North Central Florida Breakdown Week 9: Best Guards

Jordan Davidsen

January 24, 2021 @ 06:36 PM

In high school, there’s no doubt that the guard position is the most important position on the floor. With so many skilled players at the position, this is by far my most competitive and longest list for this week. Here’s Week 9’s best North Central Florida guards! [player_tooltip player_id="818734" first="Adrian" last="Bloodworth"] - P.K. Yonge, 5’8", 2021 The task was not an easy one for [player_tooltip player_id="818734" first="Adrian" last="Bloodworth"], as he was forced to lead a Blue Wave team against a strong Columbia Tigers team, all without the help of trusty righthand man [player_tooltip player_id="962588" first="Greg" last="Maxwell"]. Nevertheless, Bloodworth showed that he can play against anyone. His short stature was not an issue, as Bloodworth has mastered the art of the floater. His floater is unstoppable, and was too hard to stop even though he was pitted against 6’7" Nate Mobley in the paint. Add that with a reliable jump shot and an ability to get to the mid-range, and you’ve found a player who can really shine. He’s good with his teammates and shifted the momentum of the Blue Wave’s eventual 44-40 loss to the Tigers, where he contributed 14 points. [player_tooltip player_id="1068735" first="Nate" last="Rembert"] - Wildwood, 5’9", 2021 Rembert is another one of those guys that can really light it up at his size. He gets his buckets in a variety of ways, but no matter what, he’s going to get a bucket. His elite speed pushes him out in front of defenders before they even know what’s happening, and his football background helps him catch long outlet passes for layups at breakneck speed. Even being guarded by The Village’s Corey Goldwire, Rembert was able to make crazy outlet catches and get out in front of the pack to get layups in the open floor. He’s also one of the better shooters in the area, knocking down 3 triples in the Wildcats’ crazy 73-70 loss to the Buffalo. Rembert finished the night with 21 points and will be exciting to watch as Wildwood tries to make a push for the 1A State Championship. [player_tooltip player_id="962580" first="Tray" last="Tollive"]r - Columbia, 5’10", 2023 Eek, watch out Central Florida, the Columbia Tigers are coming. Despite being led by senior [player_tooltip player_id="1068721" first="Charleston" last="Ponds"], the Tigers have developed a group of underclassmen that will prove to be a terrifying threat in the next few years. [player_tooltip player_id="962580" first="Tray" last="Tollive"]r leads the group, which includes Amari Ferrell, [player_tooltip player_id="829472" first="Marcus" last="Peterson"], and Isaac Broxey. Tolliver had a tough outing at the MLK Day Classic at Hawthorne, but bounced back with a fantastic performance at Buchholz High School. Tolliver is an elite finisher when he’s hot, and can take much bigger opponents with no issues. He’s got a crafty finishing bag and can make anyone pay if they don’t contest him. While he has some work to do off-ball and with intentionality in his passing, Tolliver is poised to be a star in the upcoming years. His feel for the game is incredible and, with the right pieces around him, can prove to be a multi-level threat in the next few years. He averaged 10 PPG across two Tigers wins and will be an important piece in their state championship run this post-season. [player_tooltip player_id="549002" first="Jarveil" last="Gainey"] - Eastside, 6’3", 2021 Gainey is one of the best players in the state for a reason. This kid is lights out from everywhere on the floor, and with a complete finishing package and the right amount of athleticism, this man is simply terrifying on offense. The defensive end may need some work, but his touch with the basketball in his hands is second to none in the entire city of Gainesville. Gainey was a monster against The Villages Charter at the MLK Classic in Hawthorne. Despite an off shooting night, Gainey was able to get inside and finish at a high level. Even against an athletic and seasoned shot blocker in [player_tooltip player_id="1068718" first="Antonio" last="Rizzo"], Gainey was able to get his and finished with 15 points in the 60-51 win. Gainey is quietly securing his spot as the best player in Gainesville with his electric performances. [player_tooltip player_id="1068779" first="Omar" last="Brown"] - Eastside, 6’0", 2021 It’s crazy to me how the second-best guard in Gainesville gets to share the court with [player_tooltip player_id="549002" first="Jarveil" last="Gainey"] every game! Brown can carry his own playing second fiddle to Gainey. His jump shooting is elite, and his ability to pull up off the dribble in the mid-range is incredible. He’s fast, smart, and athletic with the basketball in his hands and is a great, consistent threat night in and night out. His 6’ frame doesn’t stop his from rising either. He’s not slow to challenge defenders at the rim and try to put them on posters. He’s a sight to see in the Gainesville area for sure! His 10 points were critical in Eastside’s 60-51 win over The Villages Charter. [player_tooltip player_id="953465" first="Matthew" last="McKinney"] - Oak Hall, 5’10", 2021 McKinney doesn’t play on the best team in the area and he isn’t the most physically exuberant player on the floor at any given moment. However, I watched McKinney score 27 points, with 15 in the fourth quarter, against St. John’s Lutheran School this week and could not believe my eyes. McKinney led an improbable comeback (down as much as 20) and was having his way with the Saints defense. He was creating steals and finishing on the fast break. He was able to find a critical flaw in the Saints defense (you HAVE to play help side defense, no matter what level of team you’re against) and exploit it for a host of points. He hit clutch free throws and was able to spoil Jemel Facey’s 29 point night. He was reliable from outside and is officially the most underrated kid I’ve watched this year. Coaches, this is the guy to focus on if you ever find yourself pitted against Oak Hall.