This is the category in which we highlight players that we either did not get a chance to see perform or played better than/less than expected and want to know if what we saw was real or a one-time thing.
2025 – Ladainian Brooks, Team Wright: Apparently, unless you travel to events held at the Suwannee (GA) Sports Center, there is no other place to see the 6’6 wing out of Fort Lauderdale Elite Academy play. When we have read reports of his play, it amplifies what we saw in our only viewing of him in the spring of 2022. Brooks is a high-level athlete with length, is highly effective in transition as well as when attacking the defense with the dribble and heading toward the basket and is improving as both a shot-maker and distributor for his teammates. Brooks clearly has the talent to play for a club program and high school program that would certainly offer greater exposure and recognition, and no doubt has been offered opportunities in both situations but has decided to forge his own path.
2026 – Isaiah Newson, Skills Center Elite: The 5’11 guard out of North Fort Myers got early raves for his play on the 17U level in late March. After that…nothing. We had hoped to hear word of his play or possibly see his high school team at the FABC Team Camp in June, but neither of those things happened. We know he scores at a high clip for North Fort Myers, but reports from March emphasized his speed and quickness with the ball, willingness to distribute, and high basketball IQ. Hopefully, the lack of information about his play was not due to any type of injury. Newson will certainly be a player at the top of our list to see at any number of events this fall before the regular season rolls around.
2027 – Gabe Nesmith, Nightrydas Elite: Listed at 6’6, Nesmith played his freshman season at Montverde Academy. Not surprisingly, his opportunities were limited with the Eagles as they made their run to an undefeated season and national title. Playing with the Nightrydas 15U squad we went into the EYBL season thinking he might put up some big numbers. Judging from the box scores available, those numbers were solid, not spectacular. We did dig up one article on his play during session II of the EYBL that showered Nesmith with praise for his competitive efforts and shot-making abilities. Hopefully he will stay at Montverde and continue to improve playing against better players every day. The only player we know to have spent an entire high school career at Montverde is Dariq Whitehead, and that turned out pretty well.
2028 – Niquan Harris, Tre Mann Elite: As a 6’3 8th grader at Clearwater Lakeside Christian, Harris averaged just over 23 ppg in leading the team to a Class 2A regional final. We had hoped to see Harris and the Tre Mann Elite squad compete at the Jr. EYBL event in July but that didn’t happen. By all accounts, Harris is far more physically advanced than his peers, has a good set of skills, and a solid understanding of the game. Our understanding is that he will play his freshman season at St. Petersburg High School.