Mr. Big Shot: South Florida
In gauging the landscape of South Florida’s most perilous crunch time scorers, there are certain players you know will take that last shot. Knowing the lay of the land and being cognizant of which alpha dog caliber scorers are most poised under hiked up pressure, there are certain players who are a surefire bet to deliver in those waning seconds.
We’ve compiled a list of South Florida’s top-shelf performers in the clutch. As the season grows older and more players show out and navigate the searing pressure cooker of the state tournament, we will make amendments and additions to the list.
Zach Scott, Westminster Academy
Scott’s heroics and ability to fend off any notable traces of pressure during the game’s decisive junctures helped propel Westminster Academy to a state championship in 2017. This season, as a seasoned senior with a series of manipulative one-on-one moves and noted flair for the dramatic, anticipate the Florida Gulf Coast-bound guard taking that final shot as the clock winds down.
The timely nature of Scott’s scoring is a key component of his leadership role under Westminster Academy head coach Ehren Wallhoff. Scott, who now makes up a radiant troika alongside sharpshooting guard Chase Johnston and uber-athletic, up-and-coming 6-foot-5 forward Dudley Blackwell, added to his collection of clutch moments on the first official game of the 2017-18 campaign.
A game-winning, three quarter court heave at the buzzer in double overtime cemented Scott’s Mr. Big Shot reputation. The shot also gave Westminster a 72-69 2OT victory over North Miami Senior High at the Hoophall Invitational. With Wallhoff and Westminster eyeballing another state championship with an unwavering focus, expect much of the same from Scott in 2018.
Neftali Alvarez, Miami Christian
Simply put, Alvarez calmly knocked down the biggest 3-point shot of his life on the biggest game of Miami Christian’s post-season, on the biggest stage Florida has to offer.
The Puerto Rican guard’s game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer (with a hand in his face on the close-out) knocked off Melbourne Florida Prep en route to last year’s 2A state championship.
As a senior this season, Alvarez has been pivotal in engineering Miami Christian’s thorough offensive assault while simultaneously scoring big buckets. With offers on the table from programs such as Wichita State, Arkansas State, UMass, Florida International and countless others, Alvarez’ late-game savvy is one of the immeasurable intangibles of his game. His heady play embodies Miami Christian’s style, which is predicated on smooth passing and getting everyone involved. With the game on the line, expect Alvarez to have a hand in the game-winning play as time expires.
Chase Johnston, Westminster Academy
While the aforementioned Scott may be the one to get the first look with the game on the line, you can’t rule out Johnston as an equal option. The sharpshooting Division-I prospect has shown a knack for that big shot, typically a straight-away 3-pointer.
Since the beginning of the season, his head coach and analysts had Johnston pegged as the best pure shooter in Florida. Given how much he’s progressed with a quicker release and smooth stroke, it would not be far-fetched to also put Johnston on the short list of the South Florida area’s most clutch performers.
Bryan Williams, Wellington
In fleeing the obscurity he was entrenched in with Trent Frazier (now a freshman at Illinois) serving as one of the country’s most electrifying performers, Williams has shown the type of reliable shooting that navigates a team through March.
Following a prosperous summer on the AAU circuit with the Wellington Wolves, Williams has readied himself for the rigors of the Mr. Big Shot role. With a bullet-quick release and an adroit touch from beyond the arc, the 5-foot-11 Class of 2018 combo guard is savoring the bigger role.
He proved this with a recent 20-point performance during a 70-58 Wellington win over Forest Hill in the championship of the Palm Beach Shootout. With an array of fakes, baseline drives, and an ability to read defenses and free up space for his shot accordingly, Williams has improved rapidly. Expanding these components of his game have enabled Williams to swiftly transition to a leadership role.