Two-Way Players to Get on Your Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been seeing more and more student athletes focusing on defense lately and it's such a welcome transition. When an athlete figures out that it's not all about scoring early and becomes a two-way menace to the opposition, coaches and scouts notice. Below are a handful of two-way beasts on the hardwood that make significant impacts night in and night out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2637153"],"_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":3430035,"_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-69725452aaf79"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Airen is a quick, versatile forward with impressive verticality that can make a positive impact for his team in so many different areas. He's an absolute menace on the fast break and his defenders basically need to play him perfectly in those situations to avoid getting dunked on and picking up a foul at the same time. He can defend the paint incredibly effectively - he's not the longest forward you'll come across, but his vertical ability allows him to consistently stifle opponents that may even be bigger than him. He's automatic when it comes to boards on both ends and gets his team second and third-chance opportunities regularly. He's also one of the best players I've seen timing-wise on defense when it comes to blocking shots - he never falls for pump fakes and always has the ability to place himself in perfect position to send his opponent's shot soaring the other direction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2824226"],"_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-69727e6a3c5e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rich is a high-IQ, crafty combo guard and I'm so impressed with his performances every time I see him play. He knows how to fill up the entire stat sheet quickly and he's not afraid to take on anyone or any play. He'll dive for loose balls on one possession, set perfect picks the next, and follow that by dizzying his defender with his impressive ballhandling skills after stealing the ball from him. His vision is off the charts when it comes to picking off opposing passing lanes and it's become more and more of a regularity for him. He's also active on the glass offensively and defensively and he can go on a hot streak and torch his defenders from beyond the arc. He has one of the more impressive floaters I've seen in the lane with a shooting touch that often times can't be denied. Guerra is a player that many coaches should covet because of the incredible impact he makes on both ends of the floor. </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":3430461,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jayce Cardenas","_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":"5'10u0022","_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":"Plainview","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69728048bd7bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jayce is a sharpshooting, clever combo guard that knows how to pick his spots wisely and annihilate his opponents beyond the three-point line. He has some of the quickest, most effective hands I've seen on defense in recent months, consistently racking up several steals every single game. He knows exactly how to spot a lazy or ineffective ballhandler and he bites immediately without fouling. He also regularly sets up his teammates with fantastic looks with his pinpoint passing ability. He's not a long guard, but he still picks off opposing passes frequently because of his amazing vision and anticipation. Cardenas is just getting started with his high school career, and I can't wait to see all the heads he turns with his special abilities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2816987"],"_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-69728048bd83a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cannon is a smart, versatile player with a tremendous ability to stretch the floor and set up his teammates with high-percentage opportunities. He holds no fear at all when it comes to pressure situations or taking charges to rack up extra possessions for his squad. He has an impressive ability to always stay in front of his man on defense and make them incredibly uncomfortable on a frequent basis. He's physical in the best ways on both ends of the floor and he can read opposing passing lanes like books. His stamina is impressive - never seems out of gas on either end of the court. He's also smart when it comes to positioning himself for rebounds on both ends. Calderon can make a quick impact, and he never takes a play off - he should be well sought after by coaches looking for a difference-maker.</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":3430499,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2795175' first='Julius' last='Johnson']","_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":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bridgeport","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6972847c71430"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Julius is a physical, tough point guard that will rack up bucket after bucket while requesting to take on the opposition's best player defensively. He has great hands and knows how to time a steal just right where he's rarely called for a foul and gaining more and more possessions for his team. He's not afraid of any player or situation and it shows on both ends of the floor. His confidence is in a tremendous spot for such a young player. He regularly gets his defenders off-balance with his elite ballhandling ability, and this opens up generous lanes for him to attack and score or set up his teammate with a guaranteed hoop. He has a nice touch on his shot and impressive range - it's easy to see why he's the top scorer for his squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->