Oregon Top 250 Expo – Top Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1599522' first='Sebastian' last='Stowasser'] (2023 Ashland)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Stowasser is also a fantastic facilitator and scorer, he stood out on Sunday while high-effort defense was at a premium. The 5-foot-11 combo guard possesses a sturdy frame and never shies away from a tough assignment defensively. Stowasser was easily one of the most engaged perimeter defenders of the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1587911' first='Azure' last='Mcnamara'] (2024 Ashland)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McNamara is a scrappy player with a great nose for the ball, and he continued to show that on Sunday. At 6-foot-4, the junior wing has long arms, allowing him to get his hands on a bunch of loose balls. Additionally, McNamara possesses the quickness to hang with some guards on the perimeter, making him a versatile presence on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1110568' first='Vashon' last='Hardges'] (2024 Grant)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like I mentioned before, defense was somewhat at a premium on Sunday, and Hardges was certainly a primary exception. With a non-stop motor and noticeable athleticism in the backcourt, the junior quite simply flies around, forcing turnovers and wreaking havoc for opposing ball-handlers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450156' first='Gavin' last='Gross'] (2025 Jesuit)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gross was impressive in the games we watched for numerous reasons, but as one coach pointed out to us, his ability to guard multiple positions particularly stands out. The stud sophomore plays much lengthier than his listed 6-foot-3 and is very mobile, allowing him to both swallow drives from smaller guards and hang with the big men inside.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1110571' first='Quinn' last='Haveman'] (2024 Mountainside)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Havemann is the type of player you'll see doing a little bit of everything throughout a game. Particularly, the Mountainside junior constantly plays hard, leading to easy rebounds and second-chance baskets underneath. Guarding the ball, Havemann was engaged and effective, forcing the opposition's buckets to come from elsewhere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1368229' first='Peyton' last='Reyes'] (2025 Mountainside)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reyes was one of the most notable 2025 prospects at the event partially due to his quickness on the defensive end. Reyes' slide-step beats opponents to the spot regularly, and the sophomore plays with a notable fire that is capable of keeping his teammates engaged on either end.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1268432' first='Chance' last='Winter'] (2024 Beaverton)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-foot-10, Winter was quite the presence inside on Sunday, blocking shots and collecting rebounds with ease as one of the event's most notable bigs. For his size, Winter really shines in terms of athleticism and mobility — his hops make his verticality absurd.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->