Standouts from the Seminole and St. Pete Saturday shootouts
On Saturday, the Keith MacCollom Shootout at Seminole High School and the St. Pete High School Shootout were both played.
I split the day between the two shootouts, seeing three games at Seminole and three evening matchups at St. Pete.
Here were the top standouts I saw on Saturday.
Darin Green Jr. (Wharton)
The Wildcats fell to East Lake 68-64 at Seminole, but 2019 guard/forward Darin Green Jr. put in work. He dropped a game-high 30 points which included five 3’s, three in the second half alone. Green Jr. has a knack for a big outside shot and he made some nice drives to the hoop in this one.
Serrel Smith (St. Pete)
Serrel Smith was back to his old tricks in front of his home crowd in the final game of the St. Pete Shootout. The senior Ole Miss commit scored 29 points in a 78-68 victory over Sickles that quite frankly was not easy. Smith paced his offense time and time again with jumpers. He had two slams in the game including a one-handed poster ().
Bryce Workman (Sickles)
I say it all the time, Bryce Workman is the most underrated big man in Florida and one of the top under the radar guys in the entire country. I know he has numerous Division I offers, but at 6’8″ there is no reason at all that this senior forward shouldn’t have 25 plus offers. He can get to the rack with his quick feet and power and his outside shooting is now dangerous. College programs need to take notice.
Winston Dessesow/Dre Fuller (Admiral Farragut)
Every time I watch Winston Dessesow play, he impresses me. It was no different in the 61-50 victory over Lakewood. He scored a team-high 22 points by pushing the floor well in transition and hitting key jumpers. Senior UCF commit Dre Fuller, the lone McDonald’s All American from the area recorded 14 points in the game with some impressive takes to the rim.
Tai Strickland (St. Pete)
It wasn’t only Smith that took over against Sickles, senior guard Tai Strickland had a ton of bright moments. Strickland paced Smith with 23 points. Perhaps his best moment came in the fourth quarter when he literally spun away from a defender and found an opening to the rack. He looks way more comfortable this season at St. Pete and he’s playing with confidence.
Norris Taylor (Sebring)
It didn’t go Sebring’s way in the opening game at Seminole in a 65-51 loss to Palm Harbor. However, junior Norris Taylor showed up. He scored a team-high 22 points. Most of his points came on drives to the basket as his jumper wasn’t working, but Taylor is speedy on the break and a tough-minded guard.
Tyrick Brascom/David Cexil (Tampa Bay Tech)
Two upperclassmen, Tyrick Brascom and David Cexil were the leaders for Tampa Bay Tech in a one OT loss to Gibbs 61-59. Brascom worked his way to 22 points while Cexil had a nice night with 15 points. The duo play for Skills Center Elite for travel ball and they both can lead an offense with their handles and grit.
Noah Tran (Palm Harbor)
2020 guard Noah Tran put on a shooting clinic for Palm Harbor in the win over Sebring. He scored 27 points which included six 3’s, three in the fourth quarter alone. Despite being undersized, Tran is a determined shooter who will continue to take chances from outside.
Dawson Maxwell (Clearwater)
Junior guard Dawson Maxwell was instrumental in a 62-52 win over Jesuit. He netted 23 points to lead the Tornadoes. Maxwell took advantage of some open lanes offensively and he hustled back on defense. Clearwater is a team made up of mostly sophomores and juniors and Maxwell is playing well.
Jack Cooper/Nick Weir (Jesuit)
Without senior guard Thierry Moliere (leg injury), Jesuit is working with a different look as of late. Junior forward Jack Cooper had some really good moments with 15 points while senior guard Nick Weir ended the loss to Clearwater with 12 points. On a nightly basis, Cooper and Weir are Jesuit’s best playmakers with Moliere injured.
Jordan Hilmon/Dionte Blanch (East Lake)
East Lake put in an endless effort to take down Wharton. The defensive pressure made the Wildcats shoot from outside rather than earn anything inside. A pair of sophomores in Jordan Hilmon (14 points) and Dionte Blanch (12 points) did plenty for the Eagles. Hilmon is a gifted 3-point shooter and Blanch is an explosive athlete with good moves inside.
Denari Garrett (Sickles)
A lengthy and determined senior, Denari Garrett has been key for Sickles offense the past two seasons. He scored 14 points against St. Pete, mainly coming in the paint. Playing as the second-best offensive weapon for the Gryphons next to Workman, Garrett works well in this offense.
Tre Gilliam/Kai Pennington (Gibbs)
Unfortunately, Gibbs will be without senior Coastal Carolina commit David Pierce the next six weeks due to suspension. It was hard for the Gladiators to get much of an offensive spark with Pierce out, but the duo of sophomore Tre Gilliam and junior Kai Pennington helped beat Tampa Bay Tech. Gilliam had 19 points and Pennington had 17 points. Gilliam is the sparkplug of this offense with his playmaking ability.
Adrian White/Cleo Mitchell (Lakewood)
Junior guard Adrian White broke his wrist a few weeks ago but told me he will be back before the season ends. Sophomore center Jamille Reynolds is also on the mend with a meniscus issue. Lakewood put a lot on seniors Adrian White and Cleo Mitchell, who scored 14 points and 11 points respectivelly. The two seniors will have to do even more with Adrian White and Mitchell inactive.