North Central Florida Breakdown Week 9: Best Forwards

<p>These forwards were killing it this week. A reliable group of forwards can make or break a team! Here’s some of the best from around North Central Florida Week 9.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1069200" first="Jerek" last="Evans"] - West Port, 6’2", 2021</strong></p> <p>Evans is probably the shortest player on this list (or close to it) and should probably step his style of play up to a wing or guard level if he wants to transition to the next level. However, his Wolf Pack use him as a forward, so I listed him as such. Evans is a lanky player who can be effective on both sides of the ball. He is West Port’s most consistent scorer, averaging around 15 a game, and probably their best on-ball defender. He’s great at finishing down low, and can get there with ease thanks to solid guard work. His bag is a bit shallow, but reliable, and he will be the reason West Port succeeds if they can get the ball rolling this season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="818687" first="Alfred" last="Corbin"] - Wildwood, 6’4", 2021</strong></p> <p>Corbin has been on a tear for the Wildcats this season. In his last 5 games, Corbin is averaging 27 points per game, and the Wildcats have been 4-1 on that streak. He’s a STRONG forward, who can bully down low and get fadeaway jumpers at a high clip. He can finish as well and hit free throws, and is a physically imposing threat on the offensive end. He scored 20 points in the Wildcats’ tough 73-70 loss against The Villages Charter Buffalo. He’s an elite player that will definitely garner some attention in the recruiting world this offseason.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="829472" first="Marcus" last="Peterson"] - Columbia, 6’3", 2022</strong></p> <p>Peterson is easy to overlook on a Columbia team that is filled with talent like [player_tooltip player_id="962580" first="Tray" last="Tollive"]r and [player_tooltip player_id="1068721" first="Charleston" last="Ponds"]. However, Peterson is a heavy-hitting forward with incredible strength. The junior can jump out of the gym and is a great finisher down low. He may be a big small for the forward position, he can bang down low with the best of them. He’s a great jolt for the Columbia bench (when he doesn’t start) and will be an important factor going forwards for the Tigers. He averages 8 rebounds a game as well, and scored 10 points with 8 boards in the win over Buchholz. </p> <p><strong>Jhett Hill - Buchholz, 6’4", 2021</strong></p> <p>Hill is one of the best shooters I’ve watched in recent memory. He knocked down 4 triples in the loss to Columbia and was the only consistent scorer for the Bobcats across all 4 quarters. He finished with 18 points and was very fun to watch. While his game ended up with mostly threes and easy layups, Hill’s influence on the scoreboard was still felt. He scored the most points for the Bobcats and will be a threat to other schools in the area who don’t step up on the perimeter. He’s the player to mark on your roster whenever you go up against Buchholz. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1068718" first="Antonio" last="Rizzo"] - The Villages Charter, 6’6", 2021</strong></p> <p>Rizzo is an athlete with a knack for scoring. He’s the truest forward on this list due to his size and strength, even though he plays more as a big for the Buffalo. He is an incredible athlete with an explosive jump, and his jumper is not lacking either. On the defensive end, Rizzo is able to get a fair share of blocks and can contest people going into the paint. He’s a slept on forward with incredible finishing ability and a great feel for the game.</p>