that gets steals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Gary Johns (Westinghouse)</strong></p> <p>Johns opened our eyes with his length and defensive versatility blocking shots and protecting the rim.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Brandon Lieb (Deerfield)</strong></p> <p>Lieb is one of the better shot blockers in the senior class.  At 6’11” he moves pretty well and swats shots.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jaden Terrell (Wheeling)</strong></p> <p>Terrell is a multi-positional defender on the perimeter with the ability to shut people down with his length.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jalen Butler (Niles North)</strong></p> <p>Butler is a wiry strong wing that brings intensity and toughness to the defensive end.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Emondrek Ford (Bloom)</strong></p> <p>This Bloom sophomore played key minutes in the game we saw with the other Bloom bigs in foul trouble.  He held his own defensively blocking shtos.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Elijah Pickens &amp; Nick Owens (Curie)</strong></p> <p>This Curie duo in the backcourt might be small, but they put considerable pressure on opposing guards with their quickness at the point of attack.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Connor Linke (St. Charles North)</strong></p> <p>Linke was excellent as a shot blocking presence going up at the highest point and swatting several dunk attempts.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Scottie Ebube (Mundelein)</strong></p> <p>The junior star is a tough and physical positional defender that can also block shots on occasion.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Damari Wheeler-Thomas (Larkin)</strong></p> <p>Liked what we saw out of this sophomore on the defensive end.  He was very active with his hands getting steals and going the other way.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jeffery Oakley (Perspectives)</strong></p> <p>Oakley is a super athletic 6’5” small forward that has the ability to turn defense into offense in a hurry!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Kyle Thomas (St. Joseph)</strong></p> <p>Thomas is an excellent shot blocking presence.  The sophomore has a feel for swatting shots both straight up and as a help defender.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Hamahrie Bowers (Hillcrest)</strong></p> <p>Bowers is an athletic wing that can check multiple spots on the perimeter.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Antoine Bloxton (Bogan)</strong></p> <p>Bloxton created a ton of steals which he turned into points in transition.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Kyndall Davis (Bogan)</strong></p> <p>Davis is a physical wing defender with size and strength that has shut down ability at the next level.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>AJ Casey (Tinley Park)</strong></p> <p>The sophomore superstar is an impact defender with his shot blocking ability.  Swatted several shots and defended well in ball screens.</p>