Defensive Underclassmen to Watch in the Driftless Region

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading up to the 2024-25 WIAA basketball season, I will be digging into the top performers in the Driftless Region. I'm specifically looking at players in the Big Rivers, Cloverbelt-West, Coulee, Dairyland, Dunn-St. Croix, Lakeland-West, Middle Border, Mississippi Valley, Ridge &amp; Valley, Scenic Bluffs, Six Rivers-West, South Central, Southwest Wisconsin and Southwest Wisconsin Activities League.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several underclassmen are poised to make a significant impact on the defensive end of the hardwood this season, based on their performances from last year. These players are set to be key contributors for their teams across the Driftless Region, with their ability to disrupt opponents' offensive flow through steals and blocks. Here are some of the standout defensive players to watch:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423423' first='Braylon' last='Backaus'], is an athletic guard from Black River Falls in the Coulee Conference. Last season, as a freshman, Backaus averaged 2.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. This well-rounded defender displayed both quickness and an impressive ability to challenge shots at 5'11”.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2501092' first='Brandon' last='Davis'], a junior guard from River Ridge, is a defensive agitator out of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference. He averaged an impressive 2.8 steals per game last season, showcasing his quick hands and on-ball pressure. Although his block totals (0.3 per game) don't leap off the page, they illustrate his athletic ability to disrupt shots despite standing 5'11”.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Cloverbelt-West Conference, Carter Holm from McDonnell Central, turned over opponents at a rate of 1.5 SPG. Holm, a 5'10" junior, used his quickness and anticipation to jump passing lanes and harass ballhandlers throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2406622' first='Caleb' last='Irlbeck'], of Osceola, can really elevate and uses that to his advantage as a defensive force in the Middle Border conference, contributing 0.7 BPG to the Chieftains' efforts. The bouncy 6'4” forward added 0.5 SPG in his sophomore campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2424246' first='Cullen' last='Jacobus'] from North Crawford, standing at 5'10", is a scrappy defensive presence who averaged 2.0 SPG last season. His active hands and tenacity are always on display with this determined and unrelenting junior out of the Ridge &amp; Valley conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6'4" junior from Saint Croix Central, [player_tooltip player_id='1561922' first='Matyas' last='Larson'] used his length effectively last season, averaging 1.7 steals and 0.6 BPG. Larson's size and agility make him a dual threat on defense, capable of pressuring guards and contesting shots inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6'7”, you would think the big number for [player_tooltip player_id='2641954' first='Caden' last='Matheny'], would be in the BPG column. While he had success in that area, logging 0.5 BPG, the junior big man from Grantsburg also used his length to disrupt offenses on the way to 0.7 SPG as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2634917' first='Malachi' last='McCauley'], a 6'0" guard from Kickapoo, is another versatile defensive threat. As a sophomore, McCauley averaged 2.3 SPG and protected the rim with 0.7 BPG, demonstrating his capacity to defend in a variety of situations and impact the game on both the perimeter and in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2501099' first='Nick' last='Stellrecht'], junior forward from New Richmond in the Big Rivers Conference, showed solid defensive instincts and ability in turning opponents over for 1.4 SPG. At a solid 6'4” he also contested his fair share of shots and registered 0.3 BPG.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Lakeland-West Conference, Turtle Lake's Brody Tarman, at 6'0", averaged 2.2 SPG as a freshman. He enters his sophomore season looking to bolster that number as well as the 0.3 BPG he registered last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These underclassmen are poised to shape their teams' defensive identities this season, with their mix of steals, blocks, and overall defensive tenacity. Keep an eye on these high impact players as they continue to develop and impact games on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->