Summer Recap: Best Defensive Prospects
A shortened summer season turned out impressive defensive performances from DFW’s hottest prospects. The players on this list are building strong personas on that end of the court. Their physical traits, potential, and production give them a right to the…
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Continue ReadingA shortened summer season turned out impressive defensive performances from DFW’s hottest prospects. The players on this list are building strong personas on that end of the court. Their physical traits, potential, and production give them a right to the top of any defensive prospects list for their respective class.
Jordan Walsh Jordan Walsh 6'7" | SF Link Academy | 2022 #31 Nation MO
Length and explosive athleticism guide Walsh’s path to being the best perimeter defensive prospect in Texas. He fed off passing lanes for three months, turning turnovers into points on the break. A strong upper body helps Walsh ward off slashers to the rim. The 6-7 forward shrinks the basket when tasked to rotate as a rim protector.
Jakobe Walters
In the absence of Ronald Holland Ronald Holland 6'9" | PF Duncanville | 2023 TX early in his summer season with Drive Nation, Walters anchored one of the best defenses in 15U. A plus wingspan, defensive IQ, and functional athleticism give him everything he needed to sit in the post as an undersized 4 and slide his feet on the perimeter. Now at 6-6 when Walters sits down on defense, his size is overwhelming for guards and practical size for a high level wing prospect.
Dok Muordar
You can’t teach being 7 foot or coordination and Muordar has both in spades. The 2022 prospect has an enormous standing reach that helps him set an agile wall in the paint. Muordar clears shots at the rim with timing and a massive wingspan. The South Sudan transplant also shows his wheels when closing the distance in the paint or the open court.
KJ Lewis
Lewis shrouded passing lanes at The Circuit II. The sophomore looks more like a free safety on the less glamorous end of the court, not just in play but stature. His mature frame allows him to play a physical brand of defense while making plays around the perimeter.
Cameron Barnes Cameron Barnes 6'10" | C Duncanville | 2023 State #128 Nation TX
When healthy Barnes is considered a top 10 recruit regardless of class in Texas. His combination of length and quickness at 6-10 gives him one of the best physical toolboxes on the defensive end. In his Who Want The Smoke run with Texas Pro there were obvious improvements in his defensive awareness allowing him to showcase rim protection and the ability to defend perimeter players in space. His ability to close space on close outs and switches highlights his quickness.
Montez Young
Young’s game at 6-5 screams defensive impact. A rangy defender with unlimited energy and the athleticism to carol quick guards and big wings alike. He has the lateral quickness to cut off driving lanes and vertical pop to deter at the rim as a weak side helper. The versatility this senior showed at GASO’s will be on display the entire year in Waxahachie, a club that could really use an energized Swiss Army knife.
Cason Wallace Cason Wallace 6'4" | CG Richardson | 2022 State #6 Nation TX
Two way play drove Wallace’s ascension to the top 20. At 6-4 he continues to prove that he can guard all three perimeter positions, matching up strength with bigger wings and quickness with smaller guards. He has long arms, great anticipation in passing lanes, the toughness to step over and take a charge. Blocks and steals are just a reminder of the ward Wallace has been on this summer.