SD Lockdown D 2.0

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is PHD's second take on Lockdown Defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>What wins games and championships?&nbsp;DEFENSE!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"100"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:100">We are highlighting <strong>13 </strong>South Dakota Lockdown Defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"200"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:200"><span style="text-decoration: underline">What makes a Lockdown Defender?</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"100"}},"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:100">Great anticipation, quick feet, extra hustle, lateral movement, understanding angles, altering/blocking/contesting shots, ubiquitous NRG, killer closeouts, helping the helper, bumping cutters, blue-collar work, quickness, athleticism, communication, grit, persistence, taking charges, effort, committing smart fouls, physicality, strength, length, heart, toughness communicating, unselfishness, clean footwork, awareness, sharp reactions, mental toughness, and many more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>See below for comments/info and the SoDak defenders.<a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg"></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2725434,"width":"267px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2725434" style="width:267px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1907971' first='Anthony' last='Steele'] (2026) |6'2 G| Pine Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He can guard any position, 1-5. Steele is a smart Defender, the Thorpes best on-the-ball Defender guards the fastest player, and half of the time he has the best player on the floor. Last year he had the 2nd most steals in the state, this year I believe he's 4th in the whole state of South Dakota. Anthony is ferocious and a pest on the ball, he also plays good help-side D. Steel is the Thorpes defensive leader. He talks his game, has a high IQ, defends a top player every game, has active hands, plays good help, is disciplined with rotations, leads by example, and never asks a teammate to do something he wouldn't do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2238342' first='Ayden' last='Petz'] (2025) |6'0 G| Custer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ayden is extremely aggressive when guarding the ball.&nbsp;He might not be the best athlete but his knowledge of the game helps him cause havoc.&nbsp;Twice this season, he has forced the opposing team's main ball handler into double-digit turnovers! Petz has a way of disrupting the opposing team's offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273112' first='Boston' last='Katzer'] (2025) |6'3 G| Lennox</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Katzer is a multifaceted defender, he can guard 1-4. Boston's versatility, strength, and athleticism enable him to defend most all positions and do it well. He does not get beat 1 on 1 ever! Katzer takes pride in stopping his man and getting stops on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1972178' first='Brady' last='Virtue'] (2026) |6'3 G| Custer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brady has both the size and athleticism to guard just about any position on the floor. He takes pride in his defense and takes it personally when someone scores against him. He is willing and accepts the challenge of guarding the opponent's top scorer night in and night out.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brock Hinker (2025) |6'4 F| Corsica-Stickney</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brock is the Jaguars best defender. Regardless of position, he is tasked with guarding the best offensive player on the other team. He does a good job of using his quickness to keep the offensive player in front. Brock is able to provide some space because of his length and is still able to contest shots and disrupt the dribble of the offense. He has a very good instinct of plays and reading/jumping passes. Hinker's jumping ability and pursuit of the basketball allows him to finish possessions off with rebounds, before getting it to the Jag guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2275483' first='Dawson' last='Handcock'] (2026) |6'3 G| Wall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Versatile athlete who can defend positions 1-5. He plays defense with his heart. Handcock is long and agile, and he makes every shot difficult for the opponents. Dawson is typically the Eagles lockdown defender. If Wall needs to shut somebody down, Handcock gets that assignment, and he takes pride in that role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2311913' first='Emmet' last='Dinger'] (2026) |6'2 G/F| Wall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A well-rounded defender who matches up with anyone 1-5 when needed. He takes pride in his defense. Emmet is undersized and usually has to guard the opposing 5 but he does a great job. Emmet has a high basketball IQ and understands proper position, he forces difficult shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545637' first='Jackson' last='Wadsworth'] (2026) |6'3 G| Hamlin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is a lockdown defender who is versatile and strong enough to guard 1-4. You will not find a harder worker, Wadsworth is as tough as they come. He moves his feet well, is strong, full of grit, and is a smart player on both ends of the court. Jackson is a gamer and a playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1384718' first='Marvin' last='Richard III'] (2026) |6'3 G| Pine Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a positionless defense player, MR3 can guard 1-5. Marvin has had to guard out of position this year cause of the Thorpes lack of size, he's top 5 in the state for steals last year and the lead Pine Ridge in blocked shots. MR3 is very smart and he plays the passing lanes well. He is a physical rebounder and battles with the trees in the paint. Marvin is strong, he has the guard the opposition's best post presence. He talks his game, has a high IQ, defends a top player every game, has active hands, plays good help, is disciplined with rotations, leads by example, and never asks a teammate to do something he wouldn't do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1641163' first='Teegan' last='Musser'] (2026) |6'5 F| Lennox</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>WHY?</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He defends positions 1-5. Teegan is an effective and intriguing defender because he can guard every position on the floor. His athleticism and length make him really hard to score on. Teegan alters a ton of shots when he is guarding a 5 man and also stays in front of players really well when he is guarding perimeter players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2126219' first='Teelan' last='Kjerstad'] (2027) |6'2 G| Wall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">WHY?</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An impressive athlete who can lock up any position on the floor. He takes pride in his defense. Kjerstad is long and agile, he makes every shot difficult for the opposition. Teelan is a ball-hound and seems to always come with multiple steals per game.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyce Feistner (2026) |5'8 G| Mt. Vernon-Plankinton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>WHY?</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is MVP's best defender. Tyce is a point guard who typically guards the opposing point and shooting guards. Feistner has very active hands in the passing lanes with 13 deflections on the year. Tyce is also very active on the ball with 13 steals on the year. He can be described as a "bulldog" when it comes to on-ball defense, by bullying the opposing player with physical defense.&nbsp;Feistner has the ability to lock down opposing players 1 on 1 while making the overall Titan defense more successful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2527947' first='Younger' last='Amiotte'] (2026) |6'0 F| Wall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>WHY?</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A flexible defender who can guard any position. He takes pride in his defense. Younger is extremely quick and physical. Amiotte makes life miserable for anyone that he guards. He uses his physicality and relentless pestering to slow down the Wall opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2725434,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2725434" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->