NEXT Oklahoma State Tournament 13u/14u: Top Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NEXT Oklahoma State Tournament had several impressive defenders in both the 13u and 14u divisions. These six prospects were who jumped out to me as the top defenders at this event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- 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":2449972,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ryder Waddell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Poteau","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Ballerz Elite 2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66561b9457f5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ryder Waddell had an impressive showing for Ballerz Elite 2028 on the defensive side of the ball. Ryder has good size, standing at 6'3" and used his strong frame and quick feet to apply pressure all over the court. He showed a good feel in his team's defensive system by trapping ball handlers at the top of the key before dropping back into more of a help role in the paint. He moved well and created havoc by getting a number of deflections throughout the weekend. Ryder being a defensive issue along the perimeter lead to many fast break opportunities that and transition looks for him and his teammates in the majority of their games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":2449980,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Antwain Truss","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Porter Middle School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Mavs Elite 2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66561b9457fee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Antwain Truss was one of the best interior defenders in 13u division at this event. He is a strong, athletic big man who used his aggression and impressive leaping ability to create chaos whenever opponents would drive. Mavs Elite 2029 did a good job of communicating on defense and their guards seemed to do a good job of asking Antwain to either help on screens or to fall back into drop coverage. I was impressed with his second-jump ability on the interior. He challenged shots well with his quick jumps and impressive length.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":2450050,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Christian Petty","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_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":"Webster Middle School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078402' first='Team' last='Griffin'] 2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66561b945806d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christian Petty has great size and length for his age and used these tools to create issues for opposing offenses all weekend at the NEXT Oklahoma State Tournament. While defending at the top of the key, Christian cut-off countless passing lanes by keeping his arms extended and getting deflections when he was challenged with a pass. He was extremely active and seemed to never stop moving. His overall feel for the game on defense was easy to see. He did not over-think when adjusting defensively and stayed one step ahead of opposing offenses. After getting stops at the top of the key, Christian would push the pace himself and this created open looks at the rim for himself or better looks for his teammates running the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2415791"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2450060,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66561b94580c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2415791' first='Carter' last='Beltz'] was one of, if not the, best full-court defenders across both divisions at the NEXT Oklahoma State Tournament. Picking up opponents off of in-bounds throughout the whole weekend, Carter applied great pressure and forced several turn-overs the entire time that he was on the court. He is a very quick guard with great feel for the game. Wreaking havoc in passing-lanes was what jumped out to me about Carter's game. He makes smart reads and his motor is non-stop. Empire 2029 did a great job defensively as a team, but Carter set the tone by never slowing down and forcing opponents into mistakes constantly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":2450070,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zavier Walker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Edmond Heartland Middle School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Griffin Academy 2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66561b945813a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Zavier Walker had a great weekend on the defensive end. He applied impressive full-court pressure and opponents struggled to take care of the ball while he was the primary defender. He slid his feet well and had extremely active hands while avoiding fouling. Zavier accepted tough matchups in stride and used his competitiveness to fuel his aggression. He is a very quick guard with long arms and this made him very disruptive to opponents. His ability to force ball-handlers to pick up their dribble was a constant. Overall, the defensive decision-making and physical tools makes Zavier a really intriguing prospect with a lot of upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2437645"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2450084,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66561b9458188"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Braylon Jefferson is an extremely physically gifted defender who stayed aggressive throughout the entire weekend. He is quick and strong which helped him apply pressure and kept offensive opponents over-thinking reads. He was able to bump ball-handlers without fouling and it was easy to see how uncomfortable he made them. Braylon did a great job of jumping passing-lanes and pushing in transition for easy scoring opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->