We spent District Tournament Week close to home in Orlando.  Through a quirk in various district tournament schedules, we got to see the following contests:

Class 6A-District 4 Semis: Lake Howell vs. Oviedo

Class 7A-District 5 Semis: Dr. Phillips vs. Olympia & Oak Ridge vs. Windermere

Class 3A-District 6 Finals: Lake Highland Prep vs. Windermere Prep

Class 6A-District 5 Finals: Edgewater vs. Evans

Here are just some of the notable performers from those games.

Johnas Maurice, Winter Park Lake Howell: A 6’0 sophomore, Maurice is a solid perimeter shooter off the bounce or catch with collegiate range on his three-point shot.  He has a quick burst with the ball to get into the lane and is adept at knocking down floaters once there.  Maurice is very fast with the ball and pushes the pace whenever possible.  He does a good job of getting the ball to open teammates on time and on target. Maurice moves his feet quickly when guarding the ball and anticipates the passing lanes well.

Carter Oden, Oviedo: A 6’1 junior, Oden is very quick with superior ball-handling skills.  He is very adept at creating space to launch a reliable perimeter shot on either side of the arc as well as get defenders off balance to get into the lane and score from mid-range or at the basket.  Oden isn’t shy about taking contact and will gladly get to the foul line if fouled on forays to the basket.  He has good passing instincts, keeps his eyes up when pushing the ball up the court, and makes good decisions in transition.  Oden has very active hands and feet on defense and uses his body well to keep opponents from penetrating the defense.

Josiah Gillard, Orlando Dr. Phillips:  We noted the 6’0 sophomore’s play for the Panthers at the Montverde Invitational, and he was the key performer in getting DP into the district finals.  The offensive catalyst scores well behind the arc, has crafty dribble moves that he uses to get into the lane and is alert for open cutters or perimeter shooters, getting them the ball quickly for good shots.  Gillard is equally comfortable as a first-option scorer or set-up man.  Pressure and trapping defenses don’t seem to bother him.  He is a reliable free-throw shooter that comes through in big moments.

Bishop Winze, Orlando Olympia: The 6’7 junior makes a good impression with his energy, length, raw athleticism and developing skills.  He showed patience and good footwork on post moves from either side of the lane.  Winze has the ability to score off one and two-dribble drives from the high-post and short corner areas.  His shot needs to continue to be refined as does his overall perimeter ball-handling but that will no doubt come in time.  Winze is an active rebounder at both ends, runs the floor rapidly and challenges/changes/blocks shots on defense.  He has the length and lateral quickness to step out and defend on the perimeter.

Tim Winkler, Orlando Oak Ridge: We’ve been watching the 6’9 senior since he was a freshman at IMG Academy and it looks like he is getting things together at the right time.  Showing some aggression and fire around the basket, Winkler finished with authority on some lobs, putbacks, and transition baskets.  He ran the floor, pursued rebounds out of his area, and challenged multiple shots around the rim.  His rim protection is vital to the Pioneers’ pressure defense as is his ability to switch out and defend players on the perimeter in ball-screen action.

Bryce Hoffert, Windermere: What really stands out about the 6’5 junior is his court vision and passing skills.  It is uncanny how Hoffert can grab an offensive rebound and rifle the ball out for an open three-point shot or find an open teammate with a better shot cutting to the basket.  He finishes over the rim in transition and rebounds well at both ends of the floor.  Hoffert can be a big guard at the collegiate level once his perimeter shot gains greater consistency and he becomes more comfortable handling the basketball vs. pressure.  As it stands, he doesn’t really have a true position, but he makes a ton of plays at both ends of the floor to get wins for his team.

R.J. Ingram, Orlando Lake Highland Prep: The 6’3 senior has had an excellent season playing the point guard role for a very good Highlanders team. He has become very adept at spotting and getting the ball to open perimeter players. Ingram is a solidly built athlete that looks to penetrate the defense and either score or pass the ball out for a better scoring opportunity.  He is accurate in tossing lobs to the rim, throwing skip passes over zones, or simply feeding the post.  Ingram’s perimeter shot can be streaky, but he makes enough that he must be respected.  His size, speed, and strength make him a solid defender on and off the ball.

Connor Corris, Windermere Prep: The 6’7 senior made a noticeable impact in the district final vs. Lake Highland Prep.  He was an active interior scoring threat and showed touch out to fifteen feet on his shot.  Corris also had a couple of short drives for scores.  He controlled his rebounding area and challenged shots when Lake Highland players got into the lane.  Corris showed good passing skills for his size, ran the floor well, and was quick to help and recover when defending ball-screens.

Jacari Lofton, Orlando Edgewater: The 6’5 senior was nothing short of stellar in his play in the district title game vs. Evans.  He was tremendous around the basket, scoring on floaters and short-range shots.  Lofton was active as an offensive rebounder as well as a transition finisher.  He had a couple of strong drives for scores and had some lob finishes that excited the crowd. Lofton used his length, leap, and quickness to not only deny shots around the basket but also come up with steals at the backend of Edgewater’s press.  He has had this kind of talent since the start of his high school career, and it was great to see it all come together in a big game.