FHSAA State Tournament: Day 1 Top Performers
LAKELAND – The FHSAA boys basketball state tournament opened up on Wednesday at the RP Funding Center. Six state semifinal matchups were played between 1A, 2A and 3A. Here are the results: 2A Impact Christian 57, Schoolhouse Prep 54 (1…
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Continue ReadingLAKELAND – The FHSAA boys basketball state tournament opened up on Wednesday at the RP Funding Center.
Six state semifinal matchups were played between 1A, 2A and 3A.
Here are the results:
2A
Impact Christian 57, Schoolhouse Prep 54 (1 OT)
Orlando Christian Prep 74, Bayshore Christian 53
1A
Hilliard 81, Vernon 59
Hawthorne 70, Paxton 58
3A
St. Andrew’s 68, Chaminade-Madonna 58
Andrew Jackson 65, Community School 53
Here is a look at the top performers.
Omar Figueroa, Ven Allen-Lubin & AJ Brown AJ Brown 6'4" | CG Orlando Christian Prep | 2022 State #190 Nation FL (Orlando Christian Prep)
Orlando Christian Prep is basically a pick your poison team. Between 2021 guard Omar Figueroa, 2022 pair Ven-Allen Lubin Ven-Allen Lubin 6'7" | PF Orlando Christian Prep | 2022 State #144 Nation FL and AJ Brown AJ Brown 6'4" | CG Orlando Christian Prep | 2022 State #190 Nation FL and 2020 guard Eric Butler Eric Butler 6'3" | SG Orlando Christian Prep | 2020 State #350 Nation FL , the Warriors have tons of length, versatility and scoring ability. OCP is entering its fourth straight state championship game looking to win its third in four years. Figueroa led the charge with 19 points, shooting 8-of-14 from the field overall. His attacking is smooth. Allen-Lubin and Brown are reliable from the mid-range and make plays that always impress. Allen-Lubin had 16 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 7-of-13 from the field while Brown finished with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field. Butler, a Southern Illinois signee did his part with 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, keeping everyone calm.
Yussif Basa-ama & Joshua Minott (St. Andrew’s)
2020 6’8″ Yale signee Yussif Basa-ama had a great showing with 25 points and 10 rebounds. He made 11-of-12 free throw attempts and was all over the paint, working on tip-backs and moves to the rim. Another key piece and an impressive one at that was 2021 6’8″ forward Joshua Minott who had 19 points and 10 rebounds. His upside is through the roof. A long body much like Basa-ama, Minott is a seasoned athlete who is a good ballhandler who can create all over the floor. He will be a big reason why they can win a state title.
Jordin Jackson Jordin Jackson 5'10" | PG Impact Christian | 2020 State FL & Calvin Johnson Calvin Johnson 6'5" | CG Impact Christian | 2021 State FL (Impact Christian)
Down 47-36 with 3:25 left, Impact Christian used a 13-4 run to force overtime as 2020 Warner commit Jordin Jackson Jordin Jackson 5'10" | PG Impact Christian | 2020 State FL tacked on 15 points in total including the game tying mid-range floater with over a minute left. His two free throws with 1:29 left pushed the lead to 55-52 and Impact Christian held on. His speed and ballhandling are undeniable. Jackson also had seven assists. 2021 6’4″ guard/forward Calvin Johnson Calvin Johnson 6'5" | CG Impact Christian | 2021 State FL excelled from the start as a versatile attacker as he finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He had four straight points to open up overtime.
CJ Crews & David Fitzgerald David Fitzgerald 6'3" | CG Bayshore Christian | 2020 State FL (Bayshore Christian)
Bayshore Christian did all it could in a mammoth of a matchup against Orlando Christian Prep. With very little size and depth, 2020 6’4″ guard David Fitzgerald David Fitzgerald 6'3" | CG Bayshore Christian | 2020 State FL led the way with 21 points, doing a lot near the rim. A NAIA or JUCO program should be looking in his direction. 2021 6’2″ guard Charles Crews Charles Crews 6'3" | CG Bayshore Christian | 2021 State FL was on fire as a shooter making four 3’s in the third quarter despite playing with four fouls. He fouled out early in the fourth quarter but proved he can hit shots with range and is in for a big summer with Team Speights.
Thaddius Franklin & Johnny O’Neil Johnny O’Neil 6'9" | PF Chaminade Madonna | 2020 State FL (Chaminade-Madonna)
Guard pair Thaddius Franklin and Johnny O’Neil Johnny O’Neil 6'9" | PF Chaminade Madonna | 2020 State FL did all they could for Chaminade-Madonna in a night where St. Andrew’s flew down the floor and finished well. Franklin, a 2021 Miami football commit had 19 points and was really good in transition. His strength is undeniable and hard to stop. As for O’Neill, the American University signee had 17 points and connected on 5-of-11 3’s, his usual damage spot.
Jacob Crews Jacob Crews 6'7" | PF Hillard | 2020 State #450 Nation FL & Shemar Melton Shemar Melton 6'4" | PF West Nassau | 2020 State FL (Hilliard)
In the first 1A semifinal of the day, Hilliard ran a bunch of guys at Vernon. 2020 6’6″ UNF signee Jacob Crews Jacob Crews 6'7" | PF Hillard | 2020 State #450 Nation FL finished with a game-best 29 points. His jumper is seasoned and he’s able to hurt defenses early and often because of it. As for 2020 6’4″ guard Shemar Melton Shemar Melton 6'4" | PF West Nassau | 2020 State FL , he started off with a high-flying dunk and continued to work as a smooth finisher to end the game with 15-points, pacing Crews. An NAIA or JUCO spot would fare well taking a look at him.
Torey Buie Torey Buie 6'2" | CG Bradford | 2020 FL (Hawthorne)
Hawthorne moved into the state final for the first time since 2015 behind a 32 point outing from 2020 guard Torey Buie Torey Buie 6'2" | CG Bradford | 2020 FL . The Hornets are searching for their second-ever state title, the first coming in 1987. Buie was active from the jump adding his team’s first seven points and 13 points in the first half. He shot 10-of-19 from the field and made routine trips to the free throw line (12-of-14). The kid is simply solid, controls the tempo and does all the little things you want from your lead guard.
Logan West Logan West 6'5" | PF Jackson | 2020 State FL & Davin Daniels (Andrew Jackson)
It was a nice evening for Jackson as it fought hard all night behind a solid group of athletes. 2021 guard Davin Daniels had 10 points and eight rebounds, shooting 4-of-8 from the field while 2020 Warner commit Logan West Logan West 6'5" | PF Jackson | 2020 State FL impressed with his pure toughness, adding eight points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Jackson will have more work to do on Friday in the 3A title game against St. Andrew’s.
Jay Beshears Jay Beshears 6'1" | CG Naples Community | 2020 State FL (Community School)
A 2020 Northwestern baseball commit, you have to be impressed with the way Jay Beshears Jay Beshears 6'1" | CG Naples Community | 2020 State FL worked for Community School in his final basketball game. He had a team best 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Beshears was active as a slasher and went to the free throw line a lot. Community School will miss his leadership.
AJ Lopez (Schoolhouse Prep)
I came away impressed with the upside of 2020 6’4″ guard AJ Lopez. For Schoolhouse Prep, he proved he’s more than capable of making plays at the cup with his 14-point performance. He’s still developing as a shooter but he’s long, bursty and plays with vocalness. Lopez should get long looks from Division II and NAIA schools.
Alonzo Wright Alonzo Wright 6'6" | PF Paxton | 2020 State FL & Conner Varnum Conner Varnum 6'2" | CG Paxton | 2020 State FL (Paxton)
Combining for 37 of its teams 58 points, 2020 duo Alonzo Wright Alonzo Wright 6'6" | PF Paxton | 2020 State FL and Conner Varnum Conner Varnum 6'2" | CG Paxton | 2020 State FL were the best pieces going. Wright is a long body at 6’6″ and he was efficient, shooting 6-of-12 from the field with a team-high 19 points. He is still raw as a ballhandler and can get stronger but there will be a college that takes a long look at him. Varnum has been a true leader for Paxton for a few years now at 6’2″ and he battled for all 18 points in this one.