Florida HS Team Camp (Day 1): 5 Takeaways

<p>Miramar, Miami Palmetto and Miami Norland all went 2-0 on Day 1 of the 33-team Florida High School Team Camp held Friday at Norland. Action Saturday and Sunday will take place at DS Sportsplex in Deerfield Beach.</p> <p>Here are Friday's top 5 Takeaways from Norland High School:</p> <h4>Lacount raises profile</h4> <p>Coral Park and Blanche Ely played right down to the final horn in the game of the day. Rising senior guard <strong>Tyrecke Francois</strong> had given Ely a 60-58 advantage with two clutch free throws with 12 seconds to play. But Coral Park 2020 guard <strong>Ga'khari Lacount</strong> (pictured) brought the ball up, veered to his right and hit a fade-away 3-pointer with 2 seconds to go for the game-winner. The 3-point bomb put an exclamation point on a 35-point performance by Lacount against the defending Class 8A state champions. "We were looking for like a downhill off the screen to get a layup, but they were playing it back so we just got it in and created something," said the 6-foot-1 Lacount, who also had 21 points (three 3-pointers) in a loss to Miramar.</p> <h4>Davis, Jean-Charles impress</h4> <p>Senior guard <strong>Brent Davis</strong> scored in double-digits to lead Miramar past Coral Park and then South Miami. Davis pumped in 18 points in the 61-49 verdict over Coral Park and had 13 vs. the Cobras. "Summer is going very well," Patriots coach <strong>Tramaine Stevens</strong> said. "We've got our core coming back so it feels good. Brent Davis has picked up interest from FAMU, Citadel and Rider. At Philly he did exceptionally well." 2022 <strong>Deshawn Jean-Charles</strong> looks to be hitting another gear. The rising sophomore played with more urgency and looked more comfortable in year 2 as a starter. Jean-Charles' put-back with 2 seconds remaining beat South Miami and he finished with 17 points. Miramar did lose <strong>Kaleb Walters</strong> (Westminster Academy) to transfer as well as 6-4 <strong>Reggie Luis </strong>(Miami Columbus).</p> <h4>Ely to rely on guards</h4> <p>Coach <strong>Melvin Randall</strong> won a ninth state title in 2018-19. The veteran coach will have to rely heavily on his guard group -- at least early on -- with the departures of 2020 transfers <strong>A.J. Staton</strong> (West Oaks Academy), <strong>Malachi Hazelton</strong> (West Oaks) and <strong>Jayden Fye</strong> (Stranahan). Friday vs. Coral Park, Ely started <strong>Tyrecke Francois</strong> (2020 guard), <strong>Lamont Evans</strong> (2020 guard), <strong>Colby King</strong> (2022 guard), <strong>Derrick Lovett</strong> (2022 forward) and <strong>Jaleel Patterson</strong> (2020 center). Francois poured in 28 points in a loss to Miami Palmetto and 19 vs. Coral Park.</p> <h4>Middleton a top 2023</h4> <p>It will be interesting to watch Miami High freshman <strong>Scotty Middleton</strong> progress. Middleton has nice size and put on display an excellent outside shot on the way to 16 points in a 73-57 loss to Norland. The 6-5 Middleton, who will play with Shahbaz Elite at the MADE Hoops live event in July, canned two 3-pointers. "It's actually good to get together for the first time [this summer]," said Stingarees coach <strong>Javorie Wilson</strong>. "We've got some young pieces in there. We're also missing [2021] <strong>Justin [Neely]</strong>. He's been out 2 months with a fractured ankle." Miami High lost <strong>James McBride</strong> to transfer (Tallahassee Godby) but brought in 2022 point guard <strong>Andre Bynum</strong> from SLAM.</p> <h4>Wilson back playing</h4> <p>Norland coach <strong>Lawton Williams</strong> is glad to have 2020 center <strong>Kendrick Wilson</strong> back. Wilson brings presence and experience ... and 16 points Friday in a 73-57 W over Miami High. "We've just been getting in the gym working and our starting center [Wilson] for the past two years came back, so that changed things," Williams said. "He was injured playing football [fractured ankle]." 2020 big guard <strong>Jahvon Smith</strong> also had 16 points vs. the Stingarees. Norland later routed South Dade, 77-40.</p> <p><em>If you have high school or travel basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via Twitter at @PLamRecruiting or through e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com</em></p>