Boiling Springs Play Day: Active Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's June! The Scholastic Period has begun, meaning prospects across the Palmetto State are back with their High School programs for the next 30 days competing in various camps and events. Today I was in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, for the Bulldogs' Play Day which featured Boiling Springs, Byrnes, Gaffney, Hillcrest, TL Hanna, and Westside. Because I had already seen a few of these teams play before, I went into the day wanting to focus my eyes on the defensive end of the floor. These six prospects stood out with their activity and ability to make an opponent's life difficult:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2861516"],"_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":2879599,"_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-68478b2a7433d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">First up on my list of Active Defenders from the Boiling Springs Play Day is [player_tooltip player_id='2861516' first='Tyvion' last='Hall']. He is a strong and physical point-of-attack defender, capable of using his physical prowess to make life difficult for opposing ball handlers. Hall forced a pair of turnovers in Game Two by simply moving his feet and not allowing his man to be calm on the ball. Tyvion also drew a charge when guarding a big man in the paint. Game One was his better offensive game, going for 25 points with 2 3PM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2879609"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68478b2a743a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Luke is another Boiling Springs Bulldog who put in work on the defensive end of the floor. Although he worked hard to contain the ball and contest shots, Underwood caught my eye with his activity off of the ball. He did a good job denying passing lanes, rotated into the correct spots, and communicated with his teammates. Luke had a nice poke steal in Game One and was great in transitions in both games. Underwood can play either backcourt position on the offensive end with his perimeter shooting (3 total 3PM) and passing ability (7 total assists).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2879606"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68478b2a743f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Next up is [player_tooltip player_id='2879606' first='Braylon' last='Givens']. Givens was a pleasant surprise with his plays for the short-handed Gaffney Indians but is a guy who they will count on for two-way production this season. Braylon is the best rim protector in this list, doing so as a primary defender and as a roving big. He also did a better job of controlling the defensive glass as the game went on, using his size to catch missed shots before anyone else could. Braylon also had a nice game on the perimeter with four made threes. He put up 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a loss to Hillcrest.</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"CJ Buford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hillcrest","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-68478b2a74495"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Buford is back with the Hillcrest program after not playing High School Basketball in 2024-25. CJ is now an extremely important piece of the Rams' puzzle and helps make them click on the defensive end. Hillcrest is a small unit, but Buford plays bigger than his listed size because of his athleticism. He is also crucial to their full-court press, which was used frequently in Columbia on Friday and in Boiling Springs today. I don't normally keep deflections on my stat sheet, but today I did and CJ tallied five of them in the second half to go with 13 points and 4 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2573137"],"_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":2879640,"_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-68478b2a744f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams will likely be the glue that holds this TL Hanna unit together in the Regular Season. He works extremely hard on the defensive end of the floor in each and every game. He will guard the ball with long arms and fast feet, contest perimeter shots, and most importantly - fight for loose balls. Jamijay is another player who stood out in the deflection category, racking up five of them in the win over the home team. Williams is also an unselfish offensive player, capable of making the right pass on drives and spotting up with made threes in the corners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2550966"],"_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":2879603,"_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-68478b2a7454c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2550966' first='Jonovan' last='Webb'] rounds out my list of Active Defenders from Monday in Boiling Springs. The Rams through a variety of looks at their opponents in Game One working on their base man-to-man, 2-3 zone, and full-court presses. Jonovan is a key part of this because of his experience in the system and his knowledge of the game. Webb will often take away an opponent's first move with his IQ, forcing them into a less comfortable look. He is also active in denial and has quick hands to strip the ball. Jonovan's offensive game is built around his ability to pull up off the dribble and change pace in penetration.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->