Preview: 2018-2019 ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest Tampa

Next week, the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest Tampa will kickoff at Berkeley Prep on Friday, Feb. 1.

Eight total games will be played from Feb. 1-2 in Tampa.

Here is the schedule with players and top games to watch below.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Friday, February 1st

5:00 p.m. - Orlando Christian Prep vs. Tampa Prep
6:30 p.m. - West Virginia Huntington Prep vs. Berkeley Prep
8:00 p.m. - Montverde Academy (CBD) vs. IMG Academy (Post-Grad)

Saturday, February 2nd

11:15 a.m. - St. Pete vs. West Oaks
12:45 p.m. - Tampa Catholic vs. The Villages
2:30 p.m. - Berkeley Prep vs. University School
4:30 p.m. - Montverde Academy vs. Virginia Oak Hill Academy (watch on ESPNU)
6:00 p.m. - Oak Ridge vs. West Virginia Huntington Prep

Players to watch 

2019

Oak Hill guard Cole Anthony (No. 2 by ESPN and Prep Hoops) - The son of Greg Anthony can absolutely break down a defense with his jumper and attacks to the rim.

University School forward Vernon CareyJr. (No. 3 by ESPN and No. 5 by Prep Hoops) - The Duke commit can hurt you many different ways as a smooth ballhandling and dominating big man.

Montverde forward Precious Achiuwa (No. 14 by Prep Hoops and No. 16 by ESPN) - A freakish athlete at 6'7", he will wow you with his play in transition and overall tenacity on defense.

Oak Ridge forward C.J. Walker (No. 24 by ESPN and No. 25 by Prep Hoops) - A long and natural athlete, the Oregon commit is fun to watch work inside as a slasher and dunker.

The Villages guard Tre Mann (No. 32 by ESPN and No. 35 by Prep Hoops) - A finesse shooter and attacker, the UF commit is determined to score in bunches and get everyone around him involved often.

Oak Hill forward Kofi Cockburn (No. 36 by ESPN and No. 44 by ESPN) - The Illinois commit is a bully on the boards and in the paint with his big and bulky frame.

Montverde forward Omar Payne (No. 43 by ESPN and No. 65 by Prep Hoops) - The UF commit has all the tools you covet from a big man including a nice shooting touch and good feet.

Montverde forward Balsa Koprivica (No. 42 by ESPN and No. 51 by Prep Hoops) - The FSU commit is a defensive force and a true threat offensively with his long arms.

Others to watch: West Oaks guard Tyrell Jones (Auburn commit/ranked No. 143 by Prep Hoops), Oak Ridge guard Niven Glover (ranked No. 23 in Florida by Prep Hoops), Tampa Prep guard Jaren Phillips (ranked No. 35 in Florida by Prep Hoops), Berkeley Prep forward Chase Barrs (Western Michigan commit/ranked 51 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Oak Ridge forward Kaleb Coleman (Lipscomb commit/ranked No. 58 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Oak Ridge guard Emmanuel Adedoyin (ranked No. 62 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), West Oaks forward Alic Troutman (ranked No. 108 in Florida by Prep Hoops), The Villages guard Terry Ivery (ranked No. 116 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), The Villages forward Brandon Farmer (ranked No. 125 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), West Oaks guard Jordan Smith (ranked No. 123 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), St. Pete guard Terell Strickland (ranked No. 138 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), 

2020

University School guard/forward Scottie Barnes (No. 3 by Prep Hoops and No. 4 by ESPN) - A highly impressive ballhandler and attacker, Barnes sets the tone for his side and is able to cover the best player on the opposing team for a good portion of games.

Montverde forward Cade Cunningham (No. 10 by Prep Hoops and ESPN) - A true wing who is dabbling with guard play this season, Cunningham is an athlete who always puts the work on both sides of the floor.

Huntington Prep forward Jaemyn Brakefield (No. 17 by ESPN and No. 19 by Prep Hoops) - A power forward who can play center as well at the high school level, Brakefield has a high motor and reliable feet.

Montverde forward Moses Moody (No. 12 by Prep Hoops and No. 26 by ESPN) - A jumbo combo guard, Moody can score in bunches and his speed gives defenses a fit.

Oak Hill guard Cameron Thomas (No. 22 by ESPN and No. 29 by Prep Hoops) - A very talented shooter, Thomas does his a lot of his damage on his own while creating space, but he certainly has a quick trigger from the mid-range and deep.

Others to watch:  Huntington Prep guard Noah Rittinger (ranked No. 178 overall by Prep Hoops), West Oaks guard Selton Miguel (ranked No. 16 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), University guard Jace Howard (ranked No. 22 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Montverde guard Osei Price (ranked No. 44 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Orlando Christian Prep guard Eric Butler (ranked No. 49 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Tampa Catholic guard Alijah Harrison (ranked No. 55 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Tampa Catholic guard Kobe Knox (ranked No. 64 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Tampa Catholic forward Isaiah Elmore (ranked No. 66 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), St. Pete guard Deondre Earley (ranked No. 73 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Berkeley Prep guard Kegan Karnes (ranked No. 84 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Berkeley Prep guard/forward Ronnie Williams (ranked No. 88 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Tampa Prep guard Jaden Gray (ranked No. 104 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), University guard Roger McFarlane.

2021

Huntington Prep forward J.T. Thor (No. 10 by ESPN and No. 24 by Prep Hoops) - The lengthy and rock solid shooter, Thor finds good areas on the floor and just hitting his full potential this season.

Others to watch: West Oaks guard AJ Neal (ranked No. 8 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Jameon Harris (ranked No. 11 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Oak Ridge guard Jalen Smith (ranked No. 14 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Orlando Christian Prep forward Camden Easley (ranked No. 15 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), St. Pete guard Ray Perry (ranked No. 78 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops), Berkeley Prep guard RJ Garcia (ranked No. 133 overall in Florida by Prep Hoops)

2022:

Montverde (Ryan Nembhard, Caleb Houstan, Dariq Whitehead), Huntington Prep (Kok Yat, Dontae Stringer), University (Jett Howard, Taylor Hendricks), Oak Ridge (Lewis Jones), Berkeley Prep (CJ Hawkins), West Oaks (Fray Dieud Nguimbi), Orlando Christian Prep (Ven Allen Lubin, Anthony Brown).

Top games to watch:

All eyes will be on the two final games of the showcase on Saturday.

4:30 p.m. - Montverde vs. Oak Hill 

6 p.m. - Oak Ridge vs. Huntington Prep

Streamed on ESPNU, Montverde (ranked No. 4 by MaxPreps) will battle Oak Hill (ranked No. 7 by MaxPreps) in a huge matchup that has endless implications for the Geico Nationals. This game is filled with Division I talent and it should be a fun one from to finish.

The Oak Ridge vs. Huntington Prep game is a good one as well with Walker, Glover, Coleman and Adedoyin looking to slow down the length and deep roster that Huntington Prep employs alongside Brakefield.

--All eight games should be good with plenty of prospects to keep an eye on. These two mentioned above are my favorite games to watch and the ones that will certainly be the closest on the weekend.