North Central Florida Breakdown Week 9: Best Wings

<p>The wing position is important for teams who want to go deep into the playoffs. Here’s the Best Wings from my Week 9 Coverage of North Central Florida.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="829447" first="Demetrius" last="Watts"] - Vanguard, 6’3", 2022</strong></p> <p>Watts was a force to be reckoned with in Vanguard’s game against the Wolf Pack last week. The Knights were without [player_tooltip player_id="953508" first="Aaron" last="James"], Vanguard’s best player and arguably the best player in the city of Ocala. Watts filled the role well and was finally able to show his skillset. Watts, playing his first season with the Knights, scored far above his 7 PPG threshold and contributed 13 huge points in the nail-biting 54-58 Knights victory. A pure athlete, Watts is able to use his athleticism to get downhill and take contact for buckets. He can finish and even throw down with the best of them. He has to work on free throw shooting, as his performance at the charity stripe put the Knights down. He spent most of the game on the bench in foul trouble, but his reliable scoring when he was on the floor was exactly what the Knights needed to win. Keep an eye out for him next season, as a good offseason for him can turn him into a scary sight for Ocala defenses next year. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="549082" first="Nasir" last="Mann"] - The Villages, 6’2", 2021</strong></p> <p>Nas Mann is obviously a big name with some big shoes to fill. With his older brother Tre being on spectator’s minds, it’s been hard for Nasir to live up to the hype that his brother so rightfully claimed. Nevertheless, the shooting guard showed out in his team’s senior night win over a tough Wildwood team. Mann finished with 23 points, and was able to get good mid-range jumpers off against a lanky Wildwood defense. It felt like no matter how you guarded him, Mann was able to get to his spot and finish on you. While his handle could be improved, Mann silenced all of the doubters with his clamps on defense and reliable decision making on the offensive end. With a few more performances like this, Mann could finally try to show the basketball world that he deserves as much praise as his big bro.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1068721" first="Charleston" last="Ponds"] - Columbia, 6’4", 2021</strong></p> <p>Ponds is hands down one of my favorite players in the area, and for a very good reason. Ponds is the definition of reliable. In two games this week, Ponds averaged 16 PPG en route to a pair of Columbia wins. He was the only player to score more than 6 points in a scrappy win over the P.K. Yonge Blue Wave by contributing 18, and his off shooting night vs. Buchholz didn’t stop him from scoring 14 points. He’s one of the best shooters in the area, and takes his shots with confidence and poise. His lanky build is perfect for the defensive end, and his hustle on closeouts was key to stopping a shooting barrage by the Buchholz Bobcats. He’s a complete player that would scale up well as a wing player at the next level.</p> <p><strong>Jemel Facey - St. John’s Lutheran, 6’, 2021</strong></p> <p>Defining Facey as a wing took a lot of thought from me. The facts are, that’s his role on his St. Lutheran Saints team. He’s the program’s 6th all-time leading scorer, and was able to get buckets despite the tough loss against Oak Hall, 67-62. Facey had 29 points in the loss. And while the Oak Hall defense is nothing to call home about, getting 29 points is never going to be a walk in the park. He’s a physically imposing player with a strong knack for finishing at the basket. He’s strong enough to compete with the area’s best public school teams and gets buckets, no matter who is guarding him. Although I predict a tough season for this young program, Facey is going to be their main guy through it all. </p> <p><strong>Jalen Jerkins - P.K. Yonge, 6’1", 2022</strong></p> <p>Jerkins is a big-bodied guard that is scary to go up against. His ability to get below the free throw line is insane, since he can do it with both his strength and his skill. He doesn’t miss very much around the rim and can even hurt you with an array of post moves that emphasize just how solid his footwork is. He’s a reliable shooter as well and can light it up at any moment. He’s a reliable second option for a strong Blue Wave team (behind [player_tooltip player_id="818734" first="Adrian" last="Bloodworth"]) and will be a guy to keep an eye on when he inherits the keys to the P.K. Yonge offense next season. </p>