I don’t know what it is, but there should be a new descriptor beyond “long and rangy” when you’re talking about a player with Waldbauer’s 6-foot-8 measurables. When his arms are by his side, they go halfway down his hips, and he uses that ridiculous length — combined with a six-foot pole, of course — to knock down balls and create havoc in the passing lanes. He’s very instinctual, while still gradually learning not to overthink things at times, particularly away from the ball.

With all that being said, Waldbauer is another guy I’ll be curious to check in on a year or two from now as he continues to grow into his massive frame and become more comfortable in it. Right now, he has plenty of intriguing attributes beyond just his size, including soft hands that show up in the clearing game and when he’s scooping ground balls. Waldbauer steps up and makes plays when his team needs him to, and there’s a lot to like about that.

An absolute giant at 6’8″, Brayden Waldbauer was impossible to miss for the Legacy defense at the IMLCA Players Summit. His height and reach do real damage off the ball in passing lanes and show up on the ball with takeaway checks. A three-sport varsity athlete (basketball and football), he brings natural instincts on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he has the ability to sniff out set plays and disrupt actions before they develop. In groundball scrums, he shows a good feel for space, whether that’s scooping cleanly or goosing the ball to create possession. In transition, he’s a legitimate threat—comfortable pushing tempo, drawing and dumping, and even letting it rip if left alone. Waldbauer’s sophomore season is one college coaches should be tracking closely as he continues to grow into his frame and develop into a high-level defender.