High School Season Preview: 5 Top Defenders In Michigan

<p>We are pushing ever closer to high school season. Come the winter, the old adage "defense wins championships" usually rings true. There are certainly many players in Michigan that thrive on the defensive end. We’ll take a look at 5 of, what should be considered, the best defenders in the state this coming season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="986247" first="Amari" last="Allen"] (2023, PG, Hamtramck)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/IMG_1103.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1098089" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/IMG_1103-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p>Allen quickly developed the reputation as an elite perimeter defender. He keeps a low base and always seems to know where the ball is going. Allen does a great job cutting off passing lanes and using it to create turnovers. His lockdown defense can really limit the options for the other team’s offense. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787618" first="Ty" last="Rodgers"] (2022, SF, Grand Blanc)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Ty-Rodgers-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1177983" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Ty-Rodgers-2-300x201.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="201" /></a></p> <p>If you watched Rodgers play this summer for MeanStreets, you knew he was going to be on this list. He brought a fire to the defensive end, often times matching up against the top scorer on the floor for the opposing team. Rodgers proved that he could defend a few different positions as well. His combination of strength and athleticism make him tough to beat.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1067860" first="Jalen" last="Overway"] (2022, PF, Holland Christian)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/158_Jalen-OverwayPrepHoops-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1061928" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/158_Jalen-OverwayPrepHoops-2-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Overway could easily be considered the biggest stockriser in the state over grassroots season. He showed that he was indeed a force on both ends of the floor. There aren’t many, if any, post players that can outmuscle Overway. He does a great job protecting the paint and steering the offense away from the rim. Overway will be a force in the paint on defense this coming season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1181896" first="Kareem" last="Rozier"] (2022, PG, Orchard Lake St, Mary’s)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Kareem-Rozier.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1177482" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Kareem-Rozier-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p>Rozier is the kind of perimeter defender that every coach should want. It doesn’t matter how big, strong, or fast his assignment is on defense, he will get in their face and cause havoc. Rozier can play nose to nose defense and still keep his man in front of him. His defense is a big reason that, in my opinion, he should have D1 coaches lining up at his door.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="863923" first="Chansey" last="Willis"] (2022, PG, Detroit King)</strong></p> <p>Willis takes a lot of pride in his defense and it shows on the basketball court. Rumor has it, he ALWAYS wants the toughest cover that his opponents have to offer. Willis has quick feet, quick trigger movements, and toughness that make him an elite defender. There have  been more than a handful of times that I’ve seen Willis’ defense flat out win games.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>