Lockdown D in NoDak

It's time to look at top defenders from North Dakota!   What wins games and championships? DEFENSE!   What makes a Lockdown Defender?   Great anticipation, quick feet, extra hustle, lateral movement, understanding angles, altering/blocking/contesting shots, ubiquitous NRG, killer closeouts, helping the helper, bumping cutters, blue-collar work, quickness, athleticism, communication, grit, persistence, taking charges, effort, committing smart fouls, physicality, strength, length, heart, toughness communicating, unselfishness, clean footwork, awareness, sharp reactions, mental toughness, and many more.   PHD is highlighting 21 ND Lockdown Defenders. See below for comments/info and the NoDak defenders.<a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg"></a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2725434" style="width:274px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='2713019' first='Aden' last='Nojang'] (2025) |6'0 G| Fargo North   WHY?   Nojang is Norths lockdown defender this year. He just held Klabo from Davies to 22 points (9 under his average ppg). This Spartan can flat-out fly around out there on the court. He has super quick twitch muscles that make him an on-ball nightmare for opposing players. Aden is always guarding the best-scoring players on the opposing teams. Nojang has a motor that doesn't stop and thrives to play defense. Aden is a phenomenal rebounder at the guard position as well. He leads the EDC in rebounding at 9.8 rpg!   [player_tooltip player_id='1680906' first='Aiden' last='Green'] (2027) |6'1 G| Horace   WHY?   AG is an ace defender who typically defends the other team's best player/guard. Green does not need much help from others, he keeps everything in front of him. This kid is quick and fleet-footed. AG's speed is impressive in transition. When playing D, AG can keep up with any guard in the EDC.   [player_tooltip player_id='2376728' first='Andrew' last='Eby'] (2025) |6'4 C ORCS   WHY?   He has missed time with an injury but Eby is elite on the defensive end. He is long, strong, and has an athletic build. He can guard all 5 positions on the floor. When healthy, Eby is one of the top defenders in class B basketball.   [player_tooltip player_id='2417308' first='Andrew' last='Ziemer'] (2028) |6'0 G| Central Cass   WHY?   This young Squirrel does a nice job defending all of the guard positions for coach Norman's squad. Ziemer has great hands and instincts with solid athleticism to boot. Andrew, as a freshman, is a leader in both steals and deflections for Central Cass!    [player_tooltip player_id='1355919' first='Bennett' last='Larson'] (2026) |6'7 C| Stanley   WHY?   One of the top defenders in class A Region 3 because of his size/length, effort, physicality, and non-stop motor. Bennett is a great communicator and he reads the game well. Larson is aggressive and is not afraid to switch onto guards, which will usually cause problems for opposing teams within a short rotation. Bennett is a rim/paint protector and he cleans up the glass.   [player_tooltip player_id='1531966' first='Bjorn' last='Kubela'] (2025) |6'3 G| Wahpeton   WHY?   Bjorn plays the point on the Huskie fullcourt and half-court traps. His length lets him get into passing lanes and he gets a lot of deflections. Kubela will guard anyone from a point guard to a post player. He is quick enough to cause problems for a point guard and he is long enough to disrupt post-passing. Bjorn has a good understanding of the game and understanding of the Huskie defensive principles which puts him in the correct position. Kubela is also a good help-side defender and a productive rebounder.   [player_tooltip player_id='1800672' first='Brayden' last='Delorme'] (2026) |5'11 G| Grand Forks Central   WHY?   He is a clever, smart, and mobile athlete. Delorme typically defends the opposing team's 2nd best scoring option. Brayden has excellent anticipation, great hands, and top-notch positioning. He certainly knows his way around the basketball court. Brayden makes the hustle/effort plays and he is a resilient baller for the Knights.   [player_tooltip player_id='1651918' first='Brett' last='Livingston'] (2027) |6'5 PF| Horace   WHY?   He is full of versatility, Livingston can switch and guard any position 1-5. The Hawks are ranked #5 in class A and they would not be there without Livingston's frontcourt defense. Brett is an exceptional shot blocker and rim protector, he leads the EDC in blocks as a 10th grader! Livingston talks everything out on defense. He is the Hawks best communicator, Brett is years ahead of his time when it comes to talking his game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2124113' first='Cody' last='Amble'] (2025) |6'3 G| Langdon   WHY?   Amble can guard 1-5 if need be, he is always matched up on other team's best player. Cody has great length, strength, and speed to make things difficult. He blocks a lot of shots with his length/athleticism, out jumps most for boards, his motor never stops on the defensive side of the ball, does not shy away from tough matchups, and has outstanding instincts defensively.   [player_tooltip player_id='1497485' first='Cole' last='Wilber'] (2025) |5'10 G| Grand Forks Central   WHY?   He is a smart, athletic, and competitive player. Wilber will do whatever the Knights need from him on defense. He typically takes the opposing team's top scorer. [player_tooltip player_id='1497485' first='Cole' last='Wilber'] anticipates well, has exceptional positioning, and is a tough kid. Cole has great team defensive awareness and is willing to make the dirty play when needed.    [player_tooltip player_id='2608335' first='Derek' last='Heinert'] (2026) |6'2 SF| Nedrose   WHY?   He is the top defender for the Cardinals. Heinert is good at helping and fixing situations in help-side defense and is an effective rim/paint protector. Derek is averaging two blocks per game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1716899' first='Drake' last='Schlosser'] (2025) |6'3 G| Stanley   WHY?   A great overall defender, if not the best in Region 3. [player_tooltip player_id='1716899' first='Drake' last='Schlosser'] makes it hard on anyone, he gets the assignment and gets the job done on a nightly basis. Drake is a high-effort baller and has the athleticism to go with it. Schlosser enjoys defending probably almost as much as he likes scoring. The NDSU football commit is a star athetle and a lockdown defender.   [player_tooltip player_id='1921182' first='Gavin' last='Parnow'] (2026) |6'2 F| Hettinger-Scranton   WHY?   A lockdown defender for the Hettinger-Scranton Night Hawks is [player_tooltip player_id='1921182' first='Gavin' last='Parnow']. Gavin is a 6'2" Junior who has the athletic ability to defend perimeter players as well as bigger players in the paint. Gavin will match up in half-court man-to-man pressure defense with the opposing team's best wing or guard. He is extremely smart at cutting off angles and keeping players from getting to their spots on the court. He is averaging 6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2248504' first='Jace' last='Weekley'] (2025) |6'5 F| ORCS   WHY?   The Knights are one of the top defensive teams in class B and Jace is a big reason for that. ORCS is 8-1 and they pride themselves on their defense. Mr. Weekley is sneaky athletic, long, and uses his tremendous anticipation skills to block and alter shots.   [player_tooltip player_id='2300118' first='Jayden' last='Lee'] (2025) |6'0 G| Langdon   WHY?   He usually takes on the 2nd toughest assignment defensively. Jayden is a gritty football player with a tough mentality, he is a hard-nosed relentless worker, has great anticipation off ball, quick-footed, strong athletic kid, battles for loose balls, and is very physical for his stature.   [player_tooltip player_id='2634199' first='Jekori' last='Dahlen'] (2025) |6'2 SF| Killdeer   WHY?   [player_tooltip player_id='2634199' first='Jekori' last='Dahlen'] has to be one of the best defenders in the State. He is one of the reasons that the Cowboys have so much success, Dahlen takes the other team's best offensive shooting guards out of the game. If ND had a "Best Defender", Dahlen would certainly be in the conversation. Jekori locked up many of the top players in class A last year and he has done it this season as well. When Killdeer needs a lockdown or a player to be face-guarded, they turn to [player_tooltip player_id='2634199' first='Jekori' last='Dahlen']. His length, speed, and endurance give him the total defensive package to be on the floor in every game against big-time scorers. The best part is when he does need a break, Killdeer goes with his twin brother [player_tooltip player_id='2634201' first='Nekori' last='Dahlen'], who is just as good! The Dahlen brothers are worth the watch!   [player_tooltip player_id='2627884' first='Kaeden' last='Kjonaas'] (2026) |5'11 G/F| Grand Forks Central   WHY?   Kaeden is a hardworking role player. Kjonaas is GFC's main helper on D, he doubles post players effectively, takes charges, and has good overall positioning. Kaeden has impressive situational awareness, toughness, and is willing to get dirty for the Knights.   [player_tooltip player_id='2237731' first='Nolan' last='Schmidt'] (2027) |6'2 SF| ORCS   WHY?   Nolan is a dude and a great defender. He is one of the key players for ORCS who is 8-1 and ranked #5. Schmidt can guard all 5 positions. He is very physical and never takes possessions off. Nolan is a tireless worker, and he loves to play defense. There is no weakness in Schmidt's defensive game and he loves a difficult assignment.   [player_tooltip player_id='1651920' first='Owen' last='Terras'] (2027) |6'4 SF| Horace   WHY?   He is a reserve player for the Hawks but is still on the EDC leaderboard for steals and blocks. "Little Larry" is a versatile defender who can match up 1-5, has great switchability, and his length allows him to help off the wing yet recover and disrupt on the wing. Terras contests everything and he does a great job of guarding bigger/older players. A key role player for the #5 ranked Hawks, I assume Owen will get more burn as the season progresses.   [player_tooltip player_id='2412440' first='Tanner' last='McDonald'] (2026) |6'3 SF| Langdon   Tanner guards other teams post players, he works his tail off in the post and the backside of press, he flies around and makes plays with very good off-ball instincts. McDonald battles down low every game with bigger guys, is a high-motor guy, a glue player, and is the hardest worker on the court. Tanner is always on the ground for loose balls and his motor never stops.   [player_tooltip player_id='1547737' first='Trey' last='Husar'] (2025) |6'3 SF| Northern Cass   WHY?   Husar will guard anyone 1-5. Trey is an exceptional athlete with an impressive amount of length. He uses his length to get into passing lanes and create turnovers. Trey is a very smart player who forces players into taking shots he wants to give up. Opposing players do not want Husar matched on them.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/lockdowndefenders.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2725434" /></a></figure>

It's time to look at top defenders from North Dakota!