Adrian Cordoba, Orlando Academy of Central Florida: A 6’5 senior, every time we watch Cordoba play, he shows us a little bit more of his game. As always, his ability to knock down the three-ball stood out. This weekend, Cordoba displayed good court awareness, passing skills, and continual movement without the basketball. He made shots after cutting into the lane, receiving the ball, and scoring in a crowd. Cordoba returned the favor with passing to cutters, moved the ball quickly to open shooters on the perimeter and found ways to get the ball inside to his “bigs”. He plays with great energy, rebounds well for his size, and does a great job of scoring without forcing the issue.
Precious Sam, Orlando Southeastern Prep: A 6’11 senior, Sam plays with an athletic physicality that defies his first name. He moves up and down the court well, actively rebounds at both ends and offers solid rim protection. Sam is primarily an interior scorer but did knock down one shot facing the basket from around twelve feet, making us think it won’t be difficult for him to make that a consistent weapon. He looks to deny post position, is quick to help and recover on defense, and does a good job of not biting on ball and/or body fakes. Sam is a consistent finisher as a rim runner in transition and lob threat at the end of pick-and-roll action.
James Jenkins, Daytona Beach DME Academy: A 6’4 sophomore, Jenkins is a confident scorer and did well playing against much older competition this past weekend. He is a perimeter threat on both sides of the arc and can make the shot with consistency off the catch or the dribble. Jenkins is very adept at using the step-back dribble to create space for his shot. If that is taken away, he is quick to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket, seeking contact. Jenkins is a good free throw shooter and spends plenty of time at the line over the course of a contest. He is a decent ball-handler and passer at this early stage of development. Jenkins puts in a good effort on defense and rebounds at both ends.
Emmanuel Onoja, Fort Lauderdale Prolific Prep National: A 6’8 junior, Onoja is all about playing hard and getting the most out of his physical gifts and athletic ability. He is an out-of-area rebounder and staunch rim protector on the defensive end. Onoja is quick off the floor and uses a generous wingspan to get to rebounds before opponents and to swat shots in the lane. He is fast up the floor in transition, is a lob threat at all times, and is capable of scoring with regularity from twelve feet and in.
J.J. Watts, Orlando Southeastern Prep: A 6’8 senior, Watts is a very good complementary piece on a team with national aspirations. A good athlete with length, he is good at attacking the rim from inside the arc and will finish with either a resounding dunk or something requiring much more finesse. Watts is effective from the “dunker spot” as he gets off the floor quickly to put down shots well over the rim. He is an active offensive rebounder and acceptable ball-handler and passer on the perimeter. Watts has the size and physical gifts to be a versatile defender, whether guarding players in the post or harassing ball-handlers out on the perimeter.
Alexy Figueroa, Orlando Academy of Central Florida: A 6’4 sophomore, Figueroa had a great shooting night on Saturday, drilling five in a row before missing his final two. He is always shot-ready, has good form, and seems unbothered by contesting defenders. Figueroa plays at a good pace, has good ball-handling skills and passing instincts, and it wouldn’t surprise if he becomes an XL point guard down the road. He is a sneaky rebounder at both ends, disrupts passing lanes on defense, and isn’t shy about challenging bigger players when attacking the basket off the dribble.
Exauce Mbyumba, Bradenton Victory Rock Prep: A 6’8 junior, Mbyumba is a burly and bouncy forward that attacks the game at both ends of the court. He is fierce and physical around the basket as he scores and rebounds in a crowd. Mbyumba moves well up the floor, is a shot challenger & changer in the lane, and is a willing screener. He knocked down his free throws and connected on a mid-range shot, leading us to believe that by this time next season he could be a perimeter threat.
Axel Greaves, Wellington Sports Academy Regional: A 6’8 senior, Greaves may not be the most athletic post player you will find but he is solid both physically and fundamentally. He scores well with basic post moves near the hoop and showed he can be a consistent shot maker from fifteen feet and in. Greaves rebounds his area, is quick to outlet the ball to start the break and does a good job of hedging and helping on ball screens.
Max Lazala, Orlando Exclusive Prep: A 6’5 sophomore, Lazala has a solid base of skills and athleticism. He excels at moving without the ball and scoring quickly near the basket after teammates find him with the ball. Lazala rebounds well for his size, had some nice passes for assists in the games we took in, and plays with great confidence for a young player. We didn’t see him take any perimeter shots so that will be the next step in his offensive evolution.
Kamal Mason, Fort Lauderdale Prolific Prep HS: A 5’11 junior, it was Mason that was tossing all those successful lob passes to his “bigs” early in the game to give Prolific a large and comfortable lead. He is quick with the ball, keeps his head up, and makes good decisions on the move. When the tempo slowed down, Mason showed that he can get paint touches and distribute the ball to open shooters or teammates around the basket. Lateral quickness and active hands and feet allowed him to make an impact on the defensive end.
Ben Neely, Miami Calusa Prep: A 6’5 junior, Neely is what we like to refer to as a “dancing bear”; an undersized big guy that is light on his feet and knows how to use his sizable frame to make plays. He frequents the basket by either backing his man down or getting him on his hip as he drives hard to the hole. Neely uses his body to carve out space to outrebound bigger foes and keep opponents away from the basket.