Hustle SZN Kickoff Recap: All Master Lock Team
Spring is here and that can only mean one thing. It’s Circuit Season! The Prephoops Circuit is upon us. I will be covering and providing exposure for the Hustle Region Circuit. The Hustle Region Circuit consists of AAU Programs from…
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Continue ReadingSpring is here and that can only mean one thing. It’s Circuit Season! The Prephoops Circuit is upon us. I will be covering and providing exposure for the Hustle Region Circuit. The Hustle Region Circuit consists of AAU Programs from California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and New Mexico. The circuit features 10 stops including the Hustle Region Final in Irvine July 15th – 17th. Stop number one got underway this past weekend in Seal Beach California, with the Hustle Season Kickoff. The event which took place on Saturday, April 2nd through Sunday, April 3rd featured 46 teams ranging from 15U to 17U. The event also featured several players with the ability to lock down their opponents. In this article, we take a look at some of the top defenders from the event.
Kai Bickham 5’9 PG Rebels Elite NM 2023 – Bickham was a scrappy defender, whose activity allowed him to get his hands on several balls. He wasn’t the fastest perimeter player, but he hustled, and that allowed him to at least keep a body in front of most drivers. His willingness to fight for and win loose balls also factored into his defensive play
Aliaun Iscandari 6’2 SG BTI 2024 – Iscandari was one of the better defenders that I saw. He combines speed with effort and was a terror on ballhandlers. The guard possesses long arms as well, which helps him disrupt offensive players both off the dribble and in the passing lanes.
Isaiah Johnson 5’7 PG BTI 2025 – Johnson was a younger version of Iscandari. He was scrappy and played well when defending on the ball. He showed decent defensive instincts and as time goes by could also increase his steals by playing passing lanes. Overall his speed, quickness, and hustle make him one of the better on-ball defenders I saw this weekend.
Keanu Jarmon Keanu Jarmon 5'10" | SF Legacy | 2025 State NV PF Hard 2 Guard 2025 – I didn’t get a height on Jarmon which is a bit frustrating because he played big on the defensive end. The forward defended well against post players and blocked a number of shots both straight up and when coming from the weakside.
Trey Robinson Trey Robinson 5'8" | PG Mojave | 2025 State NV 5’8 PG Hard 2 Guard 2025 (featured image) – Quiet as kept, Robinson may have had the quickest hands at the event. I saw him straight pickpocket a couple of players, including a slick one in the backcourt that he turned into an easy layup. Needless to say, he was good on ball, however, it was his penchant for turning defense into offense that got him on the list.
Bradey Henige 6’11 C D1 Nation AZ 2024 – I didn’t watch much 16U action this weekend, however, Henige is a must-see prospect. The big fella was the best rim protector I saw and it wasn’t really close. On one possession alone he must have blocked consecutive shot attempts. Henige is not a plodder, he is a fluid rim runner that changes ends well, allowing him to be the ultimate trail defender in a play. Although a work in progress, he did show some ability to hedge ball screens effectively.