IMLCA Players Summit: Top 2028 Defenders

Let's now move over to the defensive side of the ball during our recap of the best Class of 2028 performances at the IMLCA Players Summit. Michael Campanile was also on-site and will get into his standouts in the coming days.    An absolute menace between the lines, Gilchrist is the type of LSM a coach can pull aside, give a simple directive—take the ball away—and trust him to deliver on the very next defensive possession. The lefty's motor is off the charts, and he pairs that relentless energy with ridiculous hands. In a flash, he'll collapse on his man, knock the ball loose, scoop it cleanly in one motion, and burst upfield to spark transition. Gilchrist gave matchups fits all weekend with his confrontational, hands-on style of defense, consistently pressuring opponents 1-on-1. He's always around the ball and routinely makes impactful plays, stacking them throughout the weekend—especially during Sunday's bracket play.     At 6'5 and 200 pounds, Kennedy already has an ACC-ready frame. As imposing as his size is, the length of his arms stands out even more, seemingly stretching down to the top of his kneecaps. He uses his reach to knock down passes and gobble up contested groundballs, so he's incredibly dependable off the wing. In the first quarter of the last Thunder game I caught, I had Kennedy down for three groundballs and a caused turnover. He's excellent off the ground, but arguably even better in transition, where he has phenomenal offensive instincts and handles his longpole like it's a toothpick. A true end-to-end presence, Kennedy has showcased a complete skill set all fall and looks destined to draw heavy attention next September.     There's nothing flashy about Kirspel's game—he's simply rock-solid across the board. A true “do your job” defender, he's capable of effectively blanketing No. 1 attackmen and will only get better with three more years of high school ball and top-level defensive coaching with the Thunder. He moves laterally at a high level, with great hips and outstanding footwork, consistently putting himself in position to push dodgers off their line and away from dangerous scoring areas. Sticky on-ball, he doesn't need to throw many checks; instead, you notice him because his matchup rarely makes an impact. When he picks the ball up off the carpet, he's composed and smart when it comes to rolling away from pressure and delivers long clearing passes that are consistently on point.     Part of a strong Illinois contingent for both Culver and Mad Dog, Pablecas is another '28 who looks the part but is far more than just a big body. After seeing most of the top teams in attendance this past weekend, I can't recall a prospect making more noteworthy plays as a sliding defender. He pairs excellent instincts with a cerebral approach and physicality, able to hinder a 6'0" pure goal scorer just as effectively as a smaller, jitterbug QB-type attackman. Pablecas also has an impressive stick, scooping up groundballs off the turf in one try and consistently making the right decisions. At GLE, he wouldn't budge, leveraging his strong lower body and sound footwork. I'm eager to see how much more he improves after a full year in the Culver program, where he'll continue to be tested every day in practice.     A highly intelligent, physical defender, Panagopoulos wears multiple hats on the LI Express backline. Always in the right position, he's a vocal and effective communicator, keeping teammates organized while staying man-conscious and directing traffic down low. Hard-hitting and hard-nosed, the Long Island native plays with controlled aggression, making his presence felt with punishing slap checks or disruptive body blows. While he may not be a freak athlete like some others covered in this article, he checks nearly every box on and off the ball—and his move to a program known for developing college-ready talent should help him take his game to the next level.     Tall and rangy, Speed still has a bit of that baby-giraffe frame, but he looks like a kid who will only continue to grow and add strength. He was particularly outstanding in the championship game, where he effectively blanketed one of the most productive lefties in the class. Speed adjusts his game based on the matchup—capable of playing sound, positional defense built on high-level footwork, while also being perfectly comfortable catching an opponent sleeping with a disruptive trail check. Subtle and sneaky in the best way, he has a knack for throwing his man off balance by varying his approach, and he's a true “steady Eddie” across the board. I love his upside, and while I know I've said this a few times already, I trust his ability to grow exponentially in a program like Chaminade.

Let's now move over to the defensive side of the ball during our recap of the best Class of 2028 performances at the IMLCA Players Summit. Michael Campanile was also on-site and will get into his standouts in the coming days.