Spring Superlatives – Top Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We saw a lot of new players this spring. We also measured the development of some players we watched last summer. With the spring season in the books, now is a good time to praise guys who stood out in a particular skill area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of the top defenders we watched this spring (in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Briggs Cunningham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gardner-Edgerton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"LTD Select","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"This guy could have found a spot on a lot of superlatives list. We'll slot him in here. This guy is an athlete who plays much bigger than 5-foot-10. Therefore he gets listed as a u0022small forward.u0022 He battles in the paint and on the glass, and he has length to really bedevil opposing guards. He has really quick feet and straight-line speed. Most of all, he is tough, strong and plays with an attitude. He creates a lot of havoc all over the court.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Jack Horsch","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Andale ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Kansas Select","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Horsch plays with admirable intensity, determination and will. He never stops working. He's the first on the floor after loose balls and he chases down transition. He never gives up on a play. Effort is one thing, but athleticism is another. Horsch can run the floor and really get up to contest plays at the rim. He plays the game the way every coach wants.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1530221"],"_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":"McGibboney is a versatile defender. He can guard just about every position on the floor. He has height, length and spring to contend in the paint, foot speed and strength to body up drivers and quickness to make plays in passing lanes. Most of all, McGibboney plays with a lot of intelligence and understanding of the game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1575955"],"_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":"One of the most impressive athletes of the spring season, Phillips (pictured) can do it all. He can really leap and run the floor, and he's strong and explosive. Those qualities make him a versatile and impactful defender, particularly in the open floor and in transition. He blocks shots and makes a lot of plays around the rim.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Brandon Serna","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Olathe Northwest","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"KC Kings Elite","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Serna is a powerful athlete who is a really heady defender. He showed this spring that he can body up opponents on the perimeter. He helps off on ball handlers who try to drive and digs down on posts. He is tough and willing to stick in and draw charges in the paint.rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-647f92c07dc84"} /-->