Between the City of Palms Classic, Kingdom of the Sun, and Sun Bash Tampa events, we saw some great basketball the last two-plus weeks. We supplied you with features on how certain games played out. Now it is time to go a little bit more into some standout players.
This is by no means a comprehensive list. That would take way too long to write or read. Instead we attempted to focus on some players that we have not written a great deal about, at least this season. We also made mention of some out-of-state players that were intriguing.
CITY OF PALMS CLASSIC
Darius Acuff, Bradenton IMG Academy: The 6’2 senior and Arkansas signee is simply a dynamic offensive performer. He is a four-level scoring threat, has astute passing instincts, and improved on-court leadership. Twice in two nights he put the team on his back and led them to come-from-behind wins. Acuff overpowers smaller guards and blows by bigger ones.
Jaxon Richardson, Miami Columbus: The 6’6 junior’s game has jumped to an entirely different level. He has always made things happen with his length, energy, and athleticism, but now his basketball skills are catching up. The result is a highly effective two-way player that finds a lot of ways to impact the game.
Tounde Yessoufou, CA St. Joseph: The 6’5 senior and Baylor committ was just too big and strong to be stopped. When he wasn’t bully-balling opponents in the paint, he was dropping in perimeter shots from either side of the arc. His physical gifts allow him to make an impact on the boards and at the defensive end.
Jalen Montanati, OK Owasso: Owasso was pretty much the shocker of the tournament, pulling off wins vs EYBL Scholastic teams Long Island Lutheran and La Lumiere. The big reason was Montanati’s accuracy from deep. The 6’7 junior also proved to be more physically tough than first appeared, and distributes the ball effectively when the offense is run through him.
Adrien Stevens, MD Bullis School: The 6’5 Stevens impressed with his hard play, scoring instincts, and defensive “rambunctiousness”. He is a tough cover as he can drive the ball effectively and score through contact in traffic or knock down perimeter shots when defenders sag off him. He will be a very good fit at Marquette.
KINGDOM OF THE SUN
Jonathan Sanderson, TN Ensworth: A 6’4 junior, Sanderson is a combo guard that is equally comfortable playing on or off the ball. He has some “swagger” to his game, does a good job of using angles and change of direction to get to and score at the basket and his jumper proved to be reliable out to the arc. He helps out on the glass and does a good job of pushing the pace.
Abdou Toure, CT Notre Dame: The 6’6 junior is a sleek athlete with skills, Toure scored 20 points in the game we watched, all in the second half as he never forced the issue and got his teammates good looks when the double-team came his way. His length and quickness allow him to play bigger when it comes to rebounding and at the defensive end.
Dwayne Wimbley, Jr., Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: The 6’7 The Florida State signee makes an impact in every area of the game, even those that can’t be measured statistically. He outrebounds bigger opponents to start the break, makes good decisions with the ball on the move, has become a reliable perimeter shooter and finishes well at the basket in traffic. The perfect leader for a young but talented team.
Oneal Delancey, St. Petersburg Gibbs: The 6’4 sophomore has really taken his game to another level as he has become more consistent and less streaky with his performance at the offensive end of the court. He does a good job of mixing mid-range pull-ups with forays to the rim, keeping defenders off balance. His perimeter shot continues to improve and he never fails to put in great effort on the defensive end.
Clarence Westbrook, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: The 6’1 sophomore came up big in the championship game with his ability to score from various angles and distances. He understands how to create space and get a quality shot off that is within his range. He may not make deep threes at this point, but he is definitely a three point threat. Westbrook has a solid mid-range game, moves well without the ball, and anticipates well on the defensive end.
SUN BASH TAMPA
Matt Able, Weston Sagemont Prep: The 6’5 senior and Miami commit only played one game at the Sun Bash but it was certainly notable. His 34 points included deep threes off both the bounce and the catch, completing tough drives in traffic, and above the rim finishes on the break. He has high level speed, quickness and athleticism and uses those attributes well at both ends of the court.
Bobby Crawford, St. Petersburg Gibbs: Gibbs was just one of two teams to finish 3-0 at the Sun Bash. The Gladiators also reached the title game of the Kingdom of the Sun and placed second in the City of Palms Sunshine Series. Long and bouncy, the 6’7 senior has a nose for the ball coming off the rim at both ends, gets several easy baskets off offensive rebounds, runs the floor for scores and has developed a potent perimeter shot if left alone. He came up big with a double-double against a tough The Villages squad.
Ethan Bergantino, Clearwater Calvary Christian: Calvary Christian was the other team to finish 3-0 at Sun Bash. Bergantino was named the team’s Player of the Game after all three wins. Mentally and physically tough, the 6’3 junior doesn’t back down from a challenge. He loves to take the ball hard to the basket and draw contact. He’s a good passer on the perimeter and a solid ball-handler vs. pressure.
Willy Piggott, Tampa Catholic: The 6’5 junior is a springy athlete, but Piggot does not rely on his physical gifts to make an impact. He proved to be a solid scorer, creating shots off the dribble or getting by opponents to score at the basket. He finishes well above the rim, is fast down the floor in transition, and has all the tools to be a disruptive defender.
T.J. Drain, Windermere: The 6’8 senior and Liberty commit has been unstoppable at times this year, having several 25+ point outings. He posts up strong, has a soft jump hook in the lane and he can step away from the basket and make perimeter shots. An improved athlete, he has become a much better rim protector over the last year. Maybe the best part is he knows what he is and doesn’t waste time trying to be something he’s not.