It is time to look at some of the many standout underclassmen that took part in the Miami Summer Hoops Festival.
Josh Hernandez, MBJ Elite 2027: The 5’10 Hernandez is both an accomplished playmaker and shot maker. He is slick and quick with the ball, gets into gaps and creates open shots for teammates, and delivers passes on time and on target. He has deep range on his shot and connects at an acceptable rate. Hernandez is an aggressive on-ball defender.
Jordan Corbitt, SOH Elite 2027: A long 6’4 wing out of Miami Country Day, Corbitt not has good physical tools but solid basketball skills as well. A very good athlete with length, Corbitt is a versatile defender, quick off the floor to rebounds, and surprisingly effective shot blocker. Offensively, he scored well on drives with floaters, finished above the rim on the break, made a few perimeter shots and was a frequent foul line visitor.
Christian Rios, Team Hardwork 2027: A 6’0 guard from Weston Cypress Bay, Rios pulled double-duty this past weekend, playing for both the 17U and 16U teams. An effective scoring point guard, Rios scores on drives as well as perimeter shots on both sides of the arc. A solid ball-handler with good court vision, he makes the game easier for his teammates. Quick feet and active hands make Rios a pest on the defensive end.
Neo Flores, Showtime Ballers 2027: A 6’0 guard from Tampa Catholic, Flores stands out with effort, hustle, and the ability to make plays on both sides of the ball because of those attributes. He is a three-level scorer but the majority of those buckets come in transition, by attacking the basket off the dribble, and quick pull-ups from mid-range. Flores creates and comes up with loose balls, is quick to tie up opposing rebounders, and smartly rotates to open areas after double-teaming the ball.
Emanuel Decembre, NMB Lightning 16U: A 6’6 forward from North Miami Beach, Decembre is like a colt just getting his legs under him. He appears raw and new to the game, but then will unleash a surprising drive and dunk in traffic or come from nowhere and go coast-to-coast after getting a steal and slamming the ball home to complete the play. With good athleticism and instincts, Decembre’s best basketball is ahead of him.
Luigi Boria, BBD 2028: A 6’5 forward from North Broward Prep, Borrio saw minutes as a varsity freshman last season. He has a good feel for the game, the ability to step away from the basket and makes shots out to the arc, and score off straight-line dribble drives. Borrio handles the ball well for a player his size and age and is a good passer. He has a good frame, rebounds well, and doesn’t show away from playing physically on the defensive end.
Xavier Police, SOH Elite 2028: The 6’2 guard from Palm Beach Central scored the ball a lot of different ways on Saturday. Cuts into and scores in the lane, transition baskets, a three-ball, and some time at the foul line got Police as lot of tics in the scorebook. He was very active on the defensive end, using active hands, quick feet, and anticipation to disrupt passing lanes and come up with steals.
Elijah Gilroy, Southern Select 16U: A 5’10 guard from Tampa Specially Fit Academy, Gilroy is a catalyst that makes things happen for his team. His drives open up shot opportunities for teammates, he pushes the pace in transition, and creates mistakes by opponents with his ball-hawking defense. Gilroy was quick to long rebounds, scored on several drives and made good reads coming off ball-screens.
Jayson Negrin, Team Breakdown 16U: The 6’2 guard played both on and off the ball in the game we took in. He shot the ball well from the perimeter, got the ball ahead to teammates in transition, rebounded at both ends, and was active in the passing lanes. Negrin is a good athlete that plays bigger than his size.