The addition of Aiden Owens and Jack Lochte is an insane haul for the Bullis defense, and newly hired head coach Nic Bell has not stopped there. Owens is about as disruptive as it gets for a close defender. On the ball, he should immediately become Bullis’ No. 1 option down low because he has the length and strength to smother matchups. If you watch his spring tape, Owens looks like a man amongst boys in the MAC. He is an absolute bully defensively. St. James even had a man-up look designed to utilize his stepdown shot from deep.

This summer, his one-on-one reps were limited because teams would dodge on him once and quickly decide it was better to attack elsewhere. When opponents did choose to go at him, though, his footwork stood out. I didn’t expect a player his size to move his feet as well as he does. Off the ball is where Owens was able to show even more when teams avoided him. He was always ready to convert on backside doubles, got his stick into passing lanes, and seemed to be there whenever his team needed someone to scoop up a loose ball around the crease.

Aiden Owens is a physically dominant defender from St. James who put together a standout fall season for the Next Level Defense. Standing at 6’4”, Owens brings size and strength to the backline, using his frame to overwhelm matchups and consistently force turnovers. He plays with confidence and an edge, asserting himself and setting the tone rather than reacting to the offense, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Trevor Owens, who plays for the Terps. Aiden has quickly established himself as a high-upside presence on the defensive end. His athleticism and comfort with the ball were on full display this fall, highlighted by an 18-yard missile to the far corner against a talented Sweetlax Florida squad. With his combination of size, skill, and aggressiveness, Owens is a defender whose stock continues to rise heading into the summer.

To say Owens passes the eye test would be an understatement — he’s every bit of 6’4” and already filled out at 200-plus pounds. His older brother Trevor (6’6”, 225) is expected to be No. 2 in Maryland’s LSM rotation as a redshirt freshman this spring, and their father played football at Florida State, so Aiden certainly comes from great stock. Set to be a four-year starter for St. James under Hall of Famer John Tucker, Owens moves exceptionally well and brings both size and substance to the table. Unlike many players his age, he understands how to use his towering frame to his advantage, routinely showing the willingness to throw his body around on slides and picking the right moments to be confrontational.