Sparkling On-ball Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So much media focus, even here, is on scoring the basketball. Defense needs more attention on @PrepHoopsTN, and this article gives a few standout defenders their deserved shine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1343709"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64503ec6d7422"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1343709' first='Trae' last='Rideau'] (Stars 16u)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach of 16u UA Aaron Morrison raved about [player_tooltip player_id='1343709' first='Trae' last='Rideau']'s final April weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Trae guarded the other team's best guard and was unbelievable," said Coach Morrison May 1st. "Locked him up. Yesterday, starting the game he scored 4-6 straight and I switched Trae onto him and it was over. I think he got a layup or two in transition. He did the same thing Saturday against a team from Alburquerque. The kid had 8-10 points. Trae made his life tougher. He gets the stance and defends. Really takes pride in that end of the floor."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1927473"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64503ec6d7490"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1927473' first='Tarecous' last='Stevens'] (Boom City Elite 16u)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stevens is a freshly minted Class of 2025 "rankee" thanks to his size (6-foot-6), athleticism, defending. Tarecous plays with long arms and decent defensive instincts. Unlike most of the players on this list, Stevens defends bigs and taller wings. He is not a guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1942511"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64503ec6d74e8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1942511' first='Bubba' last='Faulkner'] (Fastbreak 17u)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great lower body strength and balance. Bubba gets in his stance early and keeps in it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1140747"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64503ec6d753c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1140747' first='Casey' last='Williams'] (Team Mookie 17u)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Extremely bouncy forward. [player_tooltip player_id='1140747' first='Casey' last='Williams'] is very good defending in the lane. Beyond his height, he is also quick off of the ground. Casey reads the shooters and drivers quite well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1140815"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6450401edeab5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1140815' first='Carlos' last='Orr'] (Gatlinburg-Pittman '24)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dual-sport athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1140815' first='Carlos' last='Orr'] began as great post defender, then physically matured into an adept perimeter defender. Unfortunately for fans of basketball, Orr is almost certainly destined to play college football ulimately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->