Top Frontcourt Defenders in the 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These forwards can do a little bit of everything, from defending the wings and bodying up players in the post to jumping passing lanes and defending at the rim. They have been among the best 4A defenders all season long and top my list of the best frontcourt defenders in Washington's highest division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='923104' first='Isaiah' last='Afework'] | Federal Way</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the strongest players you'll find at his position, Afework is highly skilled and highly motivated on the defensive end which helps him lay claim to one of the best defenders in the 4A. He's a strong rebounder, can lock down players on the perimeter and in the post, and feeds off of making big defensive plays that get the whole Federal Way team hyped up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1270717' first='Yanni' last='Fassilis'] | Union</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think Fassils is a little underrated when it comes to his defensive abilities. He combines great instincts with exceptional athleticism to make a bunch of game-changing plays on the defensive end of the court. He does a great job moving his feet, chesting up players on drives, and can time his leap to make the highlight blocks inside. He guards just about every position on the floor and is a two-way playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1270612' first='Vaughn' last='Weems'] | Federal Way</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mr. Weems has an argument for the best defender in not just the 4A, but the entire state. With his ability to cover ground, read offenses, and continually make the highlight plays look typical, he boasts some of the best defensive abilities in Washington. At 6-foot-5 and with tremendous athleticism, he can swing a game with his ability to get to passes you would think are out of reach and rack up the transition buckets. At last year's state tournament, he scored nearly ten points in a matter of seconds by causing turnovers and converting. Don't be surprised if his defensive abilities prove even more impressive at this year's tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='923112' first='Miles' last='Heide'] | Mt Si</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There aren't many shot-blockers like Heide in the state, but the 6-foot-9 big man is a menace around the rim and in the paint, making offensive players think twice before heading his way. He changes the way teams attack Mt Si and at 13.6 rebounds per game, keeps opposing teams from getting extra chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450498' first='Lucas' last='Westerfield'] | Richland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-10 Bombers big man is one of the best rim defenders in the state, blocking shots and sealing defensive possessions with rebounds. He can also use his long reach to cut down drives from smaller forwards on the perimeter and cover a lot of ground closing out on shooters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1728816' first='Donavin' last='Young'] | Chiawana</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young is a superb athlete that can make plays above the rim, defend drives on the perimeter, and use his long reach to tip passes away. He's a highly active player with plenty of defensive versatility that often turns defensive plays into quick transition buckets on the other end. He has come on strong in his senior season and has Chiawana back at the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->