Free-Throw Shooters: Guards Edition

Michael Costeines

June 11, 2020 @ 12:57 PM

Foul Shots. In the high tense arena of South Florida basketball, the smallest of things can make a difference. I cannot tell you how many games I have seen won or lost from the free-throw line. Plenty of kids are blessed with the ability to dunk and put the ball between their legs. That kind of athleticism/entertainment gets you on the ESPN highlight reel. But with under two minutes to go and the game on the line, are you able to hit from 15 feet? The players that are returning to the area have shown to have ice water in their veins when it counts. Let’s jump into it... [player_tooltip player_id="814913" first="Esteban" last="Lluberes"] - Riviera Prep My first look at the 2022 guard came back in January against Belen Jesuit. The 5-foot-8 standout knocked down nine free-throws (ten attempts) down the stretch to defeat the Wolverines on their home floor. A week prior, Lluberes hit an incredible 19-for-20 from the line against Lithia Springs. Altogether, the soon-to-be junior captain hit 138 free-throws according to MaxPreps at an 81% clip. Lluberes has a strong mental makeup and can be counted on in high intensity situations. The future is very bright for him for the Bulldogs. David Fernandez - Belen Jesuit 2021 David Fernandez led the Wolverines in both free-throws made (95) and attempts (126). In reality, the 5-foot-8 point guard could very well improve on his 75% average as a senior. Against Archbishop McCarthy, Fernandez tied a season-high with ten free-throws made on 11 attempts. On three other occasions, the Wolverines captain went perfect on eight or more tries. On the flip-side, Fernandez had a few games where he shot 40%. Add-in a little more consistency and Fernandez will polish out as a complete point guard. The rising senior already has the intangibles with a high motor and good attitude. [player_tooltip player_id="829513" first="Nicholas" last="Mate"] - Florida Christian I saw the Patriots early in the season down at Gulliver Prep and they looked like a track team. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="829513" first="Nicholas" last="Mate"] was a driving force for this blueprint. In addition, Mate can settle down and connect from the foul line. The five-foot-nine guard helped the Patriots to a 19-7 record while shooting an impressive 88% from the stripe. Against Norland, Mate knocked down ten free-throws on 11 attempts. In a 3-point victory over Westminster Christian, the rising junior went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. Overall, I like this kids moxy in late game situations. [player_tooltip player_id="829406" first="Maximus" last="Fuentes"] - North Broward Prep 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="829406" first="Maximus" last="Fuentes"] joins 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="712115" first="Justin" last="Abson"] as two standouts for the Eagles. The 6-foot-2 guard made 69 of his 84 attempts (82%) from the free-throw line according to MaxPreps. Against The First Academy, Fuentes went a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. When you factor in his 3-point shooting, Fuentes can be a major asset on all levels of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="818876" first="Jordan" last="Cooke"] - Miami Country Day [player_tooltip player_id="818876" first="Jordan" last="Cooke"] is a terrific player for the Spartans who I believe deserves more recognition. The 2021 guard made 106 of his 124 attempts (85%) according to MaxPreps. Against Sports Leadership & Management, Cooke went a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. Moreover, all three categories led the Spartans. Did I mention he is a 20-point scorer that shoots nearly 50% from the 3-point line?. Cooke does a lot for Miami Country Day and is a player who will make his teammates better on the floor. If you get a chance to check him out, it will be worth the admission. [player_tooltip player_id="956801" first="David" last="Clark"] - Killian 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="956801" first="David" last="Clark"] averaged 11.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for the Cougars last season. From the line, the 5-foot-10 point guard shot 90% in limited numbers. According to MaxPreps, Clark knocked down 36 of his 40 free-throws. However, that is a pretty good indication to me that he is a strong shooter from the foul line. Against Belen Jesuit and Columbus, Clark shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. I am interested to see how his game develops as a junior. For any South Florida Prep Hoops news or information...please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 on Instagram or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23.