Florida Top 250 Expo: Top 10 Awards
Down in Florida, we held our second ever Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo. This time around we ran the event at DME Academy, a top notch facility with two NBA sized courts and brand new training areas. Exactly 86 players were in attendance from classes ranging from 2018-2021.
It was a fun day filled with plenty of good basketball and training. Here are 10 awards I’m handing out to the top guys there.
Top Player of The Day (2020 DME G Mayoum Mayoum)
Australian born guard Mayoum Mayoum showed up to play on Saturday. The 6’4″ DME guard was the most consistent performer all day long. He played in the later session with the 2018-2019 group and he hit 3’s, went to the basket for dunks and lay-ins. Most importantly, he took smart shots and dished out good passes to his teammates. He’s a high-major Division I player.
Best Underclassmen (2020 IMG Milos Merrick)
The 2020-2021 group was really focused all day long. It was tough to pick the best performer from the bunch but 2020 IMG guard Milos Merrick stood out to me a lot. The 6’3″ guard dropped a couple of no-look feeds to teammates, hit 3’s and just showed a fluid and smart game. He needs to get stronger and in better shape overall to keep up with the best, but he’s on track to be a really good player. Merrick is a Division I prospect.
Best Dunker (2019 Villages F Niven Glover)
The player with the most bounce was 2019 Villages forward Niven Glover. Prospects from both sides would get up off their respective benches whenever he went to the lane. Glover slammed home many baskets including windmills and one-handed dunks. The 6’4″ athlete is a clear Division I prospect with his mature game.
Best Court Leader (2018 Coral Glades G Jake Hershkowitz)
It is always fun watching hard workers. That is exactly what 2018 Coral Glades guard Jake Hershkowitz is. The 6’0″ guard led his offense all day long and was in command. He’s a natural born leader with solid offensive skills. He makes everyone around him better. Hershkowitz is a low Division I/Division II player.
Most Consistent Player (2018 Jesuit G Thierry Moliere/2018 Greenwood G Eric Moenkhaus)
I found it hard to pick between two 2018 guards as the most consistent performers. Jesuit’s Thierry Moliere showed up all day long with fancy jumpers, lay-ins and dunks. As for Greenwood’s Eric Moenkhaus, he was always making plays on offense and defense. Moenkhaus came down from Indiana for the event. When I asked him why he chose to come so far, he said he simply wanted to compete. I love that answer.
Most Athletic (2020 East Lake G Dionte Blanch)
2020 East Lake Dionte Blanch showed off his pure athleticism time and time again in the early session. He has grown into a more seasoned shooter, but his ability to get up and down the floor and make plays inside is his best strength right now. Blanch is just hitting the peak of his abilities. Look for him to break out as the man in charge at East Lake this fall.
Best Outside Shooter (2020 Winter Springs G Cole Duncan)
This kid turned heads in the early session. 2020 Winter Springs guard Cole Duncan is a determined player. The 6’0″ guard hit outside jumpers at a high clip and single-handedly kept his teams in games with his scoring ability. Duncan is ready to have a nice role at Winter Springs this fall.
Best Big Man (2018 DME F Madiaw Niang)
Comfortable in his home gym, 2018 DME forward Madiaw Niang is a load in the paint. He has a really good stroke from outside as well, but Niang’s 6’7″ frame gives him the ability to win most 1-on-1 matchups down low. He was simply too good for the rest of the competition. Niang is a mid to high Division I talent.
Biggest Riser (2019 Holy Trinity G Floyd Rideau Jr.)
College coaches couldn’t stop talking about Floyd Rideau Jr. The 2019 Holy Trinity guard is not done growing at his 6’3″ frame. He plays basketball the right way and is able to get into small areas on the floor to make plays. Rideau Jr. transferred to Holy Trinity earlier this summer and I think that move will pay off for him.
Most Unselfish Player (2019 Spanish River G Charles West)
Perhaps my favorite player on the day was 2019 Spanish River guard Charles West. The 6’2″ is not only a really good person off the court, but he is the most unselfish player I’ve seen on it. He hits open jumpers, gets everyone around him involved and rarely if ever takes bad shots. If his defensive game can take the next step, he’ll be a solid Division I player.