Early Season AAU Defensive Impact Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defense, defense, defense. These guys have taken that word to heart early on in the AAU season and have been able to anchor their team defenses thus far. They are able to play steady defense but also make impact plays that lead to quick breaks and easy buckets on the other end. And while they are highlighted for defense here, each of these guys brings a whole lot more to the floor than just solid D.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Daniel Briseno</strong> | Jones Academy | 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Briseno was one of the more enjoyable players to watch over the weekend just based on his effort and work rate. He wasn't piling up the stats but his impact was felt on both sides of the floor, pushing the pace and making smart decisions with the ball, as well as playing high-intensity defense on the other end. He's a good slashing guard who can provide high-level defending and maintains his intensity for all four quarters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450495' first='Miles' last='Goodman'] | NW Rotary Rebels | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the EYBL trail, Goodman has been forced to go against strong, tough-minded post players that he didn't see a ton of in the high school season. He responded with solid interior defense, understanding that holding ground and contesting shots against these high-level players key to his ability to win the battles inside. He finished their first game in Georgia with 10 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1486858' first='Cory' last='Connor'] | Local Hoops | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Connor was one the most active players I watched this weekend bar none. His motor never stopped. He was crashing the offensive boards, stripping opponents, hitting rotations, and actively occupying passing lanes. He was also impressive on the offensive end, tipping a few of his o-boards back in, showing good range from 3-point, and earning First-Team honors for the 3SGB Act 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='923129' first='Nikita' last='Tyukalo'] | Jones Academy | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-7 combo guard looks so calm on the floor. He started out the game with a couple of dimes from different locations. First, hitting a back door cut from the top with a nice pocket bounce pass, then finding another slashing teammate for a quick-hit bucket . Later in the game, he showed his defensive ability, sinking inside to be the middle of the zone and defend the rim from opposing posts. He's a talented player that can provide a lot of different looks on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1112472' first='Ryan' last='Mpouli'] | WA Supreme | 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This guy provided at least six to eight points off of steals alone in the game I watched last weekend. His athleticism and length open up so many opportunities on the defensive end for him to strip ballhandlers or jump passing lanes. His defensive and attacking instincts helped him be a problem from the jump, and on offense, he was looking to push the pace in transition and hunt down the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->