Top Defenders for the 2024 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defense in basketball is something that will always get you minutes on the court regardless of how your offensive game is. Playing defense isn't nessacarily a skill but can be more of a pride thing because anyone can play defense if they put their heart and soul into it. However, the 2024 class has a lot of defenders who combine both skill and heart making these players elite at getting stops and anchoring down for their team. Here are my top five defenders for the 2024 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1406993"],"_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":"Akande has long arms that allow him to wrap around defenders from behind and strip the ball away from ball handlers whenever he gets beat off the dribble. He's an elite one on one defender that if the ball handler tries to get fancy on him he will poke the ball away and he will be off to races to score on the other end. Akande will dive after every loose ball and is an excellent chase-down shot blocker.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1407094"],"_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":"Sheehan will protect the rim at any cost being in the power forward position. He will alter almost every single shot no matter how far away he is. Although he prefers to guard down low in the paint Sheehan can switch out onto the perimeter and still play solid defense giving him the ability to guard multiple positions for his team. He can even disrupt passing lanes if you try to get a pass off near him making Sheehan a near complete defender that will only get better.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1153952"],"_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":"Rink is probably the best defender in his class in my opinion as he does everything at such a high and intense level. At the center position Rink will block any shot as he recorded 158 of them this season. Standing at 6'8u0022 with a long wingspan he can guard every position and switch onto anyone. Rink moves his feet like a guard and protects the paint at an elite level. He is just an overall beast on the defensive end and I'm excited to see what's in store for him for next season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1407064"],"_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":"Oberti has an impressive 6'10u0022 frame already at his age. Playing the center position Oberti can block and send any shot into the bleachers no matter if gets beat off the dribble or is in the paint. He will contest everything that is even in his vicinity of him. The most impressive thing that Oberti can do at his size is guard the perimeter which can cause chaos for opposing offenses. Also, he can read the passing lanes just as well as anybody.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1773142"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Graham is a physical up-in-your-face defender on the perimeter. He never gets tired and will never take a playoff for his team giving his teammates the ultimate boost to match his energy. Graham plays defense like a cornerback in football as he never leaves his man and is constantly applying full-court pressure making it difficult for offenses to get into their sets. He recorded over 67 steals this past season and will look to get more going into next year.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641de23231af3"} /-->