Top performers: 2018 Kreul Classic (Day 4 of 4)

Pat Lammer

December 27, 2018 @ 01:15 AM

The 29th annual Kreul Classic wrapped up in Coral Springs with championship games in five brackets. Here are the top performers from Championship Saturday at the Kreul:

Dave Herard (Fort Lauderdale Stranahan)

The junior guard (pictured) had a point to prove against Class 8A defending state champion Pompano Beach Blanche Ely.

"We're trying to be the next powerhouse school," said the 6-foot-2 Herard, who finished with 22 points.

Herard connected on four 3-pointers, but scored possibly his biggest bucket on an old-fashioned three-point play that stretched Stranahan's lead from 47-44 to 50-44 with 1:55 remaining. The Dragons (10-2) would prevail, 53-46, for the Kreul Elite Challenge bracket championship. Herard was named the bracket's MVP.

Jalen Hill (Las Vegas Ed W. Clark)

You can see why college coaches love the 6-7 senior guard. The versatile University of Oklahoma recruit can do it all: shoot from the outside, post up, run, defend.

Hill showed off an array of moves -- including two monster dunks -- on the way to a 21-point performance in the 9-0 Chargers' 68-32 rout of two-time defending Florida Class 4A state champion Westminster Academy in the Under Armour Challenge bracket championship. Hill was named the MVP of the bracket.

"I feel like everything was working for us, especially on our defense," Hill said. "We really picked it up."

Josh Cohen (Lincroft, N.J., Christian Brothers)

The 6-10 center was dominant on both ends in the unbeaten Colts' dismantling of Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 73-28, in the championship game of the Kreul BCAA Challenge bracket.

Cohen, the MVP of the bracket, scored 16 points to help Christian Brothers (5-0) to a 37-20 halftime advantage and finished with 23. He picked St. Francis University in Pennsylvania over an offer from FDU.

Isaiah Josue (Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy)

The 2020 point guard led Mater past Copper Hills, of Utah, 54-48, in the championship game of the Kreul No. 94 Challenge bracket.

Inady Legiste (Stranahan)

The Dragons' center formed a nice one-two punch with Herard.

The 6-6 junior scored 16 points -- 10 in the second half -- in the W over Blanche Ely. Legiste & Co. also defeated LeFlore (Ala.) and Putnam City West (Okla.) in the tournament.

Putnam City West 6-4 2020 Rondel Walker is also a name to remember. Among Walker's offers: Oklahoma State, Wichita State, Texas A&M and Utah.

Frankie Collins (Ed. W. Clark)

The sophomore point guard had an excellent floor game and scored 8 points in the victory over Westminster Academy.

The 6-2 Collins was named All-Tournament after helping the Chargers to consecutive wins over Delray Atlantic, Miami Norland and Westminster.

Daniel Merrius (Pompano Beach Blanche Ely)

The 6-3 senior forward kept Ely in the game vs. Stranahan.

Merrius canned five field goals in the second half and finished with 15 points. He showed the ability to hit the 3 as well as get to the rim with the bounce.

Ely (6-3) beat Putnam City West (Okla.) and LeFlore (Ala.) in its first two contests.