Grassroots season is here and that means hoopers on1y. The Phoenix based company has established itself as one of the premier youth basketball companies on the West Coast. They kicked off the Spring season with their signature event the Kingz…
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SubscribeGrassroots season is here and that means hoopers on1y. The Phoenix based company has established itself as one of the premier youth basketball companies on the West Coast. They kicked off the Spring season with their signature event the Kingz and Queenz of the City tournament which features teams from throughout the west region. They say defense wins Championships so I was pleased to see as many quality defenders as I did. Here’s a look at some of the top defenders from the event.
Metro is a long rangy athlete that proved to be a versatile defender. He is good enough laterally to stay in front of perimeter players on switches and long enough to be a deterrent on the defensive end for offensive players looking to score on the interior. He used that combination of length and agility to effectively shut down offensive opponents throughout the week.
Only got a short glimpse at Willis but I liked what I saw. The high motor forward was a tough defender who played with a ton of energy. He competed hard on the defensive end, snagging more than his share of defensive boards for his team.
Hopkins was one of the better bigs at the event in large part because of his defense. Hopkins gets off the floor quick, with an explosive first Jump. He blocked a ton of shots and snagged a ton of defensive rebounds during the event. His strength size and fluidity provide him with the potential to be one of the more dominating defensive players in the class.
It was his motor that made Brisby such an effective defender. His sheer willingness to get back on defense allowed him to be an effective last line of defense. He did a good job battling offensive players in the post and protected the rim well, blocking more than one shot in the game I watched. His ability to impact the game on the defensive end, was a huge key to Flight’s defensive efforts on the weekend.
Neely was one the best high energy guys I saw. He used his motor to be productive on the defensive end. The almost 6 foot forward, defended on ball, and won more than his share of 50/50’s. Neely is a first to the floor type of player, capable of consistently impacting games on the defensive side of the ball.
Boogd was one of the more versatile defenders at the event. He got some steals playing the passing lanes, and some blocks on the interior. He also was one of the better two way players I saw, displaying the ability to turn his defensive plays into offensive buckets. The rangy forward showed good defensive instincts, along with the physical ability and skill set to dominate games on the defensive end.