Southwest Slam: Best Defenders (17U Passion Bracket)

<p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0057.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1033695 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0057-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="535628" first="Matthew" last="Stone"] - Team Buddy Buckets - G</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="535628" first="Matthew" last="Stone"] can guard multiple positions and plays his hardest for the entire game. He brings physicality to the low post when bigger players try to back him down and he has good hands on the perimeter and tips passes often. Stone is able to play tight perimeter defense without fouling and he dives for every loose ball.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0034.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1009463 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0034-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="745358" first="Dalante" last="Shannon"] - Team Buddy Buckets - G</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="745358" first="Dalante" last="Shannon"] was the defensive anchor for Team Buddy Buckets and was always the best defender on the floor. Even as a guard, Shannon blocked multiple shots and made everything difficult for whoever he was guarding.  Shannon locks up whoever he is asked to guard and he always talks. He is a leader that will compete for the entirety of games and he makes his presence known on the defensive end of the floor.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0026.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1028977 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0026-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="938854" first="George" last="McCurdy"] - Tulsa Hawks Elite - G</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="938854" first="George" last="McCurdy"]’s best defensive performance of the tournament was in his game against [player_tooltip player_id="745355" first="Sean" last="Pedulla"] and Team Buddy Buckets. McCurdy shut down Pedulla in the first half and held him scoreless for the half. He was able to pick his man up right when they crossed half court and he has the quickness to do so without getting blown by. [player_tooltip player_id="938854" first="George" last="McCurdy"] is a competitor that backs down from no one.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0040.jpg?1597267628723"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1033731 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0040-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="931235" first="J’Lynn" last="Counter"] - Oklahoma Chaos Elite - G</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="931235" first="J’Lynn" last="Counter"] is a solid on-ball defender that always seems to take advantage of his opponent’s mistakes. He would often force ball handlers to pick up their dribble and had multiple on-ball steals. Counter also blocked some jump shots and he would turn his defensive stops into points for himself on the other end.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0006.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1028980 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0006-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1028983" first="Tyson" last="Anderson"] - Drive Nation Houston Martin - F</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1028983" first="Tyson" last="Anderson"] brings everything that you want out of a wing on the defensive end of the floor. He is a great perimeter defender and he locks down his man most of the time due to the fact that he is much quicker than most forwards. Anderson also has good hands and poked out multiple steals. He uses his athleticism to block shots and is great at chase-down blocks. He takes pride in locking his man down and has all the tools to do so. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>