PH Carolinas Freshman Showcase: Top Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2027 prospects in the state of North Carolina didn't waste any time in setting the tone on the defensive side of the ball at the Carolinas Freshman Showcase. Take a look at some of the top defenders who stood out at Cox Mill High on Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2146888"],"_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_tooltip player_id='2146888' first='Preston' last='Scott'] was quite the defending presence in the backcourt alongside Levon Smith III for his squad at the Carolinas Freshman Showcase. He took pride in being connected on defense, talking and rotating, in order to set quite the tone on the defensive end of the floor. He's a wiry prospect at 5-foot-9 that's already capable of guarding a variety of positions with his length. He's got a fearlessness and confidence not many have at a young age. He's a name to keep an eye on at Charlotte Country Day School.","_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":2146890,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Deon Simpkins","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_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":"South Aiken","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Carolina Grizzlies","_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":"Simpkins took it as a challenge on the defensive end whenever opposing teams scored on him. By the end of the day, he was guarding the best player on each team in an attempt to show off his abilities as a defender in the backcourt. He was easily one of the top defenders at the Freshman Showcase by day's end. He's a name out of South Aiken High to keep track of as he heads into the high school ranks.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":2146927,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Levon Smith III","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Spring Valley","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"Team USC","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Levon Smith III was another formidable backcourt presence alongside [player_tooltip player_id='2146888' first='Preston' last='Scott'] as he showed off his ability to be a two-way presence on the hardwood. He set the tone with his ability to force turnovers on defense then keep his guy involved offensively as a lead guard. He's an intriguing young lead guard to get eyes on out of Spring Valley High as he begins his high school career.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2144779"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":2146895,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"David Oates was impressive in protecting the rim and challenging shots around the rim all day long at the Carolinas Freshman Showcase. He used all of his length at 6-foot-3 along with his athleticism to make things happen as a defender and rebounder on the floor. He showed good timing in meeting opponents at the rim to block shots and utilize his size in the painted area. He's got a bright future ahead of him with 4A state power North Mecklenburg High.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2146777"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":2146896,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2146777' first='Ethan' last='Daniel'] was another impressive forward with length who showed off his versatility and shot-blocking prowess on the defensive end of the floor. He plays with a ton of energy on defensive and looks to make opponents uncomfortable right away with his tenacity. He showed he wasn't afraid to operate in the paint and block shots and rebound down low as well. Here's a name out of Forestview High in Gaston County, NC to keep eyes on in the class.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2146900"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2146900' first='Ace' last='Prenger'] was a name who played with a ton of energy in the painted area for his squad and didn't back down from holding his own in the painted area despite his 6-foot stature. He played big with his ability to take up space and battle for boards to set quite the tone defensively. He's a young name to keep an eye on out of Smoky Mountain High given his energy as a defender.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":2146910,"_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2147354' first='Quezhon' last='McMillan']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Crestwood High","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"Carolina Heat","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2147354' first='Quezhon' last='McMillan'] was a prospect who constantly got after it on the defensive end. Whether blocking shots, finding rebounds and forcing turnovers, he was a defensive menace who constantly looked to his defense to make an impact on the floor. He's a versatile presence already given his strong frame and length at 5-foot-11 who should be fun to track over the next four years at Crestwood High in South Carolina.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64f4f5e096faa"} /-->