Prep Hoops Passion Region Finals Top Defenders

<p>The following players made their mark on the defensive end at the Passion Regions Finals in Cartersville Georgia. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1055741" first="Tyson" last="Wilson"]</strong> 5’10 165 PG, Athletes of Influence c/o 2024</p> <p>Tyson is a versatile point guard with plenty of upside. He plays with a relaxed demeanor but do not let that fool you…kid is a killer. Tyson has a nice shot from three and is an amazing finisher at the rim with a soft touch and good body control. His most impressive attribute may be his defensive instincts. He is a complete thief on the defensive end causing several live-ball turnovers and easy breakaway layups. He also made an eye-popping block where he got up and blocked an opposing big at the rim preventing an almost guaranteed layup.</p> <p><strong>Hayden Shedrick</strong> 6’3 175 SF, Tri-City Elite c/o 2024</p> <p>Hayden is a high-motor, gritty player that takes defending seriously and plays with passion. He has active hands and played some of the best help defense I saw all weekend. He slides his feet well, keeps his hands high, and consistently beat his man to the spot shutting down both driving and passing lanes. His effort helped his team overcome a 12-point deficit and pull out a great win Sunday morning.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="966153" first="Cameron" last="Williams"]</strong> 6’5/225 SF, Auburn raptors c/o 2022 (pictured right)</p> <p>Picture Draymond Green when you see Cameron play. He’s the defensive leader on a stacked Auburn raptors squad, always talking, getting his teammates in the right position and beating his own man to their spots, and thus stalling opposing offensive sets. Cameron plays with unbelievable grit, diving for loose balls and simply out-hustling bigger more athletic opponents. He’s a huge reason his team took home the title this weekend</p> <p><strong>Cam Whitfield</strong> 6’1/170 PG, Auburn Raptors c/o 2022 (pictured left)</p> <p>Nothing comes easy for opponents when Cam is on the floor. Cam is fast…really fast and opponents learned early, its best to just pass the ball because getting past Cam is simply not an option when he’s locked in. When you combine hustle, speed athleticism, and smarts with a guy that’s willing to give his all on the defensive end, you get an elite defender. That’s exactly what Cam is and was a huge reason his team was able to erase a 19-point deficit and pull out an impressive win in tournament play.</p> <p><strong>Demarcus Lacey</strong> 6’1 PG, Iron City Huskies c/o 2022</p> <p>Pound for pound the strongest player in the gym. Demarcus has next-level speed and quickness and invites contact at the rim. He uses his chiseled frame to bounce off defenders and finish strong. He lived at the free-throw line and shot a nice percentage at the charity stripe which was a big reason he averaged almost 20 points a game this weekend. He may have been the best perimeter defender all weekend. Players just could not get past his strength and speed on the perimeter.</p> <p><strong>Chaydon Stone</strong> 6’4 CG, JC Ducks c/o 2022</p> <p>A combo guard with plenty of skill and athleticism. He takes the ball to the basket HARD and can get above the rim at will. He also flashed a nice shot from mid-range and three.  Chaydon also takes defending seriously, showing good ability to slide his feet, play passing lane, and is a beast on the boards. He had double-digit points and rebounds in every game I saw him play.</p> <p><strong>Jamari Payne</strong> 6’3/215 PF, Auburn Raptors c/o 2024</p> <p>Jamari is a charismatic leader with all the intangibles college coaches looks for in a player. He has the skill and strength to be a dominant scorer in the post, but he consistently used his positioning and elite court vision to put his teammates in a position to score. On the defensive end, he was immovable. He refused to allow post players to establish any level of comfort and his communication with his teammates was superb. He caused several turnovers and disrupted opposing teams all weekend with his smarts and activity on the defensive end of the floor. He’s just a playmaker and when he drew double teams, he found open teammates and made plays all weekend. He has amazing touch around the basket, a nice handle, and all the skills to make him a good point forward prospect at the next level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1176651" first="Jackson" last="Solide"] </strong>6’0/180 SG, Florida Suns (blue) c/o 2023</p> <p>Jackson was the catalyst on a Florida Suns defense that locked opposing squads down all weekend. He showed his versatility by sliding his feet and putting the "clamps" on positions 1-4. Jackson is also a tenacious rebounder. He got to every loose ball, sacrificing his body for extra possessions for his team on a regular basis. This kid has a motor that is non-stop. Every good team has or is looking for a player like Jackson.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>