Summer’s Best: Best Guard Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our scouts wanted to take the time to reflect back on some standout players outside of the top-40 to show some love to some of the top performers that might not always get the publicity that they deserve with their play. We'll cover top defenders, best playmakers, elite scorers, hottest shooters, and more! Today, let's start with some of the better guard defenders in the area. Let's dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2252281"],"_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-688e69ab0b0c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><br>-The son of a former long-time college coach— Lonergan is not a physically-dominant athlete but really understands defensive positioning and how to shade his defender to help. Love the way that he forces dribble pick-ups both on or off the ball by timing his stunts well. Lonergan provides good contests without fouling but also has active hands to poke out steals or block a shot before it gets above his matchup's hips. He understands rotations and regularly puts his body on the line to draw charges that shift the momentum of games and sideline an opponent's best player. The moxie and competitiveness that he plays with are only bonuses to the value that he brings at the defensive end of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1963387"],"_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-688e69ab0b142"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Few point guards in the area are better defensively than Lawson as he provides voracious POA defense for both his AAU and HS team. His ability to ride his matchup across the floor without being whistled for a foul and force his matchup towards the halfcourt line disrupts his matchup's offensive flow and forces them to play against a short shot clock. Lawson also has the quickness and leaping ability to block a surprising amount of shots both on or off the ball and he has a nose for the basketball, kick-starting transition possessions with a defensive rebound. The physicality he applies is really disruptive in bumping his matchup off of their driving lines and forces them to pass out to the perimeter or dribble it back out to reset the possession. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2148719"],"_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-688e69ab0b195"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-The quickness, speed, and tenacity that Polk plays with at both ends of the floor makes him a valuable asset to every team that he is a part of. Polk can race back in transition to get back in the play, cuts off driving angles to the rim with stunts, and plays passing lanes well to generate turnovers for his team. He covers a ton of distance on his closeouts despite his size and has a really quick set of hands to poke out steals or rip away dribbles if his matchup puts the ball in front of him. His willingness to take charges and switch onto wings/forwards to three quarter front to deter a post entry makes him a valuable piece. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2886450"],"_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-688e69ab0b1da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Have come away impressed by Williams' defensive intensity and versatility as a ball-hawking guard that really takes pride in forcing defensive stops. He plays with a ton of speed and has the lateral quickness to stay in front of anybody because of his ability to force his way over screens both on or off the ball. He often lets his matchup think they have the step on him before covering ground with a wide gather to explode towards the rim and pin a block on the backboard. Love the way that he rotates to open shooters to force them to put the ball on the floor and he's not afraid to mix it up in the paint for rebounds. Should be a huge asset for a deep Whitman team this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2453731"],"_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-688e69ab0b237"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Love Lee's utility as a guard with good size that can slide up or down a position depending on lineups to give his team some versatility on the defensive end of the floor. He's got the strength and frame to guard 1-3 will being switchable on the perimeter as a rangy combo guard. His digs down to the post and double teams on the perimeter are effective without getting him into foul trouble because of how he traces the ball with his hands. Want to see him communicate loud and often as a senior leader that will really depend on his voice to direct traffic whether he is on the back line or communicating ball screens above the break. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1588138"],"_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-688e69ab0b283"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Taylor is an uber-physical defender that Pallotti uses to guard 1-3 within their defensive schemes. He's a really good shot-blocker both on and off the ball because of how he anticipates his matchup's movements and stays disciplined on ball fakes both on the perimeter and in the paint. Taylor takes pride in being really hard to screen and takes his matchups personally with the area's best guards, staying disciplined to force them into turnovers or tough shots without fouling. Always come away impressed with how quickly his mind sorts through the chaos of beating his matchup to a 50/50 ball or coming out of the other side of a scrum with the rock.  Have come away impressed with his year-to-year development in channeling his emotions in a positive way to give himself a turbo boost throughout games.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->