AAU Awards: 2029 Defensive Players of the Year

Over the past handful of weeks, we've been covering our annual AAU awards for 2026. So far we've highlighted the Coach of the Year, AAU Newcomer of the Year, one Breakout Player for each class, the Most Valuable Duos in each class, and our Hard Hat All-Star Teams. Now in our fourth week of postseason award coverage, we have one more accolade to hand out – the Defensive Player of the Year awards. Much like last year, we'll be breaking things down by age level and highlighting two winners per class, plus a handful of honorable mentions.   Unlike some of our other awards, there isn't a clear-cut definition for what makes someone a Defensive Player of the Year. While in the pro leagues there are advanced stats like defensive rating and win shares, which can be used to precisely measure a player's defensive impact, we don't have anything of the sort for AAU. It's rare that rebounds, steals, and blocks are even tracked during the summer season. So, in lieu of trying to identify the best statistical defenders, we're approaching this one as more of an art than a science. For our purposes, DPOY can mean a lot of things. Some kids excel as on-ball defenders, some are outstanding on the boards, and some can force turnovers all day long. As a general rule, the players featured here played with relentless energy and effort this season, were regularly tasked with guarding their opponents top players, and consistently made winning plays when it mattered most.   As a final reminder: Only Minnesota players are eligible for these awards. This means that players from other states who play for Minnesota-based AAU clubs were not considered. On the other hand, players from Minnesota who play for out-of-state clubs were considered eligible, provided that we had the opportunity to see them play in person.    All that being said, here are our selections for Defensive Players of the Year in the class of 2029.    It seems like just yesterday we were at Jefferson watching the then 7th grade Hamiel play for the first time. A lot has changed since then! From a tremendous high school state tournament performance in March to her recent Division 1 offers and an MVP performance in the Nike 15U EYBL championship, the [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] guard has quickly shot into superstar territory. Time after time, we watched Madeleine put on defensive clinics this summer. Leveraging her outstanding athleticism and high basketball IQ, the 5'10 guard is able to tackle a wide variety of defensive assignments. She can guard multiple positions, is highly effective both on the ball and in help-side, and was one of the best rebounding guards we watched all summer. On top of all of that, Hamiel plays with a remarkable degree of poise and consistency. Each game, whether her team is winning or losing, Madeleine brings the same nonstop effort and relentless energy to the court.     After a freshman season where she averaged 9 rebounds and just under 2 steals per game, Behnke came into the AAU season ready to make her mark on the defensive end. Playing for coach Tim Ellefson's [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2029 S40 squad this summer, the 6'0 forward shined as the team's premier paint defender. Week after week, we saw Lyla's commitment to the details. She constantly made things challenging for her opponents, using both her size and strength to make contact, jockey for position, and make it difficult for the other team's post players to get the ball down low. In addition, Behnke meticulously boxed her opponents out and routinely cleaned up on the defensive glass. When you factor in the Spring Lake Park sophomore's persistent work ethic, unwavering toughness, and strong understanding of how to play the game, it's clear why Lyla was an easy choice for one of our DPOY awards.    HONORABLE MENTIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='1246846' first='Nivaya' last='Koles'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2029 S40, Lakeville North   [player_tooltip player_id='939000' first='Kiera' last='Willis'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2029 UAA, Benilde-St. Margaret's   [player_tooltip player_id='1243841' first='Sawyer' last='Backer'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 15U EYBL, Wayzata   [player_tooltip player_id='1233136' first='Korbin' last='Tanner'] – [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] 2029 Blue, New London-Spicer

Over the past handful of weeks, we've been covering our annual AAU awards for 2026. So far we've highlighted the Coach of the Year, AAU Newcomer of the Year, one Breakout Player for each class, the Most Valuable Duos in each class, and our Hard Hat All-Star Teams. Now in our fourth week of postseason award coverage, we have one more accolade to hand out – the Defensive Player of the Year awards. Much like last year, we'll be breaking things down by age level and highlighting two winners per class, plus a handful of honorable mentions.