Colorado Class of 2022: Top Defensive Big Men

Many of you have heard the saying “defense wins championships”, and almost every coach would agree. The anchor on every defensive end is the big man that can hold down the middle and help prevent easy buckets. With the game and player evolving, we have seen these big men get more comfortable in not only blocking shots but also grabbing steals and deflecting passes. Here are the top defensive big men entering their senior year. 

Aguir Dawam Aguir Dawam 6'7" | C Denver East | 2022 State CO | 6’7″ Center | Denver East High School 

The best weapon in his arsenal is his speed. Aguir has extreme length and combined with his speed allows him to defend anyone in the paint or on the perimeter. His athleticism is something to not be trifled with and punishes anyone who attempts to. The quickness in his feet empowers him to lock up anyone he’s guarding, including guards. The accomplishments he has obtained on the defensive end haven’t come from just anybody either. Aguir helped lead his team to victory against numerous 5A schools including the number one ranked team last year in Thunder Ridge. 

  Trevea Bolden Trevea Bolden 6'7" | C FNE Warriors | 2022 State CO | 6’7″ PF/Center | Far North East Warriors High School

Trevea Bolden Trevea Bolden 6'7" | C FNE Warriors | 2022 State CO might hold the title of “best shot blocker” in the state. How this player goes about blocking is everything a coach wants to see for his players. Bolden jumps vertically with both hands straight up every time contesting a shot to ensure he won’t be called for the foul. Admirably, Bolden has no difficulty using either hand to block shots and also likes to entertain the crowd with his emphatic backboard blocks. Be cautious driving to the hoop with him in the game. He is averaging 3.3 blocks per game but is also no stranger to taking a charge. 

Bryant Schoenthal Bryant Schoenthal 6'5" | C Wray | 2022 State CO | 6’5″ PF | Wray High School 

A big framed power forward with the most active hands on this list. 2.3 steals per game and 20 deflections in 15 games demonstrate how productive this player is on the defensive end. His knowledge in help defense puts him in a position to tip passes in addition to getting steals from telegraphed passes. Schoenthal never gives up on a play so don’t be surprised to see him fly in out of nowhere to block a shot even when he is out of position to do so.   

   James Shiers James Shiers 7'1" | C Mead | 2022 CO | 6’11″ Center | Mead High School

Shiers has distinctive physical attributes compared to other high school kids in the state of Colorado. Standing at 6’11″ he towers over most of the competition. His 4.1 Blocks per game are attributed to his disruptive presence in the paint. In the Top 250 Expo, he proved to be patient defensively and understood when and which shots would grant him a block or a foul. His basketball IQ and leadership stood out because of how much he communicated defensively and where he placed himself on defense depending on where the ball was located. Most of his rebounds come on the defensive end which assists his team in stopping second chance opportunities.