St. James NIBC Invitational: Florida Top Performers

<p>Now that the NIBC Invitational is in the books, it’s time to reflect on what we learned during our time in the gym the past couple of weeks. Here are 10 of the top performers from Florida schools. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1068606" first="Tamar" last="Bates"] | IMG Academy ’21</strong></p> <p>Texas commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1068606" first="Tamar" last="Bates"]</strong> was thoroughly impressive for IMG. The southpaw guard shot the trey ball well. Bates hit 7 of 14 attempts through 2 games. He was among the leading scorers in the event, averaging nearly 17 points per game while shooting almost 59% from the field. While the numbers are impressive, Bates made a difference with his relentless effort. He competed fiercely on both ends for the Ascenders. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="712290" first="Eric" last="Dailey Jr."] | IMG Academy ’22</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="712290" first="Eric" last="Dailey Jr."]</strong> passes the eye test immediately. The class of 2022 wing is built like an action figure. Dailey has an unorthodox game in part because he’s left-handed. He’s also very athletic and can pull up on a dime from the mid-range areas. Dailey shot the 43% from trey despite a small sample size (7 attempts). </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="527386" first="Moussa" last="Diabate"] | IMG Academy ’21</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="527386" first="Moussa" last="Diabate"]</strong> surprised everyone with how well he matched up against <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1062409" first="Jalen" last="Duren"]</strong> in their much-anticipated matchup vs. Montverde. The Michigan commit was very physical with Duren. Diabate limited his paint touches and made him relatively uncomfortable.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1062409" first="Jalen" last="Duren"] | Montverde Academy ’22</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1062409" first="Jalen" last="Duren"]</strong> was probably the most dominant force at the NIBC Invitational. He finished above the rim with regularity and was difficult to move once he established position. Duren showcased very good passing ability from the post and an improved touch from 15-18 feet. His defense was exceptional. Duren was very vocal. He guarded ball-screens well. Duren led the event in rebound average with over 11 per game. He finished second overall with 2.6 blocks per game and averaged 16 points per game on 63% shooting from the field. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="712102" first="Caleb" last="Houstan"] | Montverde Academy ’21</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="712102" first="Caleb" last="Houstan"]</strong> is a high IQ player that meshes well with his teammates. The Michigan commit is a smart cutter who runs the floor with purpose and knows how to fill the lanes in transition. He shot the ball well from long distance, averaging 2 made treys per game. Houstan is an active and versatile defender. He plays with toughness and a high motor. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814897" first="Jett" last="Howard"] | IMG Academy ’22</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814897" first="Jett" last="Howard"]</strong> is a nice-looking 2022 prospect with a game to match. He is the son of Michigan Head Coach Juwan Howard. You can tell Jett has been around the game and knows how to play the right way. He has a smooth looking jumper and is a dangerous perimeter shooter with his feet set. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="594553" first="Langston" last="Love"] | Montverde Academy ’21</strong></p> <p>Baylor is getting a rugged two-way guard in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="594553" first="Langston" last="Love"]</strong>. He’s sturdily built with broad shoulders and long arms. Love has a diverse skillset. He can make shots from the perimeter but can also consistently score inside of 15 feet as well. He’s a smart cutter who plays under control and off two feet in the paint. Love’s defense both on and off the ball is very good. He averaged 12 points per game for the Eagles and shot 92% from the foul line. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814899" first="Ryan" last="Nembhard"] | Montverde Academy ’21</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814899" first="Ryan" last="Nembhard"]</strong> was one of the top floor generals at the NIBC Invitational. The Creighton commit finished second in assist average with over 6 per game. Nembhard is a quick paint getter. He is a pick-and-roll maestro who delivers the ball accurately in multiple ways. Nembhard’s toughness is one of his best qualities. He routinely dodges picks and knows how to absorb contact.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="546189" first="Jarace" last="Walker"] | IMG Academy ’22</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="546189" first="Jarace" last="Walker"]</strong> has grown to about 6-foot-7 now. He stood out defensively and in transition where he was very explosive.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="546187" first="Dariq" last="Whitehead"] | Montverde Academy ’22</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="546187" first="Dariq" last="Whitehead"]</strong> is a premier athlete who is oozing with upside but is already very productive. The 6-foot-6 wing showcased compact shot mechanics and got to work some ball screens. Whitehead showed progress with his quick decision-making. His biggest impact came defensively where he was a steal and block machine. Whitehead was also active on the boards. He is a one-man fast break who has the touch and body control to consistently finish from the most difficult angles. </p>