Tony Green, Naples: The 6’7 senior has excellent size to play the wing on the collegiate level. He is a good shooter off the catch from beyond the arc and has developed into a solid mid-range shooter off the dribble. Green gets on the glass and battles for rebounds despite a thin frame. He doesn’t drive the ball to the hoop much but when he does Green often gets points, foul shots, or both.
Ventrell Moore, Winter Haven: The 6’2 senior got the majority of his points on Saturday off drives or by pounding the offensive glass. He did connect on a shot from beyond the arc and showed good form in doing so. In addition to being a good athlete, Moore is a quick defender that is alert in the passing lanes for steals and deflections.
Anthony “A.J.” Brown, Orlando Christian Prep: The 6’4 junior’s mantra must be “attack, attack, attack”, which he does at both ends of the floor. Brown is rapidly becoming a consistent three-level scorer. He will take what the defense gives him: threes off the catch, mid-range pull-ups, or seek contact when going hard to the hole. Brown’s decision making with the ball on the move is generally solid. He has very active hands and feet on defense and is also a solid rebounder for his position.
Jackie Simmons III, Jacksonville Jackson: The 5’11 senior was the only Tiger player that could muster any offense in the game against Orlando Christian Prep. He connected on several open threes that developed from the drive and dish of teammates. Simmons also proved to be quick with the ball and showed off a nice floater in the lane to complement his perimeter shooting.
Mikey Shane, Tarpon Springs East Lake: The 6’0 senior connected on an event record nine three pointers in the contest vs. Vero Beach. While they all came off the catch, he did impress with a drive and scoring in traffic after breaking through a double-team. Shane is more than just a spot-up shooter. He is a solid ball-handler, an alert passer, and works very hard on the defensive end.
Almondo Cyrius, Vero Beach: The 6’3 senior is athletic, a good defender, and improving perimeter shooter. East Lake’s pressure defense kept the entire Vero Beach squad from getting into any rhythm. Only Cyrius was able to score with any kind of regularity.
Eric Dailey, Bradenton IMG Academy: The 6’7 junior is versatile and has a very high skill-level. The lefty is an improved perimeter shooter that is reliable out to the three-point line. Strong and athletic, he is a good rebounder at both ends of the floor. Dailey is also a good passer with court vision and often runs the offense as a point forward. With his size and physical gifts, he plays and defends multiple positions.
Ronnie Johnson, Oldsmar Christian: The 6’2 senior is a quick athlete with a burst to the basket. He consistently gets into the lane, challenges the defense, and draws a lot of fouls. Johnson pushes the pace at every opportunity. With long arms and quick feet, he has the physical tools to be a tough defender.
Walter Clayton, Bartow: The 6’3 senior is slowly but surely getting back into playing shape after missing most of the season with a knee issue. He impressed with his ability to score with either hand around the basket after drives or cuts into the lane. Clayton has a high hoops IQ, routinely finding open teammates for easy baskets. An alert defender, he comes up with more than his fair share of ball deflections or outright steals during the course of a contest.
Curtis Butler, Sarasota Riverview: The 6’4 senior is a shot-maker. On Saturday he made contested threes off both the catch and the dribble. He also showed an ability to play both guard spots. Butler is a quick athlete with active hands and feet on the defensive end.
Dillon Mitchell, Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin: The 6’8 junior got all of his points at the rim – transition, short drives, lobs and put-backs. An explosive leaper with long arms, Mitchell grabbed fourteen rebounds on Saturday. He has the ability to be a grab-and-go rebounder and is an above-average ball-handler and passer for his size and position. Mitchell covers a lot of ground quickly on defense and lazy or errant passes usually get picked off and dunked hard at the other end.
John Gamble, Punta Gorda Charlotte: The 6’6 sophomore is an other-worldly athlete. While there are times he will make a play that leaves you shaking your head, there are just as many if not more that make you gape in wonder. Gamble scores best when getting to the rim and he uses long strides to get there quickly. Explosive off the floor, he makes the acrobatic finish look very easy. His physical gifts make him a solid rebounder and versatile defender.