Vassar’s DaAundre Callahan gets in a defensive stance against Cass City. Callahan recently won the the All-Thumb Defensive Player of the Year. (photo by John Cook)
By: Mike Gallagher
Sports Writer
Whenever Vassar boys basketball coach Chuck Fabbro needed a defensive stop, he knew that he could look to senior guard DeAundre Callahan.
“In my opinion he is the best on the ball defender in the Thumb,” said coach Fabbro. “He always guards the teams best player and just disrupts offenses for the other team.”
Callahan’s hard work on the defensive side of the court has earned him the Sportswriter’s All-Thumb Defensive Player of the Year.
Callahan led a Vassar team that allowed only 40 points per game, tops in the area. “He dives on the floor constantly, and is the heart and soul of, in my opinion, the best defensive team in the Thumb,” stated coach Fabbro.
Callahan fights for position during a game against Millington. (photo by John Cook)
Callahan finished the season with 49 steals, 48 deflections, and took an outstanding 20 charges. Vassar, a team that was greatly affected by losing many different pieces this season, runs a defensive system that Callahan has bought into. “If he played in a different system where I had him running all over the place, he could create more turnovers,” commented Fabbro.“Callahan only averaged 3.8 points per game, but plays a ton because of the affect that he has on a game defensively.”
Callahan has received praise from a few different area coaches throughout the season, and during the voting process, but left the biggest impression on his own coach. “He is the smartest and best defensive player that I’ve ever coached,” says Fabbro.