Three Tournaments, Three States: Holiday Tournament Observations

Over the Christmas holidays I spent time watching high school tournaments in three states. After numerous games at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, FL, the Wisconsin Basketball Shootout in Mequon, WI, and the Proviso West Holiday Classic outside of Chicago here is a rundown of what I saw and what I learned.

Player I Would Pay to Watch:

Isaiah Whitehead, 6’4”, G, Lincoln High (NY), Committed to Seton Hall, 2014

From the time I first saw Rashad Vaughn play in 2012 he was my favorite shooting guard in the class of 2014; however after watching Isaiah Whitehead’s rise which started in the Pitt Jam Fest last spring I’m not so sure. In four games, Whitehead was the second leading scorer in the City of Palms tournament averaging 25.5 points per game including a 37 point, 7 rebound, and 6 assist performance on opening night. Known for his NYC toughness, Whitehead can get to almost any spot on the court with his strength and ball-handling abilities. While everyone is aware of his scoring abilities it was his passing that stood out while in Florida. He averaged 5.5 assists per game and had many scintillating passes in each game. My favorite was a three quarter court bounce pass that resulted in an easy fast break dunk. Regarding his scoring ability, Whitehead has one of the most picturesque forms you will see and range that extends well behind the three point line. Sometimes this gets him in trouble as he loves to stop on a dime for pull-up jumpers no matter how close the defender is. While he takes some tough shots, for the most part his body is always square to the basket with a perfect release. Over the holidays, Isaiah Whitehead was the player I would pay to see play again and again.

Match-up Nightmare:

Ben Simmons, 6’8”, F, Montverde Academy (FL), Committed to LSU, 2015

At 6’8” with long arms and a certain grace to his game, Ben Simmons proved to be the biggest match-up problem for teams in the City of Palms tournament, especially during the championship game against Paul VI. In four games, Simmons averaged 18 points and almost 12 rebounds per game while also bringing the ball up against pressure. While he struggled outside of the paint with his shot in most of the games, Simmons scored off ball cuts, offensive rebounds, and post-ups. He was also outstanding defensively and was a key reason for his opponents struggles. In the championship game, Marcus Derrickson, a Georgetown commitment had a hard time getting open looks close to the basket or even from his favorite spots behind the three point line. Wherever Derrickson went, one of Simmons’ long arms was always close by which caused a 5-13 shooting performance including 0-2 from three.

Biggest Beast #1:

Alex Owens, 6’6”, PF, Oak Ridge (FL), Committed to UCF, 2015

During the Peach Jam, Alex Owens came off the bench for the eventual champions and put on some impressive performances down low in limited minutes. This time around, Owens continued his feats down low using his big body and soft hands to punish weaker defenders at every opportunity. Despite not being the ideal size for a power forward, Owens averaged 12.5 rebounds per game. He’s not much of an above the rim player but with a quick release he makes it hard for an opponent to block his shot. In his third game of the tournament, Owens put up 23 points and 19 rebounds on 11-14 shooting. 

Biggest Beast #2:

Jahlil Okafor, 6’10”, C, Whitney Young (IL), Committed to Duke, 2014

The top ranked player in the country averaged 17 points per game and a tournament high 15.7 rebounds in a three game span. While he was double and triple teamed on almost every touch and spent the majority of his first game in foul trouble, Okafor scored quickly and efficiently whenever he caught the ball in the low post. Not known for his outside jump shot, Okafor even knocked in a soft 12 footer from the baseline when dared to shoot. In the 3rd place game, Okafor let his aggression out and went for 22 points and 23 rebounds on just nine shots. While it seemed that he played better in last year’s City of Palms, make no mistake the the future Blue Devil was a beast when catching the ball in a scoring position down low. 

Best Footwork:

Diamond Stone, 6’10”, C, Dominican (WI), 2015

Playing against another top notch Wisconsin big man in Henry Ellenson, Stone showed off a variety of moves in the post. Whether it was a right hook, a left hook, up and under, spin to the baseline, spin to the middle, Stone showed it all in just one game. Nimble on his feet, Stone showed a good touch on his shots around the basket, but over the next year and a half will need to watch some video tapes of Jahlil Okafor or Cliff Alexander to learn how to unleash the beast. A good rebounder in space, Stone still needs some work on dominating all game long.

Most Consistent:

Justin Bibbs, 6’5”, G/F, Montverde Academy (FL), Committed to Virginia Tech, 2014

On a talent laden team, Justin Bibbs was a consistent thread for the back to back City of Palms champions everytime he took the court. In four games Bibbs scored 12, 13, 14, and 15 points. Never too high and more importantly never too low. Bibbs proved to be a versatile and athletic threat on offense with the ability to score from the perimeter and off the dribble. A strong and physical player on the defensive end as well, Bibbs also enjoyed the challenges of shutting down his opponent. He was named to the All-Tournament team and was definitely deserving of that honor. 

The Microwave:

Ahmaad Rorie, 5’10”, PG, Montverde Academy (FL), Committed to Cal, 2014

In his first year at Montverde, Ahmaad Rorie brings a scoring punch as the team’s sixth man and his three point accuracy came in handy in the championship game. As soon as Rorie entered the game he started firing from deep and all of a sudden had 11 quick points in a matter of minutes all on jump shots. The small guard is known as a scorer with a quick release and he caught Paul VI off guard. Not only is he a strong scorer off the bench, but he is also usually one of, if not the quickest player on the court. Rorie was also another Montverde player to make the All-Tournament team.

Quickest Guard:

Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn, 5’10”, Sunrise Christian (KS), Committed to Mich. State, 2014

Easily the quickest player from end to end, Tum Tum looked like a poor man’s version of Tywon Lawson with his speed and build. He got into the lane consistently and finished at the rim easily off of one foot. In two games, Nairn had a 6:1 assist to turnover ratio and got his teammates open looks from his drives to the basket. An exceptional finisher, Nairn shot 6-10 and 7-15 but struggled with his jump shot outside of the paint. Despite the jumper, Tom Izzo should be excited about the arrival of the jet quick and tough point guard to East Lansing next year. 

Smoothest Guard(s):

Devonte Graham, 6’2”, PG, Brewster Academy (NH), 2014

Jalen Brunson, 6’1”, PG, Stevenson (IL), 2015

Glynn Watson, 5’11”, G, St. Joe’s (IL), 2015

It’s hard to just pick one out of these guards so I’ll go with all three. Graham was the first to turn heads with his play against Oldsmar Christian (FL) when he scored 15 points and dropped 9 assists to only one turnover. In this game, Graham had the ball on a yo-yo and wowed the crowd with several moves including a fake behind the back pass that made the defender look silly. On day number three at the City of Palms, Graham was easily one of the top performers. Meanwhile, in Chicago junior Jalen Brunson led his public school team to the championship while Watson’s team fell in the 3^rd place game. Brunson one the tournament MVP with his smooth style and showed resilience against an athletic Morgan Park squad in the championship game of the Proviso West tournament. After scoring 32 in the semi-finals, Brunson struggled to get a clean look in the first half and his only made shot came from the right wing. In the second half, Brunson found his groove and finished with 20 points. Meanwhile, despite two losses to end the tournament, Glynn Watson had an impressive final game and displayed a strong handle in pressure and a strong first step that allowed him to get by his defender with relative ease. All three of these guards were impressive as team leader’s and earn the distinction as the smoothest guards I saw. 

Most Athletic Guard:

Tyler Dorsey, 6’4”, G, St. John Bosco, 2015

The junior guard from California averaged 19 points per game and was extremely tough to guard in one-on-one situations. Given primary ball-handling responsibility by his coach, Dorsey was able to use a between the legs crossover dribble to consistently get into the paint for lay-ups or short jump shots where he was able to create space with his elevation. To go along with his 19 points, Dorsey also averaged 5.5 assists. A natural point guard, Dorsey showed that to go along with his athleticism he can also create for his teammates.

Scoring Machine:

Antonio Blakeney, 6’3”, SG, Oak Ridge (FL), 2015

The talented junior guard led the City of Palms with a 29.3 point per game average including 12 made three’s. Throughout the tournament Blakeney’s baskets came from the three point line or at the basket via lay-ups or dunks. He averaged around five shots a quarter and only forced a few during his time. At 6’3”, Blakeney used his long arms and ball handling ability to get by defenders on the wing and finish at the basket. He also showed his quick release when catching the ball on the wing. When his team was involved in close games, Blakeney was instructed to attack the basket and attack he did. He took 40 free throws in four games and made 33 of them. In his four games, Blakeney went for 32, 31, 24, and 30. Rated as a four-star shooting guard, Blakeney noted that he is “just trying to work hard and move up the rankings with his play.” So far so good for the talented scorer.

Underrated:

Josh Reaves, 6’4”, SG, Paul VI (VA), 2015

Last year as a sophomore Josh Reaves barely saw the floor when Paul VI made the trip down to Florida, but this year as a much more improved and confident junior he averaged 14 points a game and drew rave reviews from scouts every time he took the floor. The 6’4” wing showed that he could hit from the outside and also rise above the rim for alley-oops. For a guy who was only known in parts of the East Coast before the tournament, Josh Reaves made himself a name on the most talented team in the Washington DC area.

Desi Rodriguez, 6’5”, F, Lincoln (NY), Committed to Seton Hall, 2014

After a strong four game performance where Rodriguez averaged 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game he decided to make a commitment to Seton Hall where he will join his current teammate Isaiah Whitehead and possibly his coach Dwayne “Tiny” Morton. Rodriguez was a recipient of numerous Whitehead assists; however he also created for himself and shot 62% from the field. His best game came in an overtime loss against Montverde when he put up 25 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 10-19.

Connor Cashew, 6’4”, SG, Stevenson (IL), 2015

While he doesn’t get the recognition that his running mate Jalen Brunson gets, Cashew has certainly elevated his game to match his teammates. In a semi-final win in the Proviso West tournament, Cashew scored 30 points and added nine rebounds as Stevenson turned a seven point halftime lead into a blowout. Playing on the perimeter, Cashew has a good first step and is an extremely strong and wiry wing. Athletically he showed that he could compete with the best athletes in the state in a championship win over Morgan Park (Chicago) by scoring 16 points. Various mid-majors from the Midwest are interested in Cashew, but his choice of schools could change for the better over the next six months.

Left Wanting More:

Paul White, 6’8”, F, Whitney Young (IL), Committed to Georgetown, 2014

By all accounts Paul White had an extremely strong tournament averaging 17 points per game over three outings. He also nabbed six boards a game and shot 57% from the floor. His alley-oop dunk in the 3^rdplace game gave the Dolphins a lead they would never relinquish. Despite these stats, I’ve always wanted to see more from White. Coincidentally, I first saw White as a freshman at the City of Palms when he was considered a top 25 player. At 6’8” White can do numerous things on the basketball court that will land him in the Hoyas rotation in the future. He can run the floor, handle the ball, and has a strong shot from mid-range; however having watched him over a span of four years I still want to see White dominate and not just fit in. It looked as though he was starting to dominate at the Peach Jam before getting injured, but I am still hopeful that he will reach his potential in the last few months of his senior year. 

Best 16 Minute Performance:

Jalen Hudson, 6’4”, SG, St. Vincent-St.Mary’s, Committed to Virginia Tech, 2014

In his first game of the tournament playing against Whitney Young, Hudson put on a first half to remember when he scored 23 of his team’s first 26 points and knocked in six three’s in the first half. The well built shooting guard got good elevation on his jump shot and showed off a picture perfect form. Along with his three point shooting exploits, Hudson was also blowing by defenders on the wing and finishing well above the rim in the paint. After torching the Dolphins in the first quarter the team went to a box and one on Hudson in order to slow down the talented guard. The defensive switch worked in limiting Hudson’s touches, but when he caught the ball on the wing he was able to continue his hot streak.

Top Young Guys:

Jayvon Grave, 6’0”, G, St.Vincent-St. Mary’s (OH), 2017

Aaron Thompson, 6’0”, G, Paul VI (VA), 2017

Billy Preston, 6’8”, F, St. John Bosco (CA), 2017

Vance Jackson, 6’7”, F, St. John Bosco (CA), 2016

Jacob Young, 5’10”, G, Yates (TX), 2016

City of Palms: Championship Day

Championship Game 

Montverde Academy (FL) 58 Paul VI (VA) 53

A two hour delay and change of venues couldn’t stop Montverde from winning their second consecutive City of Palms championship. With a scheduled 9pm tip time, senior guard Justin Bibbs wasted no time in draining a three pointer for Montverde to start the championship game. Unfortunately none of the other players on the court could stay upright due to the condensation that had built up in the sweltering Bishop Verot High School. While the gym started off nice and cool in the morning, the temperature steadily rose as the games went on and the crowd increased to capacity. After clearing all spectators from the gym for 45 minutes, the executive decision was made to move the game 15 minutes down the road to Fort Myers High. At 11pm in front of another packed house, the two top teams finally got to face off. 

Rorie and Simmons led the new look Montverde against Paul VI

The two hour delay certainly didn’t phase Montverde as they came out scorching from behind the arc. Point guard Jaylen Patterson knocked in two three’s, senior guard Brendan Boyle made his only shot of the night from behind the arc, and then future California guard Ahmaad Rorie came off the bench with his jump shot locked and loaded. After eight minutes of play, Montverde was up 26-11 over a bewildered Paul VI squad. After the initial outburst, Montverde cooled off and Paul VI settled down as well with the second quarter being played to a draw as Paul VI went 9-24 from the field and 4-9 from the line including a botched dunk attempt by point guard Kevin Dorsey. Rorie led all scorers with 11 points. 

The second half was another story for the two teams as Montverde tried to hold on for dear life while Paul VI kept chipping away at the lead. With their constant man to man pressure, Paul VI forced turnovers and senior guard Evan Taylor stepped up his game and scored time and time again off drives to the basket. At first Paul VI couldn’t get over the seven point hump after several tries they eventually closed the gap to 49-47. With the crowd cheering for the comeback, Paul VI missed some very makeable shots down the stretch including a Marcus Derrickson post up on the left block. With Paul VI forced to foul, Bibbs and Patterson calmly stepped to the line and made all of their free throws in one and one situations. Montverde got their large lead with shooting from the outside and held onto it with their clutch free throw shooting. When the game ended well past midnight, Montverde held on to their championship belt. 

Top Players:

Ahmaad Rorie, 5’10”, PG, Montverde Academy, Committed to Cal, 2014

Rorie had his shot working on Saturday night in a semi-final win over Providence but raised his game to another level early on in the championship game. There’s no question whether the 5’10” guard can get his jump shot off, it’s just a matter of whether the shot swishes through the net or bounces hard off the back rim. At Fort Myers High, the shot was ripping through the net with ease as Rorie came in and hit a three, a jumper from 10 feet, and another three in quick succession. After his initial 11 point outburst, Rorie didn’t score again until he calmly sank two free throws at the end of the game. While it came early, his outside shooting gave Montverde a large lead they would never relinquish. 

Final Stats: 13 pts, 2 rbs, 2 asts, 4-5 FG’s, 3-3 3PT, 2-2 FT’s, 3 TO’s

Ben Simmons, 6’8”, F, Montverde Academy, Committed to LSU, 2015

Playing in front of his future LSU coaches, the talented Australian came to play on both sides of the ball. On the offensive end, Simmons finished with 12 points on 5-7 shooting hitting numerous tough shots in the lane including a powerful right handed fast break dunk. While he scored double digits, Simmons was even better on the defensive end as he bottled up Paul VI’s best player Marcus Derrickson all game long. While Derrickson had a few pounds on Simmons, every touch was a struggle for the future Georgetown forward. He was 0-2 from the 3 point line and struggled to get his patented wing three pointer off due to the long arms of Simmons. He went 5-13 from the field and with Simmons constantly in his face missed a few shots that he would normally always hit.

Final Stats: 12 pts, 10 rbs, 4 asts, 5-7 FG’s, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT’s, 4 TO’s

Evan Taylor, 6’4”, SG, Paul VI, 2014

The unsung starter of Paul VI stepped up his performance as his more talented teammates initially struggled against the Montverde pressure. Taylor scored six points in the first half and finished with 15 points on 7-11 shooting. With an aggressive mindset, Taylor attacked the basket time and time again and was one of the main reasons Montverde’s lead kept diminishing. Whether it was off of pick and rolls or off the dribble, Taylor attacked the taller front line and finished in the paint time and time again.

Final Stats: 15 pts, 6 rbs, 0 asts, 7-11 FG’s, 0-1 3PT, 1-1 FT’s, 2 TO’s

3rd Place Game

Whitney Young (IL) 58 Providence (FL) 53

Top Players:

Paul White, 6’8”, F, Whitney Young, Committed to Georgetown, 2014

Playing in front of his future college coach, Paul White took advantage of a miss-match on offense and made his slower opponent pay from outside. He started the game off swishing two deep jump shots and finished the first half with 12 points on 5-5 shooting.  He missed his first shot of the game to start the second half, but with 3:48 to go in the third quarter White caught a two hand baseline alley-oop that gave Whitney Young a one point lead which was one they would never relinquish. White’s jump shot was on target tonight, but he still could have been more aggressive given the quickness advantage he had on Providence’s power forward.

Final Stats: 22 pts, 5 rbs, 2 asts, 8-12 FG’s, 6-8 FT’s, 4 TO’s

Jahlil Okafor, 6’10”, C, Whitney Young, Committed to Duke, 2014

Despite the constant triple teams, the big man finally broke out. Okafor dominated the smaller Providence front line and went for 22 points and 23 rebounds, just four shy of the tournament record. In the first quarter Okafor sealed his man in the middle and caught the ball up high. In an instant his arm was at the rim and he laid the ball in for his first basket. Okafor stayed patient the entire game and went 8-9 from the field including a 12 foot corner jump shot. Throughout the tournament Okafor primarily saw zone defense and by the time the 3^rd place game came around he stayed patient enough to wait for his opportunities and dominate.

Final Stats: 22 pts, 23 rbs, 4 asts, 8-9 FG’s, 6-8 FT’s, 6 TO’s

Christian Terrell, 6’4”, G, Providence, Committed to FGCU, 2014

Terrell only shot 33% for the game; however his fingerprints were all over the court and several of his misses were shots that he would normally easily convert. In the first half he hit a mixture of deep jump shots and athletic drives to the basket using both his right and left hand to finish. In the second half he showed off some fancy footwork in the post when he came up against taller defenders after an offensive rebound. Terrell’s leaping ability got a loud reaction from the crowd when he slapped a Miles Reynolds fastbreak lay-up off the glass. Throughout the game Terrell handled the ball and guarded anyone on Whitney Young from the point guard to the power forward.

Final Stats: 20 pts, 7 rbs, 2 asts, 6-18 FG’s, 0-2 3PT, 8-11 FT’s, 1 TO

Grayson Allen, 6’4”, G, Providence, Committed to Duke, 2014

Allen had it working early in the game in front of Dick Vitale as he started the game off with a three from NBA range and followed that up with a pull-up three from the wing. After his initial first quarter burst, Allen was fairly quiet and seemed content to hang around the perimeter. He did have a fast break dunk and a nice one dribble pull up, but unlike Terrell, he didn’t use his athleticism to get to the basket as shown by his lack of trips to the charity stripe.

Final Stats: 17 pts, 2 rbs, 1 ast, 7-19 FG’s, 0-0 FT’s, 3-8 3PT, 4 TO’s

5th Place Game

Lincoln (NY) 73 Wheeler (GA) 57

Top Players:

Isaiah Whitehead, 6’4”, SG, Lincoln, Committed to Seton Hall, 2014

The most exciting player in the City of Palms tournament was cooking as soon as the ball touched his hands off of the opening tip. Two three’s and a 15 foot jumper in the first two minutes was enough to get Lincoln off and running. Unfortunately Whitehead cooled off after that initial outburst but he did put together another mini run in the third quarter when he hit a stop and pop jump shot and a three pointer from the left corner. Whitehead ended the game with only three assists but that doesn’t accurately describe his passing ability. Several times he threaded the needle with his pinpoint passes to only see his teammate fouled or miss an open shot. In the second quarter, Whitehead threw a three quarter court bounce pass that hit his teammate Elisha Boone in perfect stride for a two hand dunk. Whitehead’s jump shot is a thing of beauty and whether it comes off the catch or the dribble, he always manages to get his shoulders square for a picture perfect release.

Final Stats: 20 pts, 3 rbs, 3asts, 7-14 FG’s, 3-6 3PT, 3-4 FT’s, 2 TO’s

Avery Patterson, 6’2”, G, Wheeler, 2014

Patterson was the leading scorer for Wheeler with 19 points but it was more his defensive intensity that was impressive. After Whitehead scored eight points in two minutes, Wheeler gave Patterson the chance to match-up with the taller guard. Patterson went toe to toe with Whitehead and forced him into some difficult shots that slowed down the highly touted guard for awhile. On the offensive side Patterson drained two three’s and also converted some tough lay-ups in the paint. Despite the loss, it was evident that Patterson valued the challenge to guard Whitehead and took it upon himself to slow down the five-star guard.

Final Stats: 19 pts, 3 rbs, 2 asts, 5-13 FG’s, 2-6 3PT, 6-7 FT’s, 2 TO’s

Consolation Final

St. John Bosco (CA) 89 Oak Ridge (FL) 83

Top Players:

Daniel Hamilton, 6’8”, SF, St. John Bosco, Committed to Connecticut, 2014

Two days after going 4-12 from the field, Hamilton went for 34 points on 9-15 shooting. Knocked for his consistency, Hamilton was extremely efficient all game long. In the first two minutes he knocked in two three pointers to give Bosco a 9-0 lead. He added in one more three for good measure and finished the first half with 13 points and four rebounds. In the second half, his partner in crime Tyler Dorsey got in foul trouble and Hamilton took over with aggressive drives to the basket and strong defense. In addition to attacking off of the dribble, he added in eight assists. Hamilton saved his best game for last and showed why he is a five-star player.

Final Stats: 34 pts, 8 rbs, 6 ast, 9-15 FG’s, 4-5 3PT, 12-19 FT’s, 3 TO’s

Tyler Dorsey, 6’4”, SG, St. John Bosco, 2015

A few seconds into the game Dorsey let loose a three from the wing which splashed through the net. After Hamilton hit two in a row it was time for Dorsey to get back in on the action as he drained another one from the same spot at the top of the key. Along with his outside shooting, Dorsey was much more aggressive than he was on Saturday afternoon using his quick first step to blow by defenders off the dribble. At the half, Dorsey had 15 points on 5-9 shooting. He got into foul trouble early in the 3^rd quarter and was forced to sit for a long stretch in the second half. Dorsey finished the game off with a powerful two hand dunk on the break and knocked down his free throws to help Bosco hang onto their lead. 

Final Stats: 25 pts, 4 rebs, 6 asts, 7-12 FG’s, 2-5 3PT, 5-9 FT’s, 1 TO

Antonio Blakeney, 6’3”, SG, Oak Ridge, 2015

Blakeney, the tournaments leading scorer went for 30+ points for the third time this tournament. In the first half, he scored 11 points on 4-10 shooting with three of those shots coming off the dribble from behind the arc including one over Dorsey’s outstretched hand. In the second half Blakeney started quickly with three free throws, a driving right hand lay-up, and a seven foot floater but cooled off after that and had several shots rim in and out. With Oak Ridge attempting to close the deficit at the end of the game their offense turned into clear outs for Blakeney as he started to attack the basket off the dribble which resulted in a total 12 free throw attempts. While not at the same level of quickness as Dorsey, Blackeney was just a level below and got by him off the dribble on occasion. The majority of baskets came from beyond the arc or right at the basket as he was 1-4 from 5-12 feet and had a tendency to shoot one footed floaters a bit too much. 

Final Stats: 30 pts, 2 rebs, 0 asts, 8-21 FG’s, 3-9 3PT, 11-12 FT’s, 2 TO’s

Challenge Round

Neumann Gorretti (PA) 73 St. Mary-St. Vincent 57

Top Players:

Ja’Quan Newton, 6’4”, PG, Neumann Goretti, Committed to Miami, 2014

Newton had his game working like he was back dominating the NBPA Top 100 camp in Charlottesville this past summer. Newton and Neuman-Goretti jumped out to a quick 18-10 first quarter lead and never looked back. Hitting from the outside early on opened up the lanes for Newton to attack off the dribble highlighted when he froze a defender with a fake around the back pass for an easy lay-up. At halftime Newton had 18 points and he kept the pedal to the metal in the third quarter when Neuman-Gorretti put the game away outscoring St. Vincent-St. Mary 25-8. It might have been the first game of the morning, but it didn’t take long for Newton to heat up.

Final Stats: 31 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts, 13-18 FG’s, 4-6 3PT, 1-1 FT’s, 2 TO’s

Jayvon Grave, 6’0”, G, St. Mary-St. Vincent, 2017

Receiving his first extended minutes of the tournament, the freshman raised some eyebrows with his play. In 16 minutes of action, Grave put in 12 points. His first points came from behind the arc and then he added in a rarely seen one dribble jump shot. Grave continue his strong shooting and hit two more three’s throughout the game. While all of his points came from the outside, Grave showed good athleticism and build for a freshman that will surely see more minutes as the season goes on. 

Final Stats: 12 pts, 2 rbs, 1 ast, 4-7 FG’s, 3-4 3PT, 1-2 FT’s, 1 TO

Game #5 (Sunshine Series)

Lake Highland Prep (FL) 60 Tift County (GA) 47

Top Player:

Joel Berry, 6’0”, PG, Lake Highland Prep, Committed to UNC

In the last Sunshine Series game of the day, point guard Joel Berry came out firing and finished with a solid 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in a win over an athletic Tift County squad led by Tadric Jackson, a Georgia Tech commitment. Berry hit a three from the right wing on the second possession and Lake Highland hit eight three’s on the game. Despite the defensive pressure by Tift, Berry finished with just one turnover. He was able to get by defenders off the dribble or with the pick and roll which created open jump shots or floaters in the paint. While he didn’t look to attack as much in the second half, Lake Highland maintained their halftime lead and was never seriously threatened. 

Final Stats: 16 pts, 8 rbs, 5 asts, 7-14 FG’s, 2-6 3PT, 1 TO