Summer Superlatives - The Stoppers

Today, we continue the Summer Superlatives series with a look at some defensive standouts - The Stoppers!   These prospects shined on the defensive end of the floor, particularly on the perimeter, where they proved to be terrific on-ball defenders that made life difficult for opposing ball-handlers and would be scorers.   If you haven't read the first few articles in this series, we'll share that these lists are not Top 5 lists! In fact, we'll aim to use each list to highlight standout prospects that we believe will eventually play at a variety of levels of college basketball. From high majors to the Division III level, these superlatives will recognize a wide range of prospects that stood out with their play on the hardwood this summer.   Below are five prospects that stand out with their ability to shut down the opposition by making points hard to come by. Take a look at - The Stoppers!   [player_tooltip player_id='2563037' first='Darien' last='Moore']   Moore, a 6'3" guard out of Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, impressed with his ability to guard any perimeter spot while making scoring a tough task for opponents. An elite athletic with a lot of physicality packed into his compact frame, few prospects have his compete level on the defensive end of the floor. Off the ball, he's got great burst in passing lanes and the ability to turns those steals into loud plays at the rim in transition. On the ball, he makes opposing ball-handers think twice about bringing the ball up against him, turning them and forcing them to get rid of the ball. When opponents do get into the paint, he uses his strength to keep them away from the rim and forces tough contested twos. Long thought of as a high major prospect, he came off the board early, with a commitment last year to Seton Hall.   [player_tooltip player_id='2487641' first='Desmond' last='Bellot']   Bellot, a 6'3" guard out of CATS Academy in Massachusetts, stood out with his ability to guard the basketball the entire length of the floor, turning opponents over and creating havoc in passing lanes. A high level shooter that has turned himself into a reliable ball-handler and decision maker on the offensive end of the floor, the Expressions Elite guard spent the summer proving to be one of the top open floor defenders in the EYBL. He's as quick as they come laterally, uses his hands to his advantage when creating deflections, and has a high compete level when guarding up a position. He can guard either spot in the back-court and is willing to sit in a stance and work the entire length of the floor. He reads angles well, is solid in rotations, and does a terrific job of forcing opponents to start their offense out further from the hoop than they'd like. He's got a lot of interest from low-major and mid-major programs, and at that level, could be an impact player from Day 1.   [player_tooltip player_id='2396726' first='Jaylin' last='Williams-Crawford']   Williams-Crawford, a 6'7" wing out of CATS Academy in Massachusetts, proved to be one of the most versatile defenders in the region, guarding any position on the floor and doing so at a high level. With impressive length, quickness off the floor as a jumper, and the ability to cover ground quickly with long strides, his versatility on the defensive end stands out from the opening tip. He challenges every shot on that end of the floor, creates more deflections than almost any prospect in the region, and is an elite shot blocker when coming from the help-side. His rotations are crisp, he swallows up opposing guards with his length, and does a nice job of being aggressive in switches when covering ball screens. UMBC, Iona, and Towson all pulled the trigge on offers earlier this summer, and they won't be the last, as he profiles as a priority recruit at the low-major level.   [player_tooltip player_id='2568381' first='Jordan' last='Torres']   Torres, a 6'3" wing out of Trinity High School in New Hampshire, played with an edge and intensity on the defensive end of the floor that allowed him to be disruptive both on the ball and in passing lanes. A standout defender for the Mass Rivals, he was one of the better prospects on that end of the floor at the 16U level of the 3SSB this summer. A plus athlete with a good basketball frame, he guards twos through fours while contributing as a rebounder and handler in transition. He's got good lateral mobility and does a nice job of making plays in passing lines, while also sliding over to crowd drivers when he's off the ball. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and isn't afraid to give up his body to make winning basketball plays. He's got two full years left before college comes, so his recruitment could develop significantly over that time, but he profiles as a prospect who will get a lot of looks at the D2/D3 levels, beginning as soon at this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='2465143' first='Jamal' last='Stanley']   Stanley, a 6'2" guard out of Keene High School in New Hampshire, impressed with his physicality at the point of attack and ability to make an impact defensively when matched up against wings and forwards. A solid athlete, he's a defensive playmaker in space, chasing down opponents for blocks and reading plays as they develop in passing lanes. His strength is an advantage at the guard position, as he uses it to bump opposing ball-handlers off their lines and to contest shots around the rim and in the mid-range. He's strong and tough enough to guard forwards in the paint and does a nice job of walling up without fouling. His athleticism, burst, and first to the floor mentality are all seperating factors defensively. One of the top prospects in the NHIAA, he's already on the radar of regional D3s and should be a priority recruit at that level in the Class of 2026.   Next up in the Summer Superlatives series - The Bucket Getters!

Today, we continue the Summer Superlatives series with a look at some defensive standouts - The Stoppers!