Kevin Thomas, SOH Elite: The 6’7 wing from Weston Sagemont will be running with SOH Elite during the July live period and looked to be a very good fit with the players already on the squad. An accurate perimeter shooter on either side of the arc, Thomas can create and make his own shot off the dribble as well as catch-and-shoot situations. He has developed a reliable step-back jumper but can also put the ball on the floor and score at the rim. Thomas is a better passer than he is given credit for, quick to get the ball to open teammates for better shot opportunities. His length and quickness combine to make him a solid defender.
Robert Guishard, Florida Pro: The 6’8 forward from Pembroke Pines Charter impresses with his ability to control the paint at both ends of the floor. A bouncy athlete with long arms, he forces opponents to think twice about challenging him at the basket. Guishard is quick off the floor and has good timing to block and change shot attempts. Offensively he has a good touch around the basket, basic but reliable post moves on either block, a nose for the ball coming off the offensive glass and a nice touch from the foul line. Guishard runs the floor well, is a lob threat, and changes ends quickly in transition. While we didn’t see him take any kind of perimeter shot, his success at the free throw line suggests it shouldn’t be an issue.
Jaquori Lumbarge, Team Breakdown: We admittedly had some reservations about the 6’5 wing out of Miami Norland as the first time we saw him was his first time playing with the team and he was clearly behind the curve. Fast forward a few months and Lumbarge is on solid ground and making significant contributions. An athletic player with a strong frame, he excelled this weekend in creating and making mid-range shots, pursuing missed shots in and out of his area at both ends of the floor, and defending physically without fouling. In the two games we watched Lumbarge was one for three from beyond the arc but the fundamentals of his shot are solid and we can see that becoming more of a weapon as time goes by. Defensively he can defend bigger players thanks to his size and strength.
Dhani Miller, MBJ Elite: A 6’3 point guard out of Montverde Academy, Miller plays with a take-no-prisoners attitude at both ends of the floor. He looks to drive and penetrate as often as possible, scoring well off floaters and mid-range shots if not forced to give up the ball. When Miller does give it up, the ball usually ends up in the hands of an open shooter for a three-point attempt. He makes good reads coming off ball-screens and has a good burst to get past the switching defender. Defensively Miller is one of the best ones out there. He has fast feet, anticipates player and ball movement very well, and is alert to rotate and take charges.
Ariel Munoz, Pro Holmes: A 6’4 wing out of Tampa Wharton, this was our first time seeing Munoz and we came away impressed with his skills and scoring instincts. He was quick to get ahead of the defense in transition, displayed a reliable perimeter shot inside the arc, and showed off some dazzling footwork on drives to score in traffic. Munoz rebounded the ball well and was quick to outlet the rebound to teammates to start the break, some of those leading directly to buckets. He took care of the basketball and generally made good pass vs. shot decisions. Once Munoz shows he is a reliable three-point threat, his game goes up a notch or three.
Jaiden Horton, Miami Triple Threat: The 5’11 guard heading to Miami Palmetto has both deep range and quick release on his jump shot. Horton’s ability to rise and fire off the dribble with such speed makes it difficult to contest his shot. Quick and shifty with the basketball, he can weave his way into the lane to score as well as distribute the ball to open shooters. Horton will challenge defenders at the basket, take the hit, and connect at a high rate from the charity stripe. Defensively he is solid in keeping the ball in front of him, is quick to get into passing lanes and alert to double-team unsuspecting opponents.
David Neely, Showtime Ballers: The 6’2 guard from Fort Lauderdale Stranahan caught fire from deep in a blowout win on Saturday afternoon. Neely went 5-6 from the field from behind the arc, each one seemingly deeper than the last. When his perimeter shot is dropping like that, he is tough to contain because he is a potent driver and finisher thanks to his solid frame and strength. Those physical traits also allow Neely to rebound well for his size and defend bigger players.
Sean Jones, BBD: A 6’5 wing out of Fort Lauderdale’s “U-School”, Jones played well at the FABC Team Camp and didn’t disappoint this weekend when viewed in a different setting. Jones won’t blow onlookers away with run/jump athleticism, but he is good enough. What separates him is not only his basketball IQ but his natural ability to make the right play at the right time. Jones shoots the ball well from the perimeter, has a solid frame and the strength to overpower defenders to score at the basket. He is a frequent visitor to the free throw line and is alert for open cutters in the lane as well as open perimeter shooters. Jones rebounds his area well and is a solid positional defender.
Jayden Dixie, TNT: A 6’5 wing out of Orlando Southeastern Prep, Dixie is likely looking to take a prep year to continue to fill out his thin frame. A long athlete, he seemingly did a little bit of everything for his TNT squad when viewed on Saturday. Dixie connected from behind the arc, hit some mid-range shots, scored on drives and got to the offensive glass to put back teammates’ misses. He also showed to be an alert passer and capable ball-handler on the perimeter. Dixie covers a lot of area quickly on defense, will block shots as a help defender thanks to some very long arms, and is quick to change ends in transition.