This past Sunday, The Villages hosted the Hoop Vibe Fall Showcase.  Over 100 players took part in the event.  A good mix of new and familiar faces stood out.

C.J. Hall, Hilliard: The 6’3 senior is arguably the top player in Florida’s new Rural classification and one of the better seniors overall.  A high-level athlete with strength, he excels at getting to and scoring at the basket.  Hilliard has no problem getting above the rim and putting down lobs.  On Sunday, he showed that he has expanded his game as he was a consistent shooter on both sides of the three-point line as well as making good reads in ball-screen situations.  Hall has the size, skills, and athletic ability to play either guard spot on the collegiate level.

Connor Corris, Orlando Bishop Moore: The 6’8 junior was super-impressive at the event.  The lefty displayed more than ample doses of skill and run/jump athleticism.  Corris has range to the arc on his jump shot, can create and make that shot off the bounce, and drive past defenders that overplay him for the shot.  He has solid and effective post moves, works the glass at both ends and swiftly gets out in transition.  Corris moves well laterally on defense, alters shots at the basket, and has the ability to switch out on ball-screens to defend smaller opponents. Big time debut.

Jonathan Watts, Orlando Olympia: We touched on the 6’7 sophomore in our “Fall Ballin’” report but Watts was so good in this different setting that he more than deserves an encore.  He has excellent physical tools in terms of speed, quickness, agility, and size.  Watts has the skills to be a grab and go rebounder, pushing the ball up the floor in transition, getting the ball ahead to teammates, then sprinting to the rim for a lob or putback before the defense can get set.  He proved to be a reliable shooter from deep and a capable mid-range shooter off the dribble.  Watts is quick off the floor for offensive rebounds and to challenge shots on the defensive end.  Every indication is that he has what it takes to be a mid- to high-major recruit in the future if he continues to work on his game.

Deng Deng, Bradenton IMG: The 6’9 junior was a late add to the event and not on the team rosters but his play compelled us to seek out information.  Admittedly, he started off a bit slow with some easy misses around the rim, but as the game progressed, he calmed down and was able to get things going his way.  An athletic big with very quick second and third leaps, Deng is a factor on the offensive glass as well as an imposing shot blocking threat.  He gets up and down the court quickly, doesn’t shy away from physical play, and is energetic.  When Deng dropped in a mid-range jumper followed by a three in transition, we were a bit stunned.  If that perimeter scoring ability is consistent, his recruiting level goes up a notch or two.

Cordarius White, Gainesville High: The 6’5 junior lite up the scoreboard from deep in the last game of the day, going 6-9 in the process, making shots off the dribble, in transition, and off the catch from kickouts by teammates.  A good athlete with a solid frame, White also proved to be a capable distributor of the basketball, making some high-level passes in transition as well as to cutters in the half-court.  Because his outside shot was falling with regularity, we didn’t get to see much from White in terms of attacking the basket with the dribble.  However, given his athletic ability and skills, we doubt that is an issue.  Physically, he has what it takes to be a versatile defender.

Paul Burkhardt, Ponte Vedra: The 6’4 senior looks and plays taller than that listing.  He was active rebounding the ball at both ends, sprinted the floor in transition, and didn’t shy away from playing physically inside.  Not only did Burkhardt score the ball from all three levels on Sunday, he also showed good court vision and passing skills, finding teammates for open shots in transition, quickly moving the ball on the perimeter, or collapsing the defense with the drive then kicking the ball out.  A good athlete that plays hard, Burkhardt will be a key component to Ponte Vedra’s quest to return to the Lakeland Center.

Jaden Aristile, Lake Mary: A 6’3 junior, Aristile was not to be denied when it came to getting to the rim and scoring on Sunday.  Once he gets defenders on his hip, he has the ability to finish creatively at the basket in a crowd.  Whether going right or left, attacking from up top or along the baseline, Aristile found a way to get buckets.  The up-and-down setting of this type of event is made for him, so we hope to see him with his high school team to get a sense of his overall skillset when the game is not as chaotic.

Robert Buccino, Tampa Sickles: A 5’11 sophomore, Buccino didn’t play like he had just one year of high school under his belt.  He shot the ball well from the perimeter, controlled tempo, got to and scored at the basket when the opportunity presented itself and was active on defense.  Buccino has a solid frame and plays with a bit of a swagger that throws off opponents.  He’s tough and competes on every possession at both ends of the floor.