We caught up with Florida Knights Head Coach Lamar Twitty to discuss this year’s team.
“We are off to a good start”, he said. “We went 4-0 in our first Adidas Gold Gauntlet qualifier this last weekend in South Carolina. The guys played very well on the defensive end, holding teams to an average of just fifty points. They also played very unselfishly on the offensive end. We are really looking forward to the upcoming Live period in front of college coaches. The goal is to have these guys compete at a high level in front of the coaches. Based on last weekend’s results, that goal should be achieved.”
The Knights have a solid rotation of players on the interior. Reggie Duhardt, a 6’9 senior from Fort Lauderdale Boyd Anderson, will play alongside 6’8 junior Isaiah Elmore from Tampa Catholic, 6’10 junior Cameron Boozer and 6’8 junior Zameron Boozer, twins from Lannett, Alabama.
“Duhardt is an unsigned senior with plenty of upside”, said Twitty. “He’s a good athlete with size, has the ability to step away from the basket and score and is also a good passer. Elmore is a skilled low post player but can also step out and shoot the three or get to the basket with a couple of dribbles and score. He has the ability to play either the four or the five spot. Both Boozers are strong and play physical down low. They finish well around the rim and do a good job of challenging and changing shots at the basket.”
There is a lot of fire power with size on the perimeter for the Knights. Jalen Speer, a 6’1 junior from Gainesville P.K. Yonge, was the team’s leading scorer in South Carolina. He is joined by 6’4 junior Ivan Reynolds of Coral Springs Charter, 6’6 junior Ian Tajalli, also of Coral Springs Charter, 6’4 junior Nic Louis-Jacques from Miami Killian, 6’6 junior Eric Brown from Sebring, 6’6 junior Nathan Montique from Pembroke Pines Somerset, and 6’5 junior Justin Reid from Miami Dr. Krop.
“Speer has a real knack for scoring”, stated Twitty. “He’s also a fine ball-handler and passer and does a great job of defending the basketball. Reynolds is arguably the best on-ball defender in the state. He’s also completely unselfish and a great passer. Tajalli shoots the ball very well. He’s a glue guy that does what it takes to win. He also has a 5.0 GPA so he’s ideal for Patriot and Ivy League programs. Louis-Jacques can play either the one or the two, shoots the ball very well from beyond the arc, and is solid defensively. Brown is a strong athlete. He can play positions one thru four and finishes well when driving to the basket. Montique is a crafty scorer that can get to the rim or knock down open jumpers along the perimeter. He also can defend multiple. Reid is athletic and plays with a great motor. He makes an impact by doing all the little things that win ball games.”