Most Intriguing Prospects: Montverde vs DeMatha

<p>Thursday night Montverde (FL) and DeMatha (MD) matched up in a nationally televised game full of future college and potentially NBA stars.  The top team in the nation Montverde flexed their muscles and depth winning in impressive fashion 76-56.  Here are our <strong>Most Intriguing Prospects: Montverde vs DeMatha</strong>!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Cade Cunningham (Montverde, FL – 2020 – Oklahoma State)</strong></p> <p>Let’s start out with the top prospect in the game in potential #1 prospect nationally Cade Cunningham.  He is a jumbo point guard at 6’7” with off the charts physical tools.  The first aspect that stands out is his passing.  He has an incredible feel for distributing the basketball in all areas whether it is half court, transition, or on out of bounds plays.  Always makes sound decisions with the ball.  Crisp jump shooter that hit a pair of threes and a pull up mid-range jumper.  Went for 11 points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Scottie Barnes (Montverde, FL – 2020 – Florida State)</strong></p> <p>Barnes is the ultimate utility player at the high school level.  At his size he has the versatility to make an impact on the game in so many ways.  Like Cunningham he is a high level passer in the point-forward mold.  As a scorer he is efficient scoring on quick moves around the hoop and finding openings in the defense to operate.  Got a trio of buckets on out of bounds plays.  Elite level defender that can check the one through four spots at the college level with his length and anticipation.  Blocked 8 shots on the night and was a beast on the perimeter defending.  He finished with 16 points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Zeb Jackson (Montverde, FL – 2020 – Michigan)</strong></p> <p>Jackson is headed off to Michigan next season and the Big 10 program is getting a good one here.  He was a little shaky early, but got things rolling as the game went along.  The lefty is a crisp ball handler that netted 6 points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Moses Moody (Montverde, FL – 2020 – Arkansas)</strong></p> <p>Moody is one of the more underrated prospects nationally in my opinion.  He is mostly known as a perimeter shooter, but in this game he was more assertive attacking the cup for scores including an and-1 en route to his 5 points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Day’Ron Sharpe (Montverde, FL – 2020 – North Carolina)</strong></p> <p>Sharpe is coming off an illness so we didn’t see the usual dominant five man that the Tar Heels are getting, but he still managed four points.  Physical body that finishes dump off passes and runs the floor well for a player his size.  Light on his feet.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Ryan Nembhard (Montverde, FL – 2021)</strong></p> <p>Nembhard is another Canadian that has made his way to Montverde.  Good floater game including lobbing one right over the head of Dickinson.  Also hit a three for his 7 points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Dariq Whitehead (Montverde, FL – 2022)</strong></p> <p>Whitehead is an elite sophomore prospect.  The athletic and explosive two guard showed exactly what he is capable of in this contest.  It all started with his defense on the perimeter getting stops, steals, and blocks then going the other way with them.  He hammered home an array of jams in fantastic fashion.  Quickness to the offensive glass and a burst off the bounce were other aspects that stood out in his 14 point performance.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Caleb Houstan (Montverde, FL – 2022)</strong></p> <p>Houstan has a ton of intriguing tools.  Forward has good size and broad shoulders.  Length plays well on the defensive end of the floor and crashing the glass.  Put it on the deck a few times including a sweet up and under.  Knocked down a pair of threes.  In a high level nationally televised game he was calm, cool, and collected scoring 12 points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Earl Timberlake (DeMatha, MD – 2020 – Miami)</strong></p> <p>Timberlake was the best player for DeMatha scoring 16 points.  The left handed small forward was streaky shooting it although he knocked down a pull up three early in the game and another from 15 feet.  The Miami commit was most effective slashing taking quality angles to the rim.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Hunter Dickinson (DeMatha, MD – 2020)</strong></p> <p>Dickinson didn’t have his best night.  He struggled defensively and couldn’t find a consistent feel scoring in the paint early in the game.  As the game went on he showed off what makes him intriguing with his skill around the hoop scoring on seals and quick post ups.  He had 8 points.  Still a big fan of this 7’1” five man who has an old school game.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tyrell Ward (DeMatha, MD – 2022)</strong></p> <p>Ward is next in line for being a go to player for DeMatha.  The sophomore is a slick scorer that looks like a potential three level scorer.  He had 12 points.</p>