The Stage 2026: Defenders and Post Players 14U

The athletes on this list are being recognized as the best low post players and defenders throughout the tournament.    Clint was a big-time presence in the paint on both offense and defense. He dominated in the post with a variety of moves. Clint always had a mis-match in Saturday morning's game. He took full advantage by using a host of pump fakes, floaters, turn around jump-shots and great footwork. He also dominated the glass with double-digit rebounds. A majority of his offensive boards led to easy put-backs around the basket. The defensive rebounds he grabbed often led to outlet passes that started fast-break opportunities. There was a moment in the game when Clint extended his range outside the paint by knocking down numerous shots on the perimeter. Defensively, Clint blocked multiple shots and protected the paint from opposing players attempting to attack the basket. Clint is a skilled big man who will continue to improve in the coming years.     Carlos was one of the best all around guards in his age group. He has great ball handling skills to beat defenders to the basket. Carlos was most effective on the wing of the court. Whether it was scoring in the paint or converting a mid-range pull up, it all started with his quick first step. Whenever the opportunity was there to take a three, Carlos knocked it down. He showed his toughness by attacking the glass, despite being smaller than some opposing players. It was all about who wanted it more! Carlos plays the game like he wants to succeed on both sides of the court. Defensively, his on ball pressure led to him scoring baskets in transition. His constant poking and timing allowed him to play the passing lanes and generate steals. Carlos is a great all-around player who could be a viable threat on offense or defense as he continues to mature.      Jaedon showed his prowess as a scorer/defender Sunday mourning. He was great at driving by defenders and getting to the basket. Sometimes he was able to score through contact which led to three-point play opportunities. Jaedon calmly stepped to the line and completed the play on most occasions. He's also a high level rebounder who battled opposing players in the paint. Some rebounds led to second chance scoring attempts for his teammates. Others led to easy put-backs around the basket for himself. Jaedon was one of the best rebounding guards on the basketball court. When there were opportunities to knock down shots on the perimeter, he didn't hesitate to do so. On defense, he's a scrappy player who excelled at clogging up the space of opposing ball handlers. His pressure led to him forcing multiple turnovers. Jaedon finished the game with three steals and a block shot. As he continues to grow and mature, Jaedon shows all the traits of being a great two guard in the near future.      Austin is what I call a “glue guy.” He's a great rebounder who didn't mind doing all the dirty work needed to help Legacy Ice Gold 8th win games. Austin effectively set solid screens that freed up his teammates for high percentage shots. He's a hard working player who hustled whenever he was on the court. Austin was great at grabbing rebounds and scoring around the basket. He also excelled on the defensive end of the floor. Austin dominated on defense by turning away [program_tooltip program_id='3587267' first='Indiana' last='Impact'] 14U players when they attacked the paint. He's an athletic player who runs the court, finishes strong at the rim and knocks down free-throws.There were multiple occasions when he scored through contact and completed three-point play opportunities. His great timing and footwork allowed him to finish the game with 4 blocks and multiple steals. Once Austin develops more skills on offense, he'll become a special player in the coming years.      I enjoyed watching Jackson play over the weekend. He showed great skills at the point guard spot. Jackson's an excellent ball handler who easily beat opponents off the dribble and made plays. He had a knack for attacking the paint and drawing in defensive players. This led to him scoring or dishing out assists to other Rock Summit Basketball 14U teammates. His shot of choice was the floater down the lane. I watched him make this shot countless times. He's a decent shooter who has a nice step-back jump-shot. Jackson is also a flashy passer who had no problems finding teammates for high percentage shots. Defensively, he was a terror for the opposition. His ball pressure was fierce! Jackson forced multiple turnovers and made ball handling difficult for opposing guards. Jackson is a skilled guard who should easily adjust to the level of play high school has to offer.     I fell in love with this young man's game Sunday afternoon. Brock was the smallest player on the floor, who happened to be the toughest. He's an excellent scorer who always looked to put pressure on the [program_tooltip program_id='2076166' first='Grand' last='Park Premier'] 2030 Black team. Brock was instantly in “attack mode” as soon as he stepped off the bench. Whether it was beating defenders off the dribble, scoring floaters in the paint or knocking down threes, Brock played with no fear. As the game went on, he began to mix in some passing with his scoring output. The majority of his assists led to easy scores for his Rock Summit Basketball teammates. Defensively, he plays hard despite his size. He was great at generating steals by timing and jumping passing lanes. Brock is a fierce little guard who'll continue to be a valuable player for the Rock Summit Basketball program.

The athletes on this list are being recognized as the best low post players and defenders throughout the tournament.