There were lots of high-level prospects to be seen at this past weekend’s Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament.  Here are just a few that stood out.

Dhani Miller, Montverde Academy: A 6’3 senior headed to Kent State University in the fall, Miller was named the tournament’s MVP.  While his signature moment will be his game-winning score vs. The Rock School in the semi-finals, Miller was rock solid over the course of three games.  His defensive pressure and instincts were a big factor in getting Montverde out to a big lead early in the opening round against Northside Christian.  He led the Eagles with 19 points in the semi-final while also grabbing seven rebounds and doling out five assists.  In the final, Miller always seemed to be the igniter for a Montverde run, whether it be as a scorer or distributor.  We are only aware of one other four-year varsity player at Montverde in their era of national recognition: Dariq Whitehead.  While Miller may not have the national notoriety, he certainly has the winning pedigree and DNA.

Gallagher and Gavin Placide, Faith Family Academy: Both seniors and Wake Forest signees, Gallagher is listed at 6’9 while Gavin is listed as 6’11.  As expected, the twins pretty much dominated the interior at both ends of the floor.  Each also proved to be quite versatile, not only being able to step away from the hoop and score, but also keep up and defend smaller, quicker players on the perimeter.  Gavin is a bit more physical and a better rebounder based on the stat sheets at this stage, but Gallagher may have the better perimeter touch.  Each is impactful as a rim runner in transition, rolling to the rim or popping out in ball-screen action and challenging shots in the lane.

Zaire Colbert, The Rock School: A 6’0 freshman, Colbert has a solid frame, good strength and athletic ability, as well as plenty of skill.  He does a very good job of orchestrating offense, whether it be getting up the floor quickly on the break or getting teammates into the right positions.  Colbert is a three-level scorer as he finishes well in traffic at the rim, has a reliable jumper and floater in the lane, and hits three-point shots at a good rate.  While he struggled to put up numbers in the semis against Montverde, against the talented and experienced guard corps of Riviera Prep and DME Academy, Colbert finished with 22 (4-8 from three) and 23 (5-6 from three) respectively.  A solid on-ball defender thanks to his speed and strength, Colbert is a two-way guard with a high ceiling.

Katanjay Jenkins, DME Academy: A 6’7 sophomore, Jenkins play off the bench was a catalyst for DME every time out.  A double-double machine, Jenkins averaged just over 13 points and 11 rebounds a contest over the course of three games.  Very active on the offensive glass and in transition, he displayed some developing perimeter skills.  He drained a couple of catch-and-shoot threes and finished at the rim on a few one & two-dribble drives.  He plays with great energy at both ends of the floor and has an appetite for contact.  Defensively, Jenkins has the physical tools and gifts to guard both perimeter and post with great effectiveness.

Quincy Douby, Jr, Riviera Prep: A 6’5 junior, he has greatly elevated his game since the loss of R.J. Livingston and Myles Fuentes to injury.  Douby opened the event with 32 points in a close loss to The Rock.  He came back to earth a bit against Northside Christian in a consolation round win then skyrocketed back up with 31 points in the consolation title game.  In his two 30+ point games, Douby was highly efficient: 13-21 (5-9 from three) and 11-15 (7-9) from three.  He’s long and athletic but does an excellent job of playing low and under control with the ball.  Douby has good ball-skills and doesn’t hesitate to attack defenses with the dribble.  His is disruptive in the passing lanes on defense and his size and length make it difficult for opponents to pass over or around him.

Devin Toatley, Bethel Academy: A 5’11 senior, Toatley was a consistent performer for a Bethel team that reached the consolation finals.  While under six feet tall, Toatley is well-built and strong.  It is difficult to keep him out of the lane, he isn’t afraid to take contact and completed a lot of “and one” opportunities this past weekend.  While a volume shooter and not always efficient, Toatley made enough perimeter shots on either side of the arc to be played honestly by defenders.  He averaged a little over three assists per game at the event but his turnover count was low and he generally made good shot vs pass decisions when on the move with the basketball.  Toatley uses his strength well to compensate for his height deficiency at the defensive end of the floor.

Josiah Gillard, Dr. Phillips: A 6’0 sophomore, he is definitely the catalyst for the Panthers.  Not only did Gillard lead the team in scoring at 17 ppg over the course of the event, he also served up just over 6 assists per contest.  Quick and crafty with the ball, Gillard gets to his spots, slithers into openings, and finds good shots for himself and for teammates.  A respectable shooter on either side of the arc, Gillard is adept at scoring from the mid-range with pull-ups and floaters.  He is quick to find open cutters and perimeter shooter, getting them the ball in the right place at the right time.  Gillard puts in effort on the defensive end, has quick hands, and is alert to double team unsuspecting opponents.