FABC Showcase: Day 1 Standouts

<p>Day one of the FABC Showcase saw a great pool of talent from what seemed like every part of Florida. Some performances were expected, others came from out of nowhere. Take a look at some top names from the day at IMG Academy in Bradenton.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Keon Buckley - Lakewood Ranch 2020:</strong> What’s great about Buck, is not just what he can physically do on the court, but what he can VERBALLY do. One of the best leaders at the guard position that I saw, all day. With the ball in his hands, he’s aggressive, and doesn’t stop until he finds his way at the rim. He’ll be a Lakewood Ranch focal point, this season.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Jeremiah Denaud - Jensen Beach 2021:</strong> Listen, this guy may take a half to get warm, but he’s worth the wait. After a three-point first half vs. Naples, the combo-guard finished with a strong 27 points by-way of the three-ball, showing pace to his game, and having great D lead to better O. He earned it.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Matthew Sutton - Lake Howell 2020:</strong> Despite being arguably the shortest player on the floor at 5’8”, Sutton showed his competitiveness while hitting five treys vs. Sickles in a win. He finished with 25 points, 23 of-which came via the second half. Quick with the ball, makes sound decisions.Tied for the 2nd-highest GPA on the team with a 3.8, if given a chance, I believe he’d be worth a look.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Jovan Kojic - Canterbury 2020:</strong> At 6’7” &amp; a tough cover in the paint, Kojic made it hard for defenses to keep him away from the rim while earning 28 points in a win vs. Bradenton Christian. Kojic has great footwork, is an awesome rebounder on both sides of the floor. He even feels comfortable bringing the ball up during a fast-break. Worth taking a visit to Fort Myers, this season.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Darron Humphrey - Lehigh 2020:</strong> One of the most high-flying wings of the day, Humphrey has hops that will make you blink twice. Along with slamming it home, he uses his bounce to snag boards above the rim. He’s a long-armed 6’4”, which made for getting a couple steals off the inbounds play. He notched 21 points in a win vs. Palmetto. Want to see him really take off in his senior campaign.</p> <p><br /> <strong>D.J. Murry - Westport 2020:</strong> Murry was one of the most physical guys in the post, earning the bulk of his scoring by establishing position on the low-block and going to work. Which was refreshing to see, given that he’s a fairly thin guy. On both ends of the floor, he outmuscled his opponent for rebounds and sprinted back during the fast-break. Westport should expect a career year out of him, this winter.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Alan Cedeno - Canterbury 2021:</strong> The junior combo-guard is pushing 6’0”, and has a stoic leadership that a coach can appreciate. From start to finish, he showed a great level of hustle, found his teammates, and ended up with 23 points of his own in a win vs. Bradenton Christian. From beyond the arc, he’s a marksman—ended that game with four treys.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Michael Hatcher - Palmetto 2020:</strong> This 6’7” forward has all the makings of a guy who could really turn heads in his last year. He has the guard skills and ball-handling, he can step out and hit the long-range bomb. If he drives through the lane, it’s best to move from said-lane. Look for him to be a key guy for Palmetto, this year.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Carson Funk - Jensen Beach 2021:</strong> There wasn’t anything stank about Funk’s game, on Saturday. The junior guard was breath of fresh air for Jensen Beach, who relied on Funk’s hustle and defense to make a push towards a win. On offense, I love how willing he was to share the ball, while also proving that he can avoid the D at the rim and hit the reverse lay. Finished with 20 points in the win vs. Naples. Keep cleaning up your game, Funk.</p>