The Rock Classic: Day 1 Notes

On Monday, I started my week off with a short five minute drive to Windermere Prep for the Rock Classic. Unlike the other tournaments that I attended this week, The Rock Classic included two teams that made the trip from out of state. In addition to getting a look at some players I already knew about from Florida, I also got to see what the South Carolina Christ Church Academy and Georgia Mt. Pisgah Christian had to offer.

These are some of the notes I took:

 Evans Trio leads Trojans to Victory

 Evans 53

Berkeley Prep 44

 While Evans is rarely the biggest team on the court, there are few teams that match their intensity and toughness. The Trojans shared the ball and played great team defense to beat the previously undefeated Berkeley Prep. Leading the way was a trio of juniors 5-9 PG Jyshaun Melvin Jyshaun Melvin 5'10" | PG Evans | 2022 State FL , 6-4 PF Henry Calixte Henry Calixte 6'4" | PF Evans | 2022 State FL , and 5-8 G Aviree Anderson. Melvin has been a problem for opposing teams all season long. The gritty lead guard gets into his man defensively and scores from all three levels on offense. On Monday, Melvin led all Trojan scorers with 17 points. With a big junior season and AAU season I could see him earning a scholarship at some level.

…On the glass Henry Calixte Henry Calixte 6'4" | PF Evans | 2022 State FL used his broad shoulders to battle for rebounds and score in the post. Light on his feet the big fella runs the floor well and is deceptively quick laterally for his size. Defensively, he did a great job matching up with AAU teammate C.J. Hawkins. Calixte finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

…Complimenting Melvin and Calixte, guard Aviree Anderson finished the game with 10 points. He was able to score on drives to the basket and get into passing lanes leading to transition points.

…… 6-7 SF C.J. Hawkins (2022) had a strong showing for Berkeley Prep. With solid athleticism and a tight end’s frame there are few players in Florida who can match his physicality. On the game the forward scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Teammate G/F Mark Mulfinger Mark Mulfinger 6'4" | CG Berkeley Prep | 2021 State FL 6-4 (2021) used his size well scoring in the post against Evans smaller guards and had a few nice drives to the basket either scoring, or getting to the foul line. The senior leader finished the game with 17 points.

Mt Pisgah Christian beats Jacksonville powerhouse Providence

 Georgia Mt. Pisgah Christian 43

Providence 36

 In a game where no baskets came easy, Mt. Pisgah Christian had a few intriguing prospects. One of those prospects was 6-5 G/F JoJo Peterson JoJo Peterson 6'4" | PG Mt. Pisgah | 2021 State GA (2021). The Division I IPFW commit used his fluid athleticism and size to score on drives to the basket, and get into passing lanes and out in transition. On the game, the long guard finished with 10 points……The other player who caught my attention for Mt Pisgah Christian was 6-7 PF Nate Gordon Nate Gordon 6'8" | C Mt Pisgah | 2021 State GA (2021). The big man was great defensively blocking at least four shots and made life as difficult as possible for 6-10 Furman commit James Repass. He also was able to catch a pass on the block from one of his driving teammates and finished with a rim rattling two handed dunk.

……..Providence 6-10 James Repass (2021) is an old school big man with great hands and foot work. While it was far from his best game, the Furman commit was still able to finish with a team high 12 points.

Florida State commit John Butler John Butler 7'0" | PF Christ Church Episcopal | 2021 State #51 Nation SC leads Christ Church to victory

 South Carolina Christ Church 47

Windermere Prep 45 (OT)

 When you think of a 7-1 player on the basketball court you almost automatically assume he is going to park himself under the rim. This was simply not the case for 7-1 John Butler John Butler 7'0" | PF Christ Church Episcopal | 2021 State #51 Nation SC (2021). The future Florida State Seminole at times was bringing the ball up the court, and spent a lot of his time on the perimeter. In addition to scoring close to the basket, he drove the lane and scored on floaters, and shot a high percentage from behind the 3-point line making three. The mobile big man finished the game with 22 points and it will be interesting to see how he develops over his career at Florida State.

 …..6-5 Jayden Williams Jayden Williams 6'6" | SG Windermere Prep | 2022 State FL (2022) did an excellent job defensively fronting Butler in the post despite being eight inches shorter. On offense he made several great reads cutting back door for easy baskets, shot the ball well from deep catching and shooting, and curling off of screens. The junior finished the with a game-high 22 points.