10 Best: Hudson vs. Oldsmar Christian
Oldsmar Christian came out firing on all cylinders against visiting Hudson in its season opener.
Led by the junior trio of Elijah Weaver, D.J. Mitchell and Akiel Shakoor, the Eagles were able to use everyone on the roster with the game out of hand late. Taking a 51-27 lead into the break, Oldsmar emptied the bench on the way to a 83-43 victory.
MVP: Elijah Weaver (Oldsmar Christian)
It’s hard to pick anyone else. Weaver is smooth running up and down the floor with the ball in his hands. At one point he took a rebound off a missed Hudson free throw and went down the court with ease, laying in a nifty bucket. He connected on an absurdly long 3-pointer to beat the second quarter buzzer. Finishing with 16 points, Weaver simply did it all for the Eagles.
Best offensive performance: D.J. Mitchell (Oldsmar Christian)
D.J. Mitchell quickly became the spark Oldsmar Christian leaned on as he led all scorers with 19 points. After Weaver, this 6’5″, 185-pounder rose to the occasion with big dunks and some tough 3’s with defenders in his face. Mitchell was all smiles for the entire game each time he made a play. At one point he got so much air time on a dunk that he nearly took the gym down. The crowd got an energetic performance from Mitchell that’s for sure.
Best defensive performance: Michael Durr (Oldsmar Christian)
6’11”, 215-pound junior Michael Durr had a couple of very impressive sequences. He missed a contested layup, grabbed his own rebound and powered it back home. Durr came in and brought solid minutes, hauling in rebounds and playing lock down defense. He had three points.
Best guy off the bench: Jhakheem Smith (Oldsmar Christian)
The senior guard recorded six points on the night for the Eagles. He has some serious burst and came off the bench with plenty of intensity. Smith is a crafty player who will be called upon this season often for Oldsmar Christian.
Best intangibles: Akeil Shakoor (Oldsmar Christian)
Akiel Shakoor shined all night long. His communication skills are evident. The 6’0″, 160-poind junior is lean but he uses every bit of speed and versatility to his advantage. When the ball is in Shakoor’s hands watch out, he made plays all night and attack with some reserve layups. He worked hard for his 15 points.
Best under-the-radar performance: Mark Calleja (Hudson)
This wasn’t Hudson’s night, but junior guard Mark Calleja stood out for the Cobras. He took a steal down the floor and pulled up for a 3-pointer in the first half. Calleja led all Hudson scorers with 10 points. He has a confidence to his game that helped the Cobras have some positive moments.
Best underclassmen: Jose Romero (Oldsmar Christian)
The sophomore point guard added his two points on the night in the fourth quarter. He showed instincts on both sides of the ball. In a deep rotation, Jose Romero won’t see much playing time, but he can fill in when needed at a high level. He’s a smart player.
Best catch and shoot guy: Isiah Jenkins (Oldsmar Christian)
Another bench player for Oldsmar Christian stood out. Senior guard Isiah Jenkins sunk his only basket of the night in the third quarter, a 3-pointer from the corner. He proved that his range is the real deal. Much like Romero, if Jenkins played alongside the starters, he’d flourish.
Best passer: Elijah Weaver (Oldsmar Christian)
Giving this out to anyone else but Weaver would be a disservice. Shakoor made some fine passes, but again Weaver is the fuel for this team when it comes to passing and clutch moments. Weaver did that time and time again in the first half finishing with a team-best seven assists. With the substantial lead intact in the second half, he didn’t see the court much.