A look at some of the more notable players at this past weekend’s Wally Keller Classic.
Obang Ochan, Fort Myers Gateway Charter: The 6’2 senior played with great energy and produced in a lot of different areas in the scorebook. Ochan made his open perimeter shots, got to and scored at the basket via the dribble and proved to be a ball-hawk on defense. He rebounds very well at both ends for his size.
Darius Livingston, Lake Alfred Discovery: A 6’2 senior and Robert Morris signee, he nearly led his team to a comeback win in Saturday’s first game. Livingston was 5-8 from behind the arc, dished out six assists and proved to be effective at either guard spot. He’s tough to contain off the dribble and makes good pass vs. shot decisions when the defense collapses on his drives.
Jadus Sorhaindo, Tampa Berkeley Prep: The 6’7 sophomore is a powerful presence inside. Sorhaindo has solid post moves and a soft touch on either side of the rim. His range is now reliable to fifteen feet and his ball-handling and passing skills continue to improve. Sorhaindo does a good job of controlling his rebounding area at both ends of the floor.
Joseph Jean, Miami Senior: The 6’4 senior plays the game at full throttle. Jean is an active slasher and transition finisher who also actively crashes the glass at both ends. His perimeter shot can be inconsistent but he more than makes up for that with defensive tenacity. Jean excels at making the tough plays that lead to wins but don’t necessarily show up in the box score.
Jah’mir Wallace, Bartow: The 6’4 freshman certainly doesn’t have the physique of your typical freshman and plays like a point-power forward. Wallace is big and strong but surprisingly skilled in terms of handling and passing the basketball. He is difficult to keep away from the basket once decides to take it strong to the hole. It will be interesting to watch his development over the next few seasons.
Sergio Robinson, Milton: The 6’0 senior looks and plays bigger than his listed size. Robinson did a lot of different things in Milton’s near comeback: scored on drives, in transition, catch-and-shoot threes, as well as putbacks off teammates’ misses. He did a good job of connecting with open teammates for scores in that game-closing run that nearly got the Panthers an improbable win.
Jayden Petit, Naples First Baptist Academy: The 6’5 junior is a great athlete whose future is supposedly on the football field. Petit is strong and active in the paint, rebounds out of his area at both ends of the floor and is a good passer. Petit may not create his own shot but he certainly knows how to create opportunities by chasing offensive rebounds, beating opponents down the floor in transition, and jumping passing lanes to turn steals into scores.
Mikah Taylor, Naples First Baptist Academy: The 5’11 sophomore started as a freshman last season and carries himself like an experienced senior. Taylor keeps his head and surveys the court when bringing the ball up the floor, even when facing heavy pressure. He showed three-point range on his perimeter shot as well as a developing mid-range game. We were also impressed with his toughness and composure over the course of the contest.
Jerry Ashley, Fort Myers Bishop Verot: A 6’8 senior, his teammates were rarely able to get him the ball in the post. When Ashley did get touches, good things happened. Strong, mobile, and athletic, he has good scoring tools inside, runs the floor, gets high for rebounds and blocks, and is always available as a lob threat. Another bonus is that Ashley is a consistent free-throw shooter.
Toby Lane, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic: The 5’11 junior is a solid, heady point guard that knows what it takes to win and goes out and does it on a consistent basis. Lane is a crafty ball-handler, makes open perimeter shots, makes good pass vs. shot decisions when penetrating the defense and does a good job of keeping in front of his opponent on the dribble.
Tate Darner, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic: The 6’4 senior and UT-Chattanooga signee has gone from being a long-range sniper to a complete player. Darner is creative off the dribble to create separation for his perimeter shot or to get by defenders and score at the basket. He gets the ball to open teammates at the right time and has great improved his on-ball defensive skills.
Johnny Lackaff, Sarasota High School: The 6’2 sophomore is a heady competitor. Not once but twice in the game we witnessed Lackaff was able to work the clock down at the end of a quarter and score to give his team momentum; once with a three-pointer and once with a drive and score at the rim. He can play either guard spot, shots the ball well off the catch or the dribble from either side of the arc, is a strong driver & finisher as well as an excellent free throw shooter and distributor.
Spencer Clayton, Naples Barron Collier: The 6’3 senior was impressive with his ability knock down shots consistently from behind the arc off both the catch and the dribble. If teams over play Clayton for the shot, he has the speed and strength to get by the defense, attack the basket, and either score or get the ball to an open teammate for a better shot.