Don’t Forget About Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we move closer toward high school season, we should start to talk more about some top notch defenders. After all, many hold true to the old adage that defense wins championships. Let's look at a few of the various talented defensive players in the state of Michigan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PrepHoops/status/1557779305849147392?s=20u0026t=iKLhVvO8w-rfEcObuMk_2g","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepHoops/status/1557779305849147392?s=20&amp;t=iKLhVvO8w-rfEcObuMk_2g </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f5ef4229e07","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1140329"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Phifer is an athletic defender that is fast getting back on defense. His ability to cover the length of the floor is extremely valuable. Phifer is a grinder on the defensive end that will almost never allow an easy bucket.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1420408"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Pleyer is an exciting young player that has the tools needed to be an elite defender. He sees the ball well on defense and has quick hands to swipe the ball away and create chaos. Pleyer can turn defense to offense in a snap.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1352903"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another Waverly player makes the cut! Needless to say, it could be very tough to score points against them this season. Welch has good hips on defense and won't get caught up in the movement of his assignment.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1300899"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Jones' defense wowed me on the Prep Hoops Circuit this summer. Coach Strong seemed to know where to put him to get the most out of his D. Quite simply, Jones won games this grassroots season with his defense. He has excellent defensive footwork and quickness.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Drake Koepke","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Bellaire","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Parallel 45","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Koepke has a ton of defensive upside. He's a leader on that end of the floor and is willing to pick defensive hustle points. Koepke keeps a good wide base and makes it tough to go around him.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1076038"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"His offense and his ability to take and make shots may at times overshadow his defense, but let's not forget that he's a truly elite defender. Kolakovich is a high IQ defender that can go head to head with some terrific scorers.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /-->