Twin Cities Takedown: Top 15U Defenders At Armstrong

The Twin Cities Takedown was packed full of elite defenders. Many prospects showed their special defensive impact and hustle, locking down opponents and making winning plays. Let's get right into the top 15U performers in the Twin Cities Takedown at Armstrong High School.    Trameil White was one of the most stifling defenders I saw play at the Twin Cities Takedown event. For starters, he blocked heaps of shots in the game I watched him play. He was absolutely elite as a help-side rim protector. His defensive awareness and recognition were second to none. He was always in position to make plays, and when his teammates would be beaten off the dribble, he wasted no time rotating over to help. Even with him flying over to help, he rarely fouled and used his length, strength, and vertical athleticism to send shots back routinely. He made shots extremely difficult around the rim and snatch-blocked an opponent on one occasion. His hustle was also endless; he played with nonstop energy and chased down an opponent on the fast break and pinned his shot on the glass. However, he did much more than block shots on the defensive end. Using his solid frame and fluid footwork, he locked up on the perimeter. He slid his feet with precision and allowed no penetration. And even with his amazing defensive impact, he added a great impact on offense as well. He hit a three off the catch, drew fouls in the post, got many rebounds, and showed off great playmaking instincts.     [player_tooltip player_id='2821413' first='Cayden' last='Dennison'] provided elite rim protection at the Twin Cities Takedown event. His size combined with his fluidity made him an immensely impactful defender. He made shots insanely difficult around the cup. He roamed the paint and stayed straight up on contests, making good angles for layups very hard to come by for the other team. His discipline as a defender was beyond his years. However, he was still able to block many shots in the game I watched. His physicality often knocked opponents off balance, which allowed him to block these shots and protect the rim; because of his impact, opposing scorers had to avoid the paint. He was great on the perimeter as well. His footwork allowed him to be impactful defending the pick and roll. And he showed himself to be pretty switchable onto smaller players. And he was great at attacking and recovering as a help defender, while also limiting the opposing team to one-shot possessions with his rebounding ability. Adding to his defensive impact, he was special as a three-point shooter, and he displayed speed and touch as a driver.     [player_tooltip player_id='3605077' first='Jermond' last='Wiah'] was the definition of versatile as a defender. His freakish length, combined with his foot speed, anticipation, and vertical athleticism, made him a nightmare for opposing scorers. Using his long arms and quickness, he intercepted many passes in the passing lanes. You could not throw a weak pass if he was in the vicinity. He would read your eyes and shoot the gap with ease for a steal. He has great defensive feel, and he was always in great position to switch, rotate, or help, causing many issues for the opposing offense. His awareness defensively allowed him to block shots as well. He would read when opponents were going up for shots and use his physical tools to send those shot attempts right back. All of the physical tools I have touched on are what made him so versatile. He could switch and bother pretty much every player on the floor with his length and athletic abilities. He also offered impressive finishes, stretching out through defenders at the rim, while also collecting many rebounds on both sides of the glass. He was great at gaining position inside, and he converted multiple putbacks.     Micah Behnke played with endless energy and hustle. He was elite as a help defender and rim protector, even as a wing. He was great at rotating over to protect the paint, and he was elite at staying vertical, not fouling, and making shots extremely tough for opponents. He blocked many shots around the rim with his length and athletic abilities. His solid frame allowed him to absorb contact at the rim and block shots with his length. He blocked shot after shot, and his nonstop hustle pretty much kept his team in the game. His hustle also translated to rebounding, where he got many putbacks and also protected the defensive glass with authority. He also hit many tough, contested layups, and he displayed fluid footwork and the ability to hit one-legged fadeaways in the post.     Seth Kroska's impact was defined by blocked shots. He blocked shots pretty much everywhere on the court. His anticipation and constant activity allowed him to rack up many blocks. He was great as a help-side rim protector. He sent shots back routinely at the cup and made life very difficult for paint scorers, both on and off the ball. He was also elite on the perimeter. He moved his feet very well and had a keen ability for timing when opponents would go up for shots for blocks. He blocked many jump shots, which makes his defensive impact very unique, as no shot is safe from his length, both inside and out. He also hit threes and drew many fouls.

The Twin Cities Takedown was packed full of elite defenders. Many prospects showed their special defensive impact and hustle, locking down opponents and making winning plays. Let's get right into the top 15U performers in the Twin Cities Takedown at Armstrong High School.