The Ten Best: Dec. 10-15th (Part 1/2)

Last week was a wild time for high school basketball in the area. Between the 10th and 15th, I was able to attend seven games check out some great talent in the area. Here’s part one of the the top ten players seen, through that time.

Jake Charske - Forest High School: This junior wingman lit up the Columbia Tigers defense for 21 points, including four treys. Jake’s an awesome catch-and-shoot guy who also runs the floor well and can finish strong at the hoop. On defense, he’s a solid on-ball defender, challenged every shot his man, took. Excited to see the progression of his game, unfold.

Marquez Reaves - North Marion High School: Reaves is all of 5’4”, but none of that matters—this guy is a true threat on offense. Against Ocala-Lake Weir, the senior co-led his Colts with 12 points and shot well from outside the arc. Reaves is also, hands down, one of the speediest guards in the area with the ball in his hands. Once he gets moving in-transition, good luck trying to stop him. His vision in-transition is solid, as well.

Marcus NiBlack - Wildwood High School: This junior guard played one of the most poised games of his career against Eustis High, on Thursday. He finished with 38 points, 26 of them coming in the second half and BOTH overtimes (yes, the game went to double-overtime). NiBlack hit the game-tying three in regulation to send the game to the first OT, hit a free-throw with two seconds left to send it to double-OT, and hit the go-ahead jumper with six seconds left to win the game. Absolute poise.

Jalen Speer - P.K. Yonge Research School: Another junior guard who lit it up from downtown, Speer torched Ocala-Trinity Catholic for 26 points on Saturday, including five treys. This includes the game-winning three on the wing off an inbounds play with three seconds left. He is a true competitor, forces steals off inbounds plays, and is crafty when finishing at the rim. Speer scored half of his points in the second quarter, alone.

Ricardo Wright - Eustis High School: The 2020 wing has a great pace about his game, never gets too high or too low on the court. He finished with 19 points on Thursday vs. Wildwood, earning most of his buckets within 13 feet of the rim. At 6’5”, he’s got great height and length to snag rebounds over defenders and makes it tough for ball-handlers to sneak past him. Definitely a lot of room for growth, but he’s definitely a top-two talent on his Eustis squad.