Most Underrated: Miami
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The season has finally officially kicked off in the Miami and West Palm Beach area. While the area continues to churn out a steady wave of talent, plenty are going unsung and unnoticed.
Many are not equated with the same star clout as those high-end recruits. Here are some of the more underrated prospects which have shown promise thus far
Chase Johnson, Westminster Academy:
Beyond scoring 20 points to supplement the heroics of heralded teammate Zach Scott in a 72-69 2OT victory over North Miami, Johnston was the driving force behind Westminster’s ability to whittle down the lead and eventually come from behind.
A dead-eye shooter with a high-arching shot, Johnston is not your typical work in progress set shooter you tend to see in high school.
He can get it off on the fly, hit transition 3-pointers, and score on heavily-contested shots. Scott’s timely, back to back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter is what propelled Westminster. FGCU, Columbia, Stetson, and several other programs are in pursuit of Johnston.
Ben Tal, West Oaks Academy
Deft scoring, heady point guard may not pass the “eye test,” albeit his smarts and ability to get hot in a hurry make amends for that. Tal went off for 43 points in West Oaks’ 90-53 win over Fort Lauderdale. The least acclaimed of West Oaks’ highly-touted guard core, Tal was name Player of the Week after averaging 22 points and two steals.
He additionally submitted impressive performances against Cavalry Christian and Florida Prep. While the Fort Lauderdale game was an end-to-end pounding, the aforementioned Cavalry Christian and Florida Prep games signify that Tal can produce on the biggest of stages.
Antonio Daye Jr, Fort Lauderdale HS
Hailing from the same rich basketball recruiting real estate that produced Brandin Knight and Kobie Eubanks, the 6-foot-2 guard erupted with a 42-point effort during an 89-63 win over Pompano.
It was quite the bounce back performance for Fort Lauderdale, which had an irregular performance in its opener. A natural scorer capable of getting hot in a hurry, Daye Jr. has already eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone. Could wind up being a major “get” at the mid-major level.
Chris Murray, Southwest Miami High
Skilled 6-foot-6 forward is adept at finishing around the basket and embraces the junkyard dog role for Southwest. This much was evident during his 24 point, 10-rebound performance in a 57-46 win over Braddock. Murray’s ability to play strong and bulldoze smaller defenders to the rim makes him a consistent go-to source for Southwest.
Turo Dean, South Miami
While you can’t take a whole lot from South Miami’s thorough 72-32 pounding of Coral Park, Dean gave a wide glimpse of his two-way capabilities.
The 6-foot-1, 155-pound guard scored 16 points, doled out eight assists, and also had eight steals. With active hands throughout, anticipate Turo being a major defensive catalyst for South Miami this season.