Lockdown Defenders in the Boot

When a team needs a stop at the end of a game to preserve at lead, they usually try to place their best defender on the best offensive player from the opposite team. Some defenders step up to this challenge while others fold. The ones who rise to the challenge a lot of the time get deemed as lockdown defenders. Take a look at some of the players in Louisiana who get it done on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id="931045" first="Jamaar" last="Moore"] (6’1" / Washington-Marion / 2021) Moore is one of the first players that I think about when I think of lockdown defender skills. He takes either the point guard or the other team’s go-to player and gives them fits in every contest. Moore has a combination of quick hands and a large wing span which translates into plenty of tipped passes or straight up steals from who he is defending. He is competitive on every possession and wins many of them because of it. If Washington-Marion needs a stop in the upcoming playoffs, best believe Moore will be the one taking the challenge to make that stop. [player_tooltip player_id="781856" first="Reginald" last="Stoner"] (6’1" / North Central / 2022) The two time state champ is the other player I think about when it comes to man-to-man defense. Stoner closes space and usually directs the offensive player where he wants him to go. He is known for putting the clamps on other players when he is locked in. In the past he has had near triple doubles with steals being the third part category. Stoner really is probably on a short list of perimeter defenders in Louisiana that can change a game with his defense. Look for him to do the same as the Hurricanes move into the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id="530995" first="Carlos" last="Stewart"] (6’1" / Dunham / 2021) Stewart is arguably the best two-way player in the state. He has a penchant of turning defense into offense quickly when he is playing on the ball. I have seen him several times during games score the rock, pick up his man at half court, rip the guy he is defending, and score on a breakaway dunk. He plays at a high level on both ends of the floor at all times. Santa Clara is getting a very good player on their roster next year. [player_tooltip player_id="932860" first="Nick" last="Maryland"] (6’1" / Simsboro / 2022) When a player picks opposing guards up at the baseline, he better be a good athlete as well as a good defender. Luckily for [player_tooltip player_id="932860" first="Nick" last="Maryland"], he is just that. Maryland will score a bucket and immediately find the opposing point guard and will guard them all the way up the floor. He frustrates ballhandlers and does not allow them to intiate offense easily. Maryland is also good at rebounding the ball on defense to end the possessions of the opposing team. Maryland is unique in how he guards and is a player who can turn games around with his defense. [player_tooltip player_id="1123178" first="Artavious" last="Washington"] (5’10" / Southwood / 2021) Washington was injured for the majority of his junior season and could only play defense in spurts. This season, he has been a one man wrecking crew at times for the Cowboys. His man-to-man defense is like the others mentioned in this article. However, he a player who can go on quick 6-0 runs by himself causing back-to-back turnovers and conversions. His effort on defense gets others amped and creates and infectious atmosphere. Not many defenders can do what Washington does on the floor for his team. He is a spark plug for the Pokes. Joe Manning (6’3" / Bossier / 2022) During last year’s title run by the Bearkats, Manning was not asked to score. He was asked to defend wing players and provide offense when he got the opportunity. While he has greatly improved his offensive input, Manning still has the mentality to lock someone down defensively. There have been games where Manning has switched onto the hot offensive player and rendered them useless whether they were a shooter or a scorer. Manning has high level defensive capabilities that schools on the next level will covet when he is a senior. Jayson Henderson (6’2" / Captain Shreve / 2021) Henderson is one of those unsung players for the Captain Shreve Gators. While he can stretch the floor by hitting threes, he is better known for defending guys and causing frustration. Henderson can guard small players to wings. He can also battle guys in the post. When Henderson is winning his defensive battles, Shreve usually has the upper hand in the contest. Henderson and his defense will be important as Captain Shreve heads into the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id="1128271" first="Tray" last="Taylor"] (5’7" / Loyola College Prep / 2022) While Taylor is one of the fastest players that I have seen during the season, he is also the shortest. With his small stature however, he defends players taller than he and gives them the blues on a consistent basis. Guards usually can dribble the ball low to the floor and get away with a mishandle but not with him around. Taylor uses his quickness and hand speed to disrupt dribbling and usually creates opportunities for himself in the open floor. He is often a one-man fastbreak after steals. He is a terrific on-ball defender and is getting better. Other top on-ball defenders in Louisiana: [player_tooltip player_id="1045509" first="James" last="Ross"] (5’10" / Ouachita / 2021) [player_tooltip player_id="765924" first="Ryan" last="Elzy"] (6’1" / Ponchatoula / 2021) [player_tooltip player_id="765919" first="Jaden" last="Shelvin"] (6’2" / St. Thomas More / 2021) [player_tooltip player_id="931052" first="Dylan" last="Slaid"] (5’9" / Benton / 2021) [player_tooltip player_id="1123174" first="Allen" last="Walker"] (6’1" / New Iberia / 2021) [player_tooltip player_id="931046" first="Will" last="Bagley"] (6’0" / Calvary Baptist / 2021) [player_tooltip player_id="1051636" first="Andri" last="Lewis"] (6’3" / Woodlawn-Shreveport / 2022) [player_tooltip player_id="1051639" first="Dmitry" last="Payne"] (5’9" / Lincoln Prep / 2022) Defense is the calling card of these players. Next level schools who need solid defenders can look to this group and find one. These guys play the defensive end very well and give their team a change night in and night out with their defense.

When a team needs a stop at the end of a game to preserve at lead, they usually try to place their best defender on the best offensive player from the opposite team. Some defenders step up to this challenge while others fold. The ones who rise to the challenge a lot of the time get deemed as lockdown defenders. Take a look at some of the players in Louisiana who get it done on the defensive end.

Jamaar Moore Jamaar Moore 6'1" | CG Washington-Marion | 2021 State LA (6’1" / Washington-Marion / 2021)

Moore is one of the first players that I think about when I think of lockdown defender skills. He takes either the point guard or the other team’s go-to player and gives them fits in every contest. Moore has a combination of quick hands and a large wing span which translates into plenty of tipped passes or straight up steals from who he is defending. He is competitive on every possession and wins many of them because of it. If Washington-Marion needs a stop in the upcoming playoffs, best believe Moore will be the one taking the challenge to make that stop.

Reginald Stoner Reginald Stoner 6'1" | CG North Central | 2022 State LA (6’1" / North Central / 2022)

The two time state champ is the other player I think about when it comes to man-to-man defense. Stoner closes space and usually directs the offensive player where he wants him to go. He is known for putting the clamps on other players when he is locked in. In the past he has had near triple doubles with steals being the third part category. Stoner really is probably on a short list of perimeter defenders in Louisiana that can change a game with his defense. Look for him to do the same as the Hurricanes move into the playoffs.

Carlos Stewart Carlos Stewart 6'1" | CG Dunham | 2021 State LA (6’1" / Dunham / 2021)

Stewart is arguably the best two-way player in the state. He has a penchant of turning defense into offense quickly when he is playing on the ball. I have seen him several times during games score the rock, pick up his man at half court, rip the guy he is defending, and score on a breakaway dunk. He plays at a high level on both ends of the floor at all times. Santa Clara is getting a very good player on their roster next year.

Nick Maryland Nick Maryland 6'2" | CG Simsboro | 2022 State LA (6’1" / Simsboro / 2022)

When a player picks opposing guards up at the baseline, he better be a good athlete as well as a good defender. Luckily for Nick Maryland Nick Maryland 6'2" | CG Simsboro | 2022 State LA , he is just that. Maryland will score a bucket and immediately find the opposing point guard and will guard them all the way up the floor. He frustrates ballhandlers and does not allow them to intiate offense easily. Maryland is also good at rebounding the ball on defense to end the possessions of the opposing team. Maryland is unique in how he guards and is a player who can turn games around with his defense.

Artavious Washington Artavious Washington 5'10" | PG Southwood | 2021 State LA (5’10" / Southwood / 2021)

Washington was injured for the majority of his junior season and could only play defense in spurts. This season, he has been a one man wrecking crew at times for the Cowboys. His man-to-man defense is like the others mentioned in this article. However, he a player who can go on quick 6-0 runs by himself causing back-to-back turnovers and conversions. His effort on defense gets others amped and creates and infectious atmosphere. Not many defenders can do what Washington does on the floor for his team. He is a spark plug for the Pokes.

Joe Manning (6’3" / Bossier / 2022)

During last year’s title run by the Bearkats, Manning was not asked to score. He was asked to defend wing players and provide offense when he got the opportunity. While he has greatly improved his offensive input, Manning still has the mentality to lock someone down defensively. There have been games where Manning has switched onto the hot offensive player and rendered them useless whether they were a shooter or a scorer. Manning has high level defensive capabilities that schools on the next level will covet when he is a senior.

Jayson Henderson (6’2" / Captain Shreve / 2021)

Henderson is one of those unsung players for the Captain Shreve Gators. While he can stretch the floor by hitting threes, he is better known for defending guys and causing frustration. Henderson can guard small players to wings. He can also battle guys in the post. When Henderson is winning his defensive battles, Shreve usually has the upper hand in the contest. Henderson and his defense will be important as Captain Shreve heads into the playoffs.

Tray Taylor Tray Taylor 5'6" | PG Loyola College Prep | 2022 State LA (5’7" / Loyola College Prep / 2022)

While Taylor is one of the fastest players that I have seen during the season, he is also the shortest. With his small stature however, he defends players taller than he and gives them the blues on a consistent basis. Guards usually can dribble the ball low to the floor and get away with a mishandle but not with him around. Taylor uses his quickness and hand speed to disrupt dribbling and usually creates opportunities for himself in the open floor. He is often a one-man fastbreak after steals. He is a terrific on-ball defender and is getting better.

Other top on-ball defenders in Louisiana:

James Ross James Ross 5'10" | PG Ouachita Parish | 2021 State LA (5’10" / Ouachita / 2021)

Ryan Elzy Ryan Elzy 6'1" | CG Ponchatoula | 2021 State LA (6’1" / Ponchatoula / 2021)

Jaden Shelvin Jaden Shelvin 6'2" | CG St. Thomas More | 2021 State LA (6’2" / St. Thomas More / 2021)

Dylan Slaid Dylan Slaid 5'8" | CG Benton | 2021 State LA (5’9" / Benton / 2021)

Allen Walker Allen Walker 6'1" | CG New Iberia | 2021 State LA (6’1" / New Iberia / 2021)

Will Bagley Will Bagley 5'11" | SG Calvary Baptist | 2021 State LA (6’0" / Calvary Baptist / 2021)

Andri Lewis (6’3" / Woodlawn-Shreveport / 2022)

Dmitry Payne Dmitry Payne 5'9" | PG Lincoln Prep | 2022 State LA (5’9" / Lincoln Prep / 2022)

Defense is the calling card of these players. Next level schools who need solid defenders can look to this group and find one. These guys play the defensive end very well and give their team a change night in and night out with their defense.