James Saulsby, Coral Springs: The 6’2 rising senior has had a solid spring on the travel team circuit and showed why at this event. A solid athlete with a good frame, Saulsby shoots the ball very well from the perimeter. His reliable range is past the college line and he gets his shot off quickly before the defense can recover. Saulsby will drive to the basket if the defensive closeout is too aggressive. He also does a good job of grabbing rebounds against bigger opponents.
Derek Delgordo, Tampa Leto: The 6’1 rising senior is a very aggressive scorer and puts a lot of pressure on defenses. Delgordo is adept at both driving strong to the basket and scoring in traffic and creating shots on either side of the arc off the dribble. He makes some tough shots and gets a lot of “and one” opportunities during the course of the game. Good thing he makes the vast majority of his free throws. Delgordo looks to score and/or draw a foul when attacking the basket but every now and then will fire off a pass to an open teammate.
Vincent Stewart, Boca Raton St. Andrew’s: A 6’9 rising junior, Stewart showed plenty of promise with his play this past weekend. He has a solid build and good athletic ability, scores well in the paint and has a good touch from the free throw line. Though maybe not as explosive athletically as he will be in a couple of years, Stewart has no problem dunking home lobs and putbacks. His jump hook in the lane is reliable and he has good hands to catch tough passes. Defensively Stewart challenges shots in the lane and controls his rebounding area.
J.T. Lipton, Lecanto: A 5’10 rising sophomore, Lipton struggled from deep in the game we took in but made some tough mid-range shots off the dribble, many of which were highly contested. Lipton is a reliable ball-handler and pushes the pace whenever possible. He has a solid frame and is quicker than he looks. According to the score sheets, Lipton had other games where he made multiple (three or more) shots from behind the arc, so we hope to see him again and get a better feel for his perimeter shooting.
Brady Patterson, Jacksonville Providence: The 6’0 rising senior continues to have a breakout “off season”. He plays both on and off the ball for Providence and is productive in both roles. Patterson’s perimeter shot is consistent, he makes good pass vs. shot decisions, and handles the ball well vs. pressure. He plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and seemingly delights in challenging opponents on both ends of the floor. Patterson may not be the most athletic player on the court but he moves his feet well and is a pest for opposing ball-handlers.
Jacob Daniels, St. Petersburg Gibbs: A 6’0 rising junior, Daniels is a solid point guard that is vastly underrated. He is very quick to the rim and can either score or create shot opportunities for teammates once he gets in the lane. Daniels is a crafty finisher at the basket and has a reliable floater and mid-range jumper when he gets in the paint. Very quick, he makes plays at both ends of the floor. Defensively he anticipates the passing lanes well and gets to a lot of loose balls, converting many into easy scores.
Christian Maxon, Fort Pierce Central: A 6’2 rising junior, Maxon struggled a bit early in the contest we watched but found his groove later. He impressed with his mid-range scoring, toughness, and instincts at the defensive end of the floor. Maxon handles the ball well, creates space with his dribble, and stays alert on drives to the basket for open teammates. He is also a reliable foul shooter. Maxon plays with a great deal of energy and effort at both ends, making a great many positive plays for his team.
Christopher Maxon, Fort Pierce Central: A 6’2 rising junior and twin brother of Christian mentioned above, this Maxon appeared to be a bit better at both creating his own shot and scoring more consistently from behind the three-point line. He also scored well on drives, in transition, and cuts to the basket. Maxon also was active on the offensive glass and got a few easy points that way. Physically and mentally tough, he comes hard at the opponent at both ends of the floor.
Reggie Reinhardt, Wellington: A 6’0 rising senior, Reinhardt is tough with the ball and physically very strong. It was very hard for defenders to keep him from where he wanted to go with the basketball. Reinhardt can score when necessary but keeps his focus on running the team and getting everyone involved. He makes good decisions on the move, is unbothered by defensive pressure, and is very active on the defensive end.
Toney Collins, Wellington: A 6’3 rising senior, Collins is a physical wing that scores well on drives and mid-range shots. He has a strong frame, rebounds well at both ends of the floor, and plays bigger than his size. Collins made some tough shots over and around bigger defenders this weekend. Defensively, he is disruptive in the passing lanes, quick to get in position to draw charges, and has the strength to push bigger opponents off the block.