South Florida: Underrated Prospects

Before I get into the weeds of this piece, I would like to point out I have been covering this area for about one year. What I have quickly learned is how underrated this region is for basketball, especially coming from my home state of Connecticut. In a way, the saturation of high school football overshadows how much basketball talent South Florida has. As many papers and online publications put out end of the year accolades, please keep in mind the depth of talent this state has. For example, my local conference back home announced its player of year candidate, a student-athlete going to D-2 Bentley University. In contrast, a ton of players will be attending similar level schools in this part of the state, albeit without the same recognition like the Northeast does. If you find yourself not going to that "Blue Blood" school, do not look at it as a deterrent. A matter of fact, facing off against your contemporaries here will make you a better player in the long run. Overall, the work you put in here already has you ahead of the curve over many other top players in different parts of the country. With my motivational pitch over, lets get into some underrated prospects (here) in South Florida. Dylan Canonville - Calvary Christian: Canonville was one of three players to average in double-figures for the Eagles, who finished with a 21-8 record. According to MaxPreps, the 6’5" junior averaged 11.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. In one of his best performances of the year, the 215-pounder finished with 25 points and ten rebounds against Somerset Academy. Canonville is a physically imposing forward who can wreak havoc on the low block. [player_tooltip player_id="953077" first="Raphael" last="Houssou"] - Sagemont: A 6’1" 2021 point guard, Houssou helped Sagemont to a 19-9 record and a spot in the Class 3A state tournament this past season. Against state power Westminster Academy, Houssou finished with 19 points, showing good vision while making accurate passes. Overall, the junior averaged 16 points and 3.5 assists per game for the Lions. Houssou has been turning heads at events such as the Hoop Exchange and should be garnering more interest in due time. [player_tooltip player_id="818876" first="Jordan" last="Cooke"] - Miami Country Day: When talking about flat our scorers, the 5’10" 2021 point guard is a name that must be mentioned. Cooke led the Spartans in scoring at 21.5 points per game, finishing in double-figures in all but one contest this season. While his season-high 40 point game against Edison is impressive, Cooke played equally well against big time competition. Facing off against Gulliver Prep and North Broward Prep, Cooke finished with 30 points apiece on a combined 21-for-29 from the field. In addition, the junior shot 49% from the 3-point line and 85% from the free-throw line on the season. [player_tooltip player_id="818719" first="Thaddeus" last="Squire"] - Stranahan - In helping Stranahan to its second consecutive state championship, Squire combined for 29 points and 19 rebounds over the final two games up in Lakeland. The 6’3" junior was a key piece in the Mighty Dragons 24-win campaign, providing an extra offensive shooting weapon on a well balanced club. With a heavy crop of seniors graduating, Squire should take on a bigger role moving forward as the Mighty Dragons look to three-peat. Stephan Dibongue - Westminster Academy - The 6’2" senior was one of six players to average in double-figures for the Lions, scoring 14.3 points per game. A smart player with exceptional court awareness, Dibongue dished out 9.2 assists per game while collecting 3.5 rebounds. If you are looking for a point guard, Dibongue fits the mold perfectly as a player who will make smart decisions and limit mistakes. Romulo Delgado - Coral Gables: Delgado helped the Cavaliers to an 18-6 record while averaging 12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. The 2022 guard was consistent all season for Coral Gables, scoring in double-figures in 18 of the teams 24 games. In addition, Delgado shot 92% from the free-throw line and holds a 4.0 GPA. Against Doral Academy, Delgado scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half in what amounted to a huge victory for Coral Gables on its home-court. Danny Neumann - Chaminade-Madonna: As a pure shooter, I’d be hard pressed to find someone better than Neumann. The 2020 guard is someone who can literally erase a double-digit deficit in minutes with his ability to hit from downtown. Averaging 6.6 points per game for the Class 3A finalist, Neumann is the epitome of instant offense with his 47% hit rate from 3-point land. On many occasions, the senior knocked down six 3-pointers in games this season. [player_tooltip player_id="828123" first="Carrington" last="Campbell"] - Hallandale: The 5’10" 2020 Campbell is as shifty and dangerous in the open court as any player here in South Florida. In terms of pure speed, I would bet my money on Campbell getting up and down the court over anyone in town. According to MaxPreps, the point guard averaged 11.9 points per game for the 17-win Chargers. Furthermore, if he is not blowing past you, Campbell can consistently spot up and hit from downtown. For any South Florida Prep Hoops news or information...please contact Michael Costeines on Instagram @Steins_23 or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23