Much more to cover from this past weekend’s Hoop Exchange Fall Festival at The Big House in Tavares.
LAKE HIGHLAND PREP
This group may not have much size but they play with great chemistry and intelligence. Michael Madueme, a 6’5 senior and Columbia commit, does a little bit of everything. He is a solid ball-handler and passer on the wing, rebounds at both ends, and is creative in his ability to score. R.J. Ingram, a 6’3 senior with growing D-I interest, is a strong and athletic guard that excels at getting to the basket and scoring in traffic. His perimeter shot continues to improve, makes good shot vs pass decisions on the move, and can be disruptive in the passing lanes. Shiva Atwal, a 6’5 senior, has developed into much more than a reliable catch-and-shoot perimeter specialist. He has improved as a rebounder and passer. Robert Oskarson, a 6’1 senior, spaces the floor with his deep shooting range, is a solid secondary ball-handler, and unafraid to challenge opponents on defense. Mark Dadlani, a 6’4 junior, is another reliable perimeter threat. As one of the bigger players on the team, he realizes that he needs to provide help on the glass at both ends and works hard to do so.
THE VILLAGES CHARTER
This group is expected to be one of the better teams in the state regardless of class this season. Despite missing a pair of starters, 6’6 senior and recent LSU commit Hurley Brutus and 6’0 junior Aaron Britt, The Villages pretty much looked as expected. Cameron Lee, a 6’0 freshman, seamlessly runs the squad from the point guard spot. He is savvy beyond his years, uses his speed and quickness with the ball to break down defenses, makes the game easier for his teammates and possesses a reliable perimeter shot. Jared Thompson, a 6’3 senior, is solid with his ability to make shots on either side of the arc, slash to the basket for scores, and covers a lot of ground at the defensive end. Ethan Bevis, a 6’6 senior, has a formidable inside/outside game. He is a good ball-handler, reliable shooter to just beyond the arc, and is a tough rebounder and rim runner in transition. Kymani Weathers, a 6’8 senior, brings needed toughness and a post presence to the team. He will score with some basic post moves, is a legit lob threat at all times, and a physical defender and rebounder. Jomar Bernard, a 6’6 junior, is a smooth athlete with good perimeter skills. He is a match-up problem with his ability to shoot over smaller defenders and blow past bigger ones to score at the basket. Zayden Garcia, a 6’4 freshman, will see a lot of playing time. The lefty handles and passes the ball well, knocks down open shots, and plays with great pace and poise.
CARDINAL GIBBONS
This group ran pretty much with an “Iron Five” in the game we took in but that seemed to be plenty in a double-digit win. We can’t say enough good things about the play of A.J. Ambrose, a 5’9 senior. He has great skills, a high basketball IQ, and consistently makes the game easier for his teammates. Ambrose is very good at finishing in traffic at the basket, a reliable perimeter shooter, makes great shot vs. pass decisions, and is a clever pest on the defensive end as he surprises with double-teams and seems to appear out of thin air to disrupt the passing lanes. Running along side Ambrose is 6’4 senior wing Justus Dylan Herbert. A high-level athlete that has worked very hard to become a skilled basketball player, Herbert is an excellent scorer inside the arc both as a driver and pull-up shooter. He will knock down open three-point shots if the defense plays too far off. Herbert is a terror both in transition and on the offensive glass, routinely finishing above the rim. He also defends multiple positions thanks to his solid frame and athletic ability. Evan Wyche, a 6’4 senior, does a little bit of everything and it usually adds up to a “W”. A long, wiry athlete, Wyche is an opportunistic scorer that makes the most of his chances in transition, cuts into the lane, putbacks, and simply knowing when and where to be on offense. He too is a versatile defender. J.P Fernandez, a 6’3 junior, helps out wherever he can, usually in the rebounding department and connecting on open perimeter shots. K.J. Ambrose, a 5’7 freshman and Chandler Sikes, a 6’1 junior, provide help off the bench.
SAINT ANDREWS
Full Disclosure: this was our favorite team to watch this past weekend. The ball and player movement, team chemistry, and individual as well as overall skill of the team was a breath of fresh air. The senior duo of 6’2 Xander Gerard and 6’0 Brendan Gerard is extremely potent. Each dribbles, passes, and shoots at a high level, plays unselfishly, and has an accurate shot from well past the high school arc. Sneaky athletic, both Xander and Brendan can get past defenders into the lane and breakdown defenses by making the right play at the right time either via the pass or the shot. Lynden Adea, a 5’11 sophomore, asserted himself as a player to watch with his speed, quickness, ability to connect from deep and get the ball inside. Lukas Buinevicius, a 6’4 senior, impressed with his overall energy level, work on the glass, and inside/out scoring ability. Ben MacGibbon, a 6’5 senior, Andrej Stankovic, a 6’7 junior, and Jakob Wiegard, a 6’8 senior, each made an impact in the lane at both ends of the court. Each took turns feeding the other in high-low action that was quite effective. All three run the floor well, own their respective rebounding areas, and have good touch around the basket.
DR. PHILLIPS
This group of Panthers is a relatively young squad with only two seniors on its roster at the Fall Festival. Those two, 6’3 Isaiah Gillard and 6’4 London Hatch, will have a major impact on the team’s play this coming season. Gillard scores well when attacking the basket, both in transition and the half-court. He has a proficient mid-range shot and makes opponents work hard when he plays defense. Hatch is a rugged and physical player that is a deep-ball threat on every possession. He isn’t shy about taking the ball strong to the basket should a lane open up and Hatch is a strong rebounder for his size. Josiah Gillard, a 6’0 sophomore, scores and distributes at an equally high level. He is quick to get paint touches, a crafty scorer, and excels at pushing the pace and getting his team easy baskets. Caleb Smith, a 6’6 sophomore, is long, athletic, and appears to have great potential to play at the next level. He shoots the ball well from the perimeter, attacks the glass, and covers a lot of ground quickly on defense. C.J. Thomas, a 6’4 sophomore, is another Panther with a high ceiling. He handles the ball well, is quick to the basket, and plays with poise.
WELLINGTON
There is something comforting about watching Wellington play. The team just seems to play with a sense of calm and poise. Leading the way is 6’0 senior Rashard Reinhardt. He brings a lot of speed and quickness to the point guard spot. A blur in transition, Reinhardt pushes the pace, gets teammates involved, and finishes well in traffic. Julius Smith, a 6’0 senior, is a good complement to Reinhardt with his ability to stretch the floor as he shoots well out to the arc. Chase Lombardo, a 6’4 junior, is rugged on the glass at both ends, a physical driver and finisher, and plays all out every possession. Camden Wesley-Kam, a 6’5 junior, scores well around the rim, runs the floor, pursues and comes up with rebounds in and out of his area, and is a good rim protector at his size. Colton Snelgrove, a 6’5 junior, contributes scoring around the basket and is a physical interior defensive presence.