Xavier Campbell, Leesburg: The 6’0 senior displayed a reliable touch from behind the arc. He then took advantage of defenders playing too close to attack the basket and make plays. Campbell come up clutch from the foul line when the game got tight in the closing minutes.
Noah Ford, Leesburg: The 6’6 senior was a solid presence in the lane. While he may not be super-bouncy, Ford knows how to carve out space and use his strength and frame to his advantage. He has a nice touch around the basket and controls his rebounding area.
Dax Philgeon, Winter Park Lake Howell: A 6’5 sophomore, he has excellent physical and athletic tools. Strong and quick, Philgeon gets a lot done just by being active and energetic. His perimeter shot needs continued refinement but he is tough to stop when attacking the basket either in transition or half-court.
Jayden Strawder, Deltona Pine Ridge: The 6’7 junior understands he is most productive in the paint. He has basic but reliable post moves that he uses to score, is active on the glass at both ends, and is a reliable partner in ball-screen action. Strawder is actively working to improve his perimeter skills and making great strides in those areas.
Antwan Tennell, Deltona Pine Ridge: A 6’1 senior, Tennell is fun to watch thanks to his court vision and passing skills. He gets the ball quickly where it needs to go, is adept at threading needles with passes and has a sixth sense as to where his teammates and defenders are at all times. Tennell attacks the basket with a plan and is a respectable perimeter shooter.
Kevin Edou, Orlando Olympia: The 6’6 senior was thought to be playing in South Florida for his final season but opted to stay with the Titans, which is probably best for all involved. Edou is an energizer that plays hard at all times and makes positive plays because of his motor. He can defend multiple positions, is a consistent lob threat and a dynamic finisher on the break.
C.J. Thomas, Winter Haven: The 6’3 junior has moved from the Orlando area to play for the Blue Devils. While his lefty perimeter shot may not come from a text book, it goes in often enough for the defense to respect it. Thomas then uses his quickness and ball skills to get past his initial defender and weave through any help that comes to get to and score at the basket. He also proved to be an accurate and willing passer when penetrating the defense.
Avery Jones, Gainesville Oak Hall: The 6’6 sophomore looks like he could average a triple-double in his first year at Oak Hall. Jones is a point forward with size, court vision, and great basketball instincts. He can score inside and out but derives greater pleasure from tossing assists from all angles and distances.
Willie Brooks, Gainesville Oak Hall: A 6’5 sophomore, Brooks brings scoring and speed to the Oak Hall table. He has a nice touch from deep, is quick up and down the court in transition, and attacks to rim with a quick first step off the dribble. Brooks’ length and quickness make him disruptive in the passing lanes on defense.
Max Whitmer, Gainesville Oak Hall: A 6’0 junior, the lefty has always been a dangerous three-point marksman. Now, with the likes of Jones, Brooks, and 6’5 sophomore Mateo Johnson around him, defenders can’t stay attached to him. Given a sliver of room, Whitmer will knock it down from well beyond the high school line.
Naqualen Gunter, Winter Haven: A 6’4 senior, he and another teammate didn’t make it to the game until the second half due to inaccurate directions. Gunter quickly made up for lost time, dropping in threes and mid-range twos to rack up quick points. He has a solid frame that he uses to bounce defenders off of him to create room for his shot.
Zayden Garcia, The Villages: A 6’4 sophomore, Garcia should get plenty of run this year with a loaded Villages squad. He has a great feel for the game, solid skills, and the ability to play on or off the basketball. Garcia shoots it well out to the arc, finishes drives despite contact, and makes good pass vs shot decisions on the move.
Tico Smith, Lakeland Victory Christian: A 6’0 junior, Smith showed he is a three-level scorer on Saturday. Mid-range pull-ups, threes from college distance, and crafty moves on the way to and finishes at the basket had defenders wondering what more they could do to contain him. Smith is solid with the ball on offense and works hard to contain the dribbler on defense.
Geno Hayes, Gainesville P.K. Yonge: A 6’9 senior, Hayes is a bit of a late bloomer but is rapidly showing he should be given an opportunity at the D-I level. He has length and athleticism, plays hard, and doesn’t shy away from physical play around the basket at either end of the floor. Hayes was proficient as an offensive rebounder and shot blocker on Saturday.
Raiden Burke, Tampa Morgan: A 6’3 junior, Burke has solid ball skills and can play either guard spot. He doesn’t force things, makes the most of his scoring opportunities, and showed some ability to create off the dribble and score. Burke is a bit on the thin side now but no doubt he will continue to mature physically and that will help raise his recruiting value.