The Best of the Best Elite Florida Showcase took place Sunday at the campus of Southeastern Prep in Maitland. Over 100 players from the classes of 2029 thru 2026 took part. These are just a few of the standouts from the event.
Antonio Baymon, Orlando West Oaks Academy: The 6’1 junior has a solid frame and good athleticism, making him difficult to defend. Baymon hit several threes in the game we took in but also proved his worth as a distributor, both when pushing the pace or collapsing the defense when attacking the basket with the dribble.
Tristen Payton, Sanford Seminole: The 6’3 senior was a blur with the basketball, using his speed and quickness to create opportunities for himself as well as his teammates. Payton routinely beat defenders off the dribble and scored at the basket before help could rotate over. He scored on straight drives as well as floaters in the lane. Payton was quick to get the ball ahead to open teammates in transition. He was also a tough on-ball defender.
Kenyon Darbeau, Maitland Orangewood Christian: The 6’5 senior is smooth, fluid, and economical in his movements. Darbeau was one of the better in-game shooters at the event, knocking down three-point shots with ease and regularity. He proved capable of putting the ball on the floor to score as well. Darbeau doesn’t come across as an explosive athlete but he is more than good enough.
Sharmah Petigny, Fort Lauderdale Somerset Academy Key: The 6’2 sophomore played up and was one of the better players at the event. A good athlete with a solid frame, Petigny has a high basketball IQ and played with both great effort and unselfishness. He uses his speed and quickness to get by defenders and score or distribute, made very good pass vs. shot decisions on the move, and proved to be a reliable perimeter shooter. Petigny has a nose for the ball coming off the glass, covers a lot of ground quickly on defense, and does a good job of staying in front of the dribbler.
John Mapuor Madol, Lakeland Jordan Christian: Listed as a 6’9 freshman, Madol has a bigger frame and better basketball instincts that the other “young bucks” from JCP that you will read about in this report. Consequently, he made the biggest impact on the floor of any player at the event. He scores well inside, looks to dunk as often as possible, pursues rebounds out of his area, and is fast up the court. Maybe the biggest surprise was his ability as a passer to locate cutters and open shooters for quality shots. Madol intimidated on defense, rarely bit on fakes, and essentially shut down the lane on that end of the floor.
Wekem Agamba, Lakeland Jordan Christian: Listed as a 6’9 freshman, Agamba isn’t new to the states and played this past summer with Southeast Elite’s 15U program. An explosive athlete, Agamba is very quick to rebounds in and out of his area. He is fast down the floor and finishes well above the rim. Agamba has some ball-handling skill and with a quick first step gets to the basket and either scores or visits the foul line. His perimeter shooting should come in time. Agamba is also a terrific rim protector and shot blocker.
Josiah Gillard, Orlando Dr. Phillips: The 6’1 sophomore played up as always and was arguably the best backcourt performer at the event. Very quick with the basketball and owner of several crafty dribble moves, Gillard made it look easy to get by defenders and score at the basket. He made the game easier for his teammates by quickly getting the ball to open cutters in the lane or perimeter shooters after penetrating the defense. When defenders sagged off to contain his drive, Gillard calmly plopped three-point shots in the basket. He uses his speed, quickness, and high basketball IQ to great effect on the defensive end of the floor.
Gol Turic, Lakeland Jordan Christian Prep: Listed as a 6’11 freshman, Turic may have been the most “enticing” prospect at the event. The reason for this was that he showed a surprising amount of offensive skill in terms of perimeter shooting, ball-handling, and ability to score around the basket with jump hooks. Turic made enough shots from behind the arc to be respected by defenders and his form looked solid (he’ll need to not fall in love with the shot like he did Sunday going forward). He had a couple of drives for scores and knocked down a soft jump hook over Machar on one possession. Turic moves up and down the floor well and will take defensive rebounds the distance if he isn’t stopped by defenders. He made an impact on defense with his ability to protect the rim and use his length to disrupt ball-screen action.
Bivindy Jean, Coconut Creek: The 6’0 sophomore was THE impact player in the Freshman/Sophomore division. With super-high levels of speed, quickness, and run/jump athletic ability, Jean was nearly uncontainable. He would get to rebounds quickly, push the ball up the floor past retreating defenders and score with ease. Jean proved to be a reliable perimeter shooter out to around eighteen feet. He wasn’t as successful behind the three-point line but that should come in time. Jean was a willing and accurate passer, finding teammates in transition or quickly moving the ball to open shooters. He was disruptive in passing lanes, quick to 50/50 balls, and a menacing on-ball defender.
Seth Edwards, Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy: The 6’2 sophomore was one of the very few to catch our eye during the three-on-three and four-on-four session of the event. Fortunately, he didn’t disappoint when the time came to play real games. Edwards showed a nice perimeter touch, used his dribble wisely, and finishes well when he did attack the basket off the bounce. He was quick to get the ball up the floor to teammates in transition, find open spaces in the defense to catch and score quickly, and didn’t hold the ball looking to take his man off the dribble. Edwards was solid on the defensive end as well, covering a lot of ground quickly, getting several tips and deflections, and using active hands and feet to guard the ball.