While the Most Valuable Player award hinges on the player’s ability to push his team to great playoff success, our definition of the Most Outstanding Player is different.  The MOP to us is the best player, period.

RURAL

C.J. Hall, Hilliard: The 6’3 senior is a high-level athlete with strength that excels at getting to and scoring at the basket.  Hilliard has no problem getting above the rim and putting down lobs.  He has expanded his game as he is a consistent shooter on both sides of the three-point line and makes good reads in ball-screen situations.  Hall has the size, skills, and athletic ability to play either guard spot at the collegiate level.  Hall led the Red Flashes to the region final and averaged just a shade under twenty points a contest while leading the team with 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.1 steals per contest.

CLASS 1A

Matt Able, Weston Sagemont: The 6’5 senior was mentioned yesterday as the classification’s MVP in leading Sagemont to the state title.  Now that he is no longer committed to the University of Miami, it will be interesting to see where he lands as no doubt he will have plenty of programs come calling that are in need of his talents.

CLASS 2A

Alex Lloyd, Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy: The 6’4 senior and University of Florida signee has had a stellar four-year career for the Lions.  He has scored well over 2,000 points in his career and been a major contributor in significant wins for both Westminster Academy as well as Nightrydas Elite on the EYBL circuit.  He averaged just under 28 points per game in his senior season.  It seems criminal that Westminster never got past the regional round to give Lloyd a shot at a state title.  We applaud him for staying at Westminster Academy all four years when he could have easily transferred and been a major contributor for an “academy” with a national profile.

CLASS 3A

Sean Abaev, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian: A 6’8 senior, McDonald’s All American and Cincinnati commit, Abaev is arguably the best player in the state at creating and making his own shot.  For the year he averaged just under 21 points and 7 rebounds a game.  The lefty’s ability to create space off the dribble and makes perimeter shots on either side of the three-point line is uncanny.  He also does a good job of reading screens and making the right decision, whether shot vs. pass on a ball screen or how to elude his defender when using screens off the ball.  Abaev is an under-rated passer and an alert defender in the passing lanes.

CLASS 4A

Josh Lewis, Tampa Blake: The 6’7 senior had a stellar senior season in leading Blake to the regional final, averaging 17 points, 8+ rebounds and nearly 4 assists per contest.  He is an excellent scorer from the perimeter as he can make shots on both sides of the arc as well as put the ball on the floor to score.  Lewis has the length and leaping ability to make an impact on the defensive end as someone that can disrupt the passing lanes, challenge shots at the rim, and defend multiple positions.  Lewis is back on the market after Iowa decided to make a coaching change.

CLASS 5A

Nijuan Harris, St. Petersburg: The 6’4 freshman had a scintillating season in leading the Green Devils to the Final Four.  His 27.6 point per contest was five points a game better than anyone else on the Dairy Farmers’ Class 5A Player of the Year ballot.  Harris also grabbed just over six rebounds a contest this season.  A shooter with deep and consistent range, he also happens to have a strong frame that allows him to overpower defenders on drives and score in traffic at the basket.  His development and recruitment over his remaining three years of high school will be very interesting to track.

CLASS 6A

Dwayne Wimbley, Jr., Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: The 6’6 senior made an enormous impact for the Raiders in his one year at STA.  He was definitely a catalyst in the team’s run, not just to Lakeland, but to being one of the better teams in the state regardless of class.  Averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds a game on a balanced squad, Wimbley’s ability to be a tough matchup at both ends of the floor proved essential to Aquinas’ success.  His knack for making big plays, coming through in the clutch, and bring infectious energy to the game elevated his team’s overall play in ways the box score doesn’t measure. Wimbley is now back on the market after getting his NLI release from Florida State after Leonard Hamilton’s retirement.

CLASS 7A

Cameron Boozer, Miami Christopher Columbus: There is no need to go into detail regarding the 6’9 senior’s exploits this past season.  He has been arguably the best player in the state since his freshman season.  His accolades and accomplishments over the last four years will most likely be unmatched.

INDEPENDENTS

Darius Acuff, Bradenton IMG Academy: The 6’3 senior and Arkansas signee was often spectacular for the Ascenders this season.  At times, especially at the City of Palms Classic in December, Acuff seemingly put on the superhero costume and turned a sure defeat into a nail-biting victory.  His ability to score from a variety of angles and distances is uncanny, making him one of the more difficult players to defend in the country.  In his second season at IMG, Acuff became as much of a leader and facilitator as scorer.