We spent Saturday at The Big House in Tavares to take in the action from the Fire & Ice II event. A solid day of basketball, these are just some of the players that stood out.
Myle Fuentes, All Ball 17U: A 6’2 junior at Miami Riviera Prep, this was Fuentes and his team’s first time out this spring. Fully healthy, Fuentes is a high-major recruit and a solid point guard in all phases of the game. He is a three-level scorer, sees the floor and makes the right reads. Fuentes is an underrated athlete that has no problem finishing above the rim with power. Quick and active on the defensive end, he will swipe the ball if the opponent isn’t paying attention. Fuentes plays with a controlled fierceness and is a tough competitor.
Justus Herbert, FL Pro 17U: A 6’5 senior out of Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, Herbert overwhelms opponents at both ends with strength, athleticism, and an attack mentality. He is adept at getting to the basket and finishing through contact in traffic. Herbert is a solid perimeter shooter when in rhythm and improving as a mid-range scorer off the dribble. He explodes off the court for rebounds and is a threat to take the ball end-to-end for scores in transition. Thanks to his physical gifts, Herbert can defend a variety of positions.
Aaron Wood, Oviedo Magic 17U: A 6’1 junior from Cornerstone Charter in Orlando, Woods’ play in a 9AM game certainly woke us up. He showed a lot of offensive versatility as he scored on pull-ups, drives, and in transition. Wood was also solid in finding open teammates for good scoring opportunities both on drives and in transition. The team plays on all-out press on defense and Wood was disruptive in the passing lanes, getting a lot of steal-and-score buckets.
Terrell Rush, FL Sons 16U: A 5’10 freshman at Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Rush was quite potent with his combination of outside shooting and ability to penetrate the defense and make plays in the lane. He made good shot vs pass decisions when the defense collapsed on him, effectively scoring in traffic or getting the ball to an open teammate with a good shot opportunity. Rush pushed the pace but wasn’t reckless. With quick feet and active hands, he made initiating offense difficult for the opponent.
Christian Rios, FL Pro 17U: A 6’2 junior from Weston Cypress Bay, Rios stood out by fitting in, not forcing the issue, and playing with poise and a high hoops IQ. He was quick to get the ball to shooters and cutters, got the ball ahead to open teammates in transition, and made the most of his scoring opportunities. Rios connected on open perimeter shots, attacked gaps with his dribble and made good shot vs pass decisions on those drives. Alert and quick to long rebounds and 50/50 balls, Rios’ speed and quickness on the defensive end helped him and his teammates get easy scores.
Garang Kuohl, All Ball 17U: A 7’0 junior at Highlands Christian in Pompano Beach, he is a bit ahead skill-wise of the “typical African big” as he connected consistently with a little jump hook in the lane. With a lot of length and the ability to move swiftly on the court, Kuohl has physical qualities that cannot be taught. He impacts the game at both ends of the floor. He is a scoring option in the post, a lob threat, and productive offensive rebounder, either scoring himself or keeping the ball alive for a teammate. Defensively, he challenges all comers into the lane and changes or blocks most shot attempts in the area.
Jack Atkinson, Above Academy 16U: A 6’2 freshman from Ponte Vedra, Atkinson showed a good feel for the game as he scored off drives and from behind the arc, took care of the basketball and made good decisions when it came to attacking the defense. He routinely found teammates for good shots, was quick to move the ball along the perimeter, and challenged bigger players for rebounds at both ends of the floor. Atkinson struggled a bit behind the arc in the game we watched but his shot fundamentals and mechanics are sound.
K.J. Ambrose, FL Pro 16U: A 5’9 sophomore out of Cardinal Gibbons in Fort Lauderdale, Ambrose showcased a reliable stroke from deep this weekend. He’s not flashy but gets the job done when it comes to running the offense and making the most of his opportunities. Physical growth will help him take on more physical opponents at both ends of the floor in the future. He anticipates well on the defensive end, is quick to loose balls and long rebounds, and plays with a good feel for the game.