Standouts of the Week (Jan. 31): Notebook
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This week, I made it out to four games. The regular season is winding down and due to COVID-19, these past few weeks have seen a handful of highly anticipated matchups being canceled. Luckily, I watched one of the best…
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Continue ReadingThis week, I made it out to four games. The regular season is winding down and due to COVID-19, these past few weeks have seen a handful of highly anticipated matchups being canceled.
Luckily, I watched one of the best outings of the season on Tuesday night as Berkeley Prep rallied back to beat Carrollwood Day in a double overtime thriller. Then, on Saturday, I took in three games at the inaugural The Invitational hosted by Access Sports at Orlando Christian Prep.
Here is a look at my notes.
Windermere is a complete squad
Even with 2023 6-8 forward Sean Stewart Sean Stewart 6'8" | PF Montverde | 2023 State #11 Nation FL not at 100 percent, Windermere earned more than enough from its guard play to take down undefeated East Lake on Saturday. 2021 6-3 guard Kanye Jones Kanye Jones 6'4" | CG Windermere | 2021 State FL (College of Charleston commit) scored a game-high 26 points, doing the majority of his damage on jumpers and cuts to the rack in the opening half. 2021 6-3 guard Trey Moss Trey Moss 6'3" | PG Windermere | 2021 State #199 Nation FL (USF commit) had 13 points and was really in the groove as a bonafide point guard.
…2023 6-1 guard Jalen Debose Jalen Debose 6'1" | CG Windermere | 2023 State FL made his shots matter as he contributed seven points. He’s in an ideal situation learning next to Jones and Moss as he will take over the offense next season most likely. Stewart had six points playing in Iimited minutes. With offers out from nine schools including UF, Kansas and Maryland, this is just the beginning for the sophomore big man.
Aberdeen and Udeh make Dr. Phillps go
Dr. Phillips is really good. There is no denying that. Plus, this is a young group that returns nearly everyone next fall. The Panthers have three losses on the season, one to No. 1 nationally ranked Montverde and two to Oak Ridge and West Orange by a total of just three points. 2022 6-4 guard Denzel Aberdeen Denzel Aberdeen 6'4" | PG Dr. Phillips | 2022 State #197 Nation FL deserves way more attention from college programs. It is quite hard to understand how he has only three offers (FGCU, Louisiana Lafayette and Stetson). He dropped 25 points, was knocking down 3’s with ease and was in full control of his offense against Impact Christian. Aberdeen is playing with endless confidence.
…2022 6-10 forward Ernest Udeh Ernest Udeh 6'10" | C Dr. Phillips | 2022 State #48 Nation FL is one of the best defenders in the state. A bonafide shot blocker, he is developing his offensive game and is hard to stop when going up for dunks. He caught four alley-oops in this game as he scored 10 points. Udeh holds seven offers including the likes of UF, USF and Stetson. 2022 6-5 guard Riley Kugel Riley Kugel 6'5" | CG Dr. Phillips | 2022 State #208 Nation FL (nine points) did his part as a vision passer and floor stretcher. He has four offers including Middle Tennessee State and FAU. A young prospect to watch at Dr. Phillips is 2024 6-3 guard Jordan Tillery Jordan Tillery 6'3" | CG Dr. Phillips | 2024 State FL who has a chance to be really special in due time.
Hawkins put it all on the line for Berkeley Prep
A recent blowup candidate for football, earning offers from a handful of high major programs, 2022 6-7 Berkeley Prep forward CJ Hawkins CJ Hawkins 6'7" | SF Berkeley Prep | 2022 State FL is still out to prove he is a heck of a basketball player. It clearly worked as just three days after the comeback victory, 65-63 over Carrollwood Day, he earned an offer for both football and basketball from USF. He also has offers from Western Michigan and IUPUI for hoops. In the game, he finished with a game-high 26 points and took every possession personally going up against Mike Trigg Mike Trigg 6'6" | SG Carrollwood Day | 2021 State #148 Nation FL and Tony Livingston Tony Livingston 6'6" | CG King | 2022 State FL mostly. Hawkins was locked in from the start and is clearly at his best when he gets inside for buckets. He is a big body who takes on contact well.
East Lake earned a tough outing from Bittar
The last regular season loss for East Lake came on Feb. 7, 2020, just a week short of exactly one year in time. On Saturday, Windermere handed East Lake its first loss this season, dropping the Eagles to 19-1. The speedy and lock down Windermere defense didn’t make it easy whatsoever. 2021 6-4 guard Anthony Bittar Anthony Bittar 6'3" | CG East Lake | 2021 State FL gave an all-around full effort game with 20 points. His mid-range floaters on drives to the rack are a thing of beauty. He is a highly athletic skilled ballhandler who rarely gets rattled. 2021 6-5 guard Dean Gabrelcik Dean Gabrelcik 6'4" | CG East Lake | 2021 State FL and 2023 6-0 guard Henry Hurst Jr. Henry Hurst Jr. 6'0" | CG East Lake | 2023 State FL each had 13 points, scoring mostly from outside.
Clayton controlled the tempo for a thinner Bartow group
Without 2023 6-0 guard Kjei Parker Kjei Parker 6'1" | CG Bartow | 2023 State FL , 2021 5-10 guard Malcolm Dewberry Malcolm Dewberry 5'11" | CG Bartow | 2021 State FL and 2022 6-5 forward Jaiden Wynn Jaiden Wynn 6'4" | PF Bartow | 2022 State FL , Bartow had a much smaller bench on Saturday against Providence. 2021 6-3 guard Walter Clayton Walter Clayton 6'3" | PG Bartow | 2021 State #218 Nation FL (Iona commit) played nearly the whole game as he dished out high IQ passes and had around eight to nine assists being a true floor general. 2021 pair, 5-8 guard Tyrone Smith Tyrone Smith 5'8" | SG Bartow | 2021 State FL moved into a starting role and shot well while 6-2 guard/forward Amarion Frazier Amarion Frazier 6'2" | PG Bartow | 2021 State FL attacked often. They each recorded 17 points.
Carrollwood Day has a leader in Trigg
Headed to USC next fall to suit up for the football team, slowing down 2021 6-5 guard Mike Trigg Mike Trigg 6'6" | SG Carrollwood Day | 2021 State #148 Nation FL is a feat in itself. He is like a jumbo-sized running back or linebacker coming through the lane. Always in control, he dropped a team-best 25 points in the loss to Berkeley Prep on Tuesday. 2022 6-7 forward Tony Livingston Tony Livingston 6'6" | CG King | 2022 State FL (17 points) did a lot of dirty work inside while 2023 6-2 guard pair, Tre lockett Tre lockett 6'4" | SG Carrollwood Day | 2023 State FL and Joel Harrison Joel Harrison 5'11" | CG Wharton | 2023 State FL combined for 22 points. Lockett, in my opinion, was the best pure basketball talent on the floor and his outside shooting touch is super dangerous.
Providence never backs down from a challenge
It seemed as if Bartow was going to pull away over and over against Providence, but the Stallions didn’t quit. Losing 54-45 on Saturday to the defending Class 6A state champions, Providence did all it could. 2023 6-6 forward Mason Lee Mason Lee 6'6" | SF Providence | 2023 State FL finished with a team-best 13 points and his combination of length and speed is something fun to watch. 2021 pair, 6-10 forward James Lee Repass James Lee Repass 6'10" | PF Providence | 2021 State FL (Furman commit) and 6-1 guard Jack Dillard Jack Dillard 6'0" | PG Providence | 2021 State FL (Embry Riddle commit) both had eight points. 2024 6-5 forward Jaylen Robinson Jaylen Robinson 6'6" | SF DME Academy | 2024 State FL is the next big prospect in line at this program as he displayed a slew of confidence and strength for a freshman.
Impact Christian has pieces in place
All of Impact Christian’s losses this season have come to teams with a winning record. Dr. Phillips controlled things all game long in a convincing 69-46 victory Saturday. However, in Class 2A, Impact Christian is a state regular and it appears it should be again this season with the senior leadership from 6-5 forward Ivan Lawson Ivan Lawson 6'6" | CG Impact Christain Academy | 2021 State FL and 6-4 guard/forward Calvin Johnson Calvin Johnson 6'5" | CG Impact Christian | 2021 State FL . Lawson led his group with 13 points and some gritty takes to the rim while Johnson had 10 points, shooting well from outside. 2022 6-5 forward Kelvin Johnson Kelvin Johnson 6'5" | PF Impact Christian | 2022 State FL chipped in with 12 points and improved as the game moved along.
The drop off feed from USF commit Trey Moss Trey Moss 6'3" | PG Windermere | 2021 State #199 Nation FL (@TreyMoss2021) to College of Charleston commit Kanye Jones Kanye Jones 6'4" | CG Windermere | 2021 State FL (@joneskanye0) who slams it home. @WHS_Hoopz pic.twitter.com/qPhegAWKOj
— ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) January 31, 2021