2023 Rankings Breakdown: Defenders
Adam Ayalew
In this article:
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<p>Who are some of the premier defenders featured in the recent <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/maryland/rankings/2023-rankings/">2023 Maryland Rankings</a></strong> Update? Here's a rundown. </p>
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<h2>#7 | [player_tooltip player_id='1049863' first='Ace' last='Valentine'] | guard | Mount St. Joseph</h2>
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<p>Valentine does so many things well, it can be easy to overlook his defense. At around 6-foot-3, he's got length and quickness which give him an edge in many matchups. Valentine is also a good rebounding guard. </p>
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<h2>#8 | [player_tooltip player_id='957022' first='Cam' last='Gillus'] | guard | Sidwell Friends</h2>
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<p>Gillus often sets the tone with relentless pressure on the ball defensively. You'll often see him guarding the most threatening perimeter player vs. the opposing team. </p>
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<h2>#10 | Thomas Batties | forward | Gonzaga</h2>
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<p>Batties is a strong post-defender in 1v1 scenarios. He is adept at walling up and altering the shot of a foe without fouling. Batties is equally solid on the help side. He knows his rotations and frequently draws charges. </p>
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<h2>#58 | [player_tooltip player_id='1219862' first='Marcus' last='Banks'] | guard | Riverdale Baptist</h2>
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<p>Lockdown defense is a staple of Banks' overall game. Get used to seeing him hounding ball handlers in the backcourt. He allows zero air space at the point of attack. </p>
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<h2>#134 | [player_tooltip player_id='1362720' first='Jackson' last='Pugh'] | guard | Glenelg Country</h2>
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<p>Pugh is a menace on the ball defensively. He uses his low center of gravity and quickness to coerce opponents into mistakes. </p>
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Who are some of the premier defenders featured in the recent 2023 Maryland Rankings Update? Here's a rundown.
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