Brandon Brazell, Stuart Martin County: The 6’5 sophomore is a long athlete but what stood out were his passing skills. He did a good job finding cutters and quickly getting the ball to teammates for open shots on the perimeter. Brazell’s perimeter shot wasn’t falling but he made up for it with active hands and feet on defense and relentless pursuit of rebounds.
Omar Morales, Kissimmee Central Pointe: A 6’3 sophomore, Morales is savvy and has intangibles that can’t be taught, just refined. He shoots the ball reliably from the perimeter, is an active offensive rebounder, and is solid when it comes to handling and passing the basketball.
Aaron McGee, Palm Bay: A 6’2 sophomore, McGee stood out with his ability to drive the baseline and score. He hit floaters, tough layups, and a “noisy” dunk or two. He rebounds well for his size, is active in the passing lanes, and makes open perimeter shots.
Brisun Hammermeister, The Villages: A 6’7 sophomore, Hammermeister made his mark when it came to rebounding the basketball. He got some easy baskets at the offensive end this way and was quick to outlet defensive rebounds. He also had some noteworthy drives for scores.
Joseph Hartman, Gainesville The Rock School: A 6’5 sophomore, Hartman continues to make strides in his overall game. He shot the ball well from the perimeter and showed some previously unseen toughness and physicality in driving the ball to the basket.
Juwann Scippio, Newberry: The 6’4 sophomore may not have scored in the game we watched, but his rebounding relentlessness did not go unnoticed. When the ball went up, Scippio was certainly in the mix when it came to who was going to grab it. He was quick off the floor, rebounded out of his area, and looked to outlet the ball as soon as it was in his grasp.
Zane Elliott, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: A 6’6 sophomore, he has the body of a blacksmith and the touch of a surgeon. He makes open perimeter shots, is a solid ball-handler, rebounds the ball at both ends and is swift in transition. Elliott is a point-forward in the making.
Jayquan Freeman, Hialeah Educational Academy: A 6’5 sophomore, Freeman didn’t shoot the ball from the perimeter as well as we have seen in the past, but that didn’t stop him from impacting the game. He passionately pursued offensive rebounds, disrupted the passing lanes, was quick to get out in transition, and challenged ball-handlers on defense.
Tariq McCleod, Lake Worth: A 6’4 sophomore, McCleod impressed with his competitive nature and effort on every play. He was difficult to contain on drives and scored on many thru contact. McCleod also rebounded the ball well against bigger opponents and did a good job of keeping in firont of opposing ball-handlers.
Stefan Frisby, Davie Western: A 6’2 sophomore, Frisby is a dynamic ball-handler and passer. He has some flair to his game but ultimately he is productive as he finds teammates for open shots and finds ways to score on drives. Once his perimeter shot becomes more consistent, he will be that much more difficult for defenses to contain.
Willie Burnett, Palm Bay: A 6’4 sophomore, Burnett is a unique player. He is long and athletic but has a “herky-jerky” style of play that he effectively uses to get the defense off-balance, allowing him to make plays. Whether it is a step-back jumper from the perimeter or a drive to the hoop, Burnett creates openings for shots (and makes them) that seemingly aren’t there.
Trace Westercamp, Ponte Vedra: A 6’9 sophomore, Westercamp is a tough inside/outside scoring matchup. The lefty has a soft touch that extends to the three-point line but at times will take opponents down low and score quickly off postups. He runs the floor and challenges shots on defense.
D.J. Sandi, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: A 6’2 sophomore, Sandi may not be the shooter his younger brother is, but he brings a lot to the table that contributes to winning. He has very quick hands and feet, coming up with many tips, steals, and deflections. Sandi is a solid ball-handler and good decision maker, be it on the break or in the half-court. He makes shots inside the arc and looks to get and keep teammates involved.
A.J. Ambrose, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: A 5’11 sophomore, Abrose won’t wow you unless you know what to look for. He’s crafty, makes good decisions with the ball, finds open teammates and delivers the ball on time and on target, and makes the most of his shot opportunities. Ambrose is seemingly always the first to a loose ball or long rebound.
Maddox Palmer, Ponte Vedra: A 6’5 sophomore, something seemed to click in Maddox in the second half of the game we watch on Sunday. When it did, he took over the game as he grabbed rebounds, pushed the pace, found teammates for scores in transition and made strong, overpowering moves to the basket that usually ended in points. A good ball-handler and passer with court vision, Palmer also anticipates well on the defensive end.
Josh Theus, Orlando Christian Prep: A 6’1 sophomore, Theus gave a glimpse that he could be “next” at OCP. He showed he could score from all three levels, make plays for others with the ball, and is a much better run/jump athlete than previously thought. Theus tossed some nice passes for assists and had more than a few rebounds over bigger defenders.