MVP: Dante Allen, Montverde Academy – The 6’4 senior and Villanova signee set the tone for the tournament with his first round 18 points, going 5-5 from behind the arc and dishing out six assists. Allen tallied 13 points in the semi-final win, canning two big free throws with twelve seconds left to put the game out of reach for Calvary Christian. In the final he accounted for ten points but he always seemed to make a big play when it counted, and it certainly looked like he got a piece of CIA Bella Vista Prep’s last second three-point shot to tie the game. No doubt his championship experience, both with state champ Riviera Prep the last two seasons and with the Nightrydas Elite in the Nike EBYL the past three summers, was a big help to the Eagles in securing the tournament title.
C.J. Ingram, Montverde Academy – The 6’6 senior and future Florida Gator could easily have been named Co-MVP for his three-game performance. Game one saw Ingram fill the stat sheet to the turn of 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. He was the team’s leading scorer in the semis with 16 points while also adding 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. In the title game, Ingram scored 13 points and collected 6 rebounds. His athleticism and versatility at both ends of the court did not go unnoticed.
Miles Sadler, CIA Bella Vista – The 6’0 junior would most certainly have been named MVP of the event had CIA pulled off the championship. Sadler had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in the semi-final win vs. Utah Prep and followed that performance up with 16 points against Montverde. Sadler proved to be lightning-quick with the ball, a crafty finisher and passer once in the paint and a reliable perimeter shooter. He is dynamic, fun to watch, and a pure point guard that can score as well as facilitate.
Jaion Pitt, CIA Bella Vista – The 6’7 senior was very consistent in his play over the course of the three games. He had 14 points on Day One and 13 in the semi-finals. In a low-scoring title game, his point production was low at just five but he did grab five rebounds and hand out three assists. The unsigned senior is getting the most interest from Arizona State, Cal, Oklahoma State and Utah State. He is ranked just outside of the national top 100 and showcased his length, athleticism, and ability to play inside and out this past weekend.
Shon Abaev, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian – The 6’7 senior headed to Cincinnati just may be the best contested shooter in the country. He started off the event with a solid stat line of 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in what some called an upset of AZ Compass Prep. Against Montverde in the semis, he struggled from the field and scored just seven points but still contributed in a major way with eight rebounds and four assists. In the consolation game against Utah Prep and facing top-ranked senior A.J. Dybantsa, Abaev had his best game of the tournament. He tallied 32 points to go along with 2 blocks and 3 steals. Scouts tend to rave about his scoring prowess and it is deserved, but Abaev is an under-rated passer that finds teammates for open and easy shots.
A.J. Dybantsa, Utah Prep – The 6’8 senior and BYU signee put on a show all three days of the event. Considered the top prospect in high school basketball regardless of class, Dybantsa kicked off things in a big way in the team’s first game of the event, notching 35 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, each stat sheet entry seemingly more exciting than the last. In the semis, he was nearly as proficient scoring 33 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in an effort that fell just short of getting his team into the championship game. In the third place game, fatigue arguably set in as he scored “just” 19 points. Dybantsa has a great frame, high-level athleticism, an even higher skill level and a beyond that basketball IQ. Tracy McGrady and/or Kobe Bryant comparisons (at the same age) are NOT hyperbole. This my friends is what a certified “one and done” looks like.
Matt Able, Weston Sagemont: We saw the 6’5 senior and Miami commit at the beginning of January at the Sun Bash in Tampa for the first time this season and he was very good. However, he took his game up several notches this weekend, showing why he got such a massive rankings bump after a solid live period in July. Able put up 39 points in the team’s first game of the event, 35 of those coming in the second half against Utah Prep. He also grabbed six rebounds and had 4 steals. In the consolation semis, Able got more scoring help from his teammates, so his 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists seemed pedestrian compared to day one. In the consolation finals, Able was back at it, dropping 27 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in a tough loss to AZ Compass Prep. Whether it was dropping shots from beyond the arc with a quick, fluid release or getting to the basket and completing tough finishes in traffic with either hand, Able proved to be a remarkably dynamic yet consistent scorer.