Spring Superlatives – Top Rebounders
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…
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Continue ReadingWe 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.
Here are some of the top defenders we watched this spring (in alphabetical order):
Cooper Casson
Cooper Casson
Casson is big and he plays bigger than the 6-foot-3 listed on the roster. He bodies his way to position and has strength to rip rebounds away from opponents. Casson clears space and boxes out to grab a lot of boards at both ends.
Lane Hoffline
Lane Hoffline
Lane and his twin brother are a lot of trouble in the paint. Lane uses his length to corral a lot of balls in the air, and his effort leads to good positioning. He understands his role and really gets after the glass at both ends. One of the tallest players on the spring circuit, he presents a problem to anyone going for a rebound.
Alec Mack
Alec Mack
It’s easy to overlook Mack when you’re focused on the high-tempo offense of HOH. But this guy deserves some attention for his contribution. First of all, he’s athletic enough to keep up with the track meet the HOH guards crank up. He chases down misses in transition because he hustles. He also has the brute strength to power his way to the defensive boards and the explosiveness to go get balls that don’t carom straight to him.
Walker McClellan
Walker McClellan
This guy impressed in so many ways, he could have been on several lists. But on a very talented team, he did the dirty work including cleaning the glass. McClellan is a long forward who goes after the ball with toughness and determination in traffic. He’s got good ball skills and coordination to get the ball in the air. Once he’s got the ball in his hands, McClellan outlets effectively and unselfishly.
John Tucker
John Tucker
Long and lean, Tucker can knife through traffic to get in rebounding position at both ends. Once in position, he’s one of the more springy players around. Tucker has a lot of skills inside the paint and on the perimeter, so rebounding is just one of the services he provides. Once the ball is in his hands, he can push it the other way effectively too. He’s got explosiveness and athleticism to make a lot of plays.