DC’s Top-10 On-Ball Defenders

<p>Who are the top on-ball defenders currently attending school in the Nation’s Capital? The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the very best, regardless of class. Below you will find, listed in alphabetical order by last name, 10 of the best on-ball defenders from Washington D.C. This is part of a series that will aim to highlight players based on various superlatives.</p> <p><em>Note: these superlative lists will not be mutually exclusive. If someone can handle the ball and do something else (i.e. shoot) at a high level, they will be included in both lists. </em></p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="902010" first="Afamdi" last="Achufusi"] | Sidwell Friends ’21</h5> <p>At 6-foot-4, Achufusi is a big guard who can guard several positions. Owning a 6-foot-7 wingspan, he smothers defenders with his length and is the go-to choice for Sidwell when they need to shut someone down. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="902028" first="Miasiah" last="Brown"] | Woodrow Wilson ’21</h5> <p>Brown is known for being a pitbull on the defensive end. He’s a scrappy guard who always picks up full court, exhibits outstanding defensive posture, and is adept at picking the pockets of opposing ball-handlers. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="902074" first="Michael" last="Cheadle"] | Dunbar ’21</h5> <p>Cheadle is a diminutive lead guard who enjoys applying pressure on the ball. He has quick hands and has a knack for coming up with steals.</p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="902025" first="Malcolm" last="Dread"] | Gonzaga ’21</h5> <p>Since his freshman year, Dread has been known as a plus defender. He’s a strong wing who is not afraid to mix it up against bigger foes and always does his due diligence on that end of the floor. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="904681" first="Phillip" last="Flegler"] | Theodore Roosevelt ’22</h5> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y24PWHZhSgc"><strong>Nicknamed "Lockdown Phil" by Houzmazoo Network</strong></a>, Flegler lives up to that nickname each time he steps on the court. He picks up full-court at all times, has a nose for the ball, and demonstrates an ideal understanding of defensive concepts. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="837925" first="Chris" last="Gamble"] | Sidwell Friends ’22</h5> <p>Gamble is a strong guard who takes a lot of pride in his defense. He is solid at the point of attack, can match up against bigger guys, and is good at drawing charges. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="836494" first="Maurice" last="Johnson"] | Cesar Chavez ’21</h5> <p>Johnson has as much potential as anyone on this list on the defensive end. He’s a physically gifted 6-foot-5 wing but also cares about being a good defender. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="902027" first="Jamiyl" last="Kirkland Jr."] | Friendship Tech ’21</h5> <p>A tenacious on-ball defender who has length, Kirkland racks up deflections with relative ease. The sturdily-built 6-foot-2 guard is also capable of defending multiple positions. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="904663" first="Rob" last="Lawson"] | Archbishop Carroll ’22</h5> <p>Lawson is a speedy lead guard who excels defensively on the ball. He uses his quick feet to stay in front and constantly makes things difficult for his matchup. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="777066" first="Judah" last="Mintz"] | Gonzaga ’22</h5> <p>One of the most underrated parts about Mintz has to be his defense. A 6-foot-4 wing with uber athleticism, he does not take plays off defensively. On the contrary, Mintz has worked hard to make that a strength of his game. </p>