Defense
Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)
Like many Michigan State players, Valentine has developed in a good defender with great fundamentals and understanding of team defense. On the ball, Valentine positions himself well between his man and the basket, and shows average lateral movement over short distances. He reacts well to his man’s movements, but will tend to play on his heels if guarding a quicker player, leaving him vulnerable to quick changes in direction. Though his lateral movement could show some improvement, he can be very active and has the ability to pressure the ball, when needed. Valentine won’t make any chances on the ball, choosing to contain rather than try and force mistakes. Valentine seems to know his limitations against quicker players and does a great job looking to force them into help situations. If he does get beat on a quick first step, he doesn’t give up on plays, and his ability to use angles to cut off players has improved substantially. Valentine needs to work on getting over screens, and Michigan State will often rely on switches instead of forcing players to get through screens.
Off the ball, Valentine positions himself well and shows better movement, including showing the ability to deny passing lanes effectively. He is very active off the ball, bouncing effortlessly between help positions and still being able to get out on his man if he gets the pass. Valentine has great awareness, and he often sets the tone for the Spartans’ defense, barking out orders and having his teammates adjust, as needed. As on the offensive end, he sees the floor very well, and while he may not have great quickness, he has a knack for reading passes and being able to jump passing lanes. Valentine is a good help defender, whether it’s trapping on the sideline or double-teaming the post, and his constant activity allows him to cover a lot of ground. He does a great job shadowing his man off the ball, and he navigates through off-ball screens efficiently, leaving his opponent little space to get a shot after the catch. Valentine does a good job closing on shooters on the perimeter, though he can sometimes be slow to get out to them, but he always makes a strong effort.
Rebounding
Valentine is a very good rebounder for his size and position, tracking shots well, getting into position quickly, and using his body to seal off opponents. Strength may be a factor at the next level, but he puts in more effort than many guards to get involved, even against bigger players. While not much of a factor on the offensive boards, Valentine puts in a strong effort on the defensive boards, chasing down missed shots if he needs to. The bonus is Valentine can also get the team started in transition off the rebound, turning quickly after getting the shot and pushing the ball up the floor.