The bar has been set high for Dudley Blackwell.
The talented junior combo guard played a key role on two Class 4A state championship teams at Westminster Academy his first two seasons of high school ball.
This season, the 6-foot-6 Blackwell has moved on to Class 5A Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines, where he transferred along with former Cypress Bay point guard Brandon Garcia.
This week, I caught up with Blackwell at the Hollywood MLK Fall League where he says he is ready to take on the challenge of being the spotlight player.
“It comes with a lot,” Blackwell said. “It comes with a lot of pressure. But I think I’m ready to take on that role.
“I’ve got a good set of guys over here, too. We’ve got a good couple pieces just like at Westminster. I’m confident in my team.”
In Blackwell’s two seasons at Westminster Academy, coach Ehren Wallhoff‘s squad posted a 52-10 mark. In March, Blackwell posted a triple-double (12 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) in the Lions’ 76-64 victory over SLAM Academy in the 4A state semifinals at The Lakeland Center. He then scored 14 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and had 7 assists in the state championship game — an 89-64 victory over Master’s Academy. He played with Nightrydas on the travel basketball circuit.
PrepHoops ranks the 4-star prospect as the No. 5 player in the state of Florida in the 2020 class. 247 Sports ranks Blackwell the No. 76 prospect in America in the junior class.
Among his scholarship offers: FGCU, Iowa State and Oklahoma State. He said Virginia, Virginia Tech, Xavier and Georgia are the latest schools showing interest.
“I might take a couple officials this year,” Blackwell said. “I think I’m going on an Iowa State official in November.”
Somerset Pines runs out an impressive starting lineup that is made up entirely of underclassmen. Blackwell, Garcia, Nathan Montaque and Tyson Civil are all juniors, and Jonathan Renois is just a sophomore.
The Panthers’ biggest obstacle is they play in the same 5A district that includes Davie power and defending state champion University School, Chaminade-Madonna, Calvary Christian, Cardinal Gibbons and Pine Crest. Somerset is set to play in both the Holiday Hoopsgiving tournament in Atlanta and the Kreul Showcase in Coconut Creek.
“Our identity that we’re going to have — we’re going to instill — is on defense and playing fast,” said third-year coach Andrew Scott. “We’re pushing for being a really good defensive team and being a really fast offensive team. So, we’re getting out and pushing every time.”
PrepHoops ranks Garcia the No. 30 2020 prospect in the Sunshine State and Montaque No. 78. Renois is top-100 in Florida among 2021s.
The 6-1 Garcia has offers from FIU and North Florida. The 6-6 Montaque has interest from Mercer.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com or via text at 954-661-9671.
