Notebook: Florida State Team Camp

I made the trip up to Tallahassee for the annual Florida State Team Camp. There was north of 130 teams in town for the well-put-together and competitive event. Here is a look at the most intriguing prospects organized by team that I saw on the weekend. Orlando Christian Prep Winning two straight state titles, Orlando Christian Prep finished last season a perfect 27-0. I personally think this year’s squad is even better with its mix of size, speed, versatility and guard play. 2022 6-6 forward [player_tooltip player_id="712105" first="Ven-Allen" last="Lubin"] is playing with endless poise as a slasher and lockdown defender. 2022 6-4 guard [player_tooltip player_id="546193" first="AJ" last="Brown"] is becoming more assertive and is well on his way to a banner year. 2025 5-9 guard Mikel Brown started a slew of games and was not phased by much. His vision and basketball IQ is through the roof which will bring an even better mix to this squad. Presbyterian offered him on Saturday night. I haven’t even mentioned 2023 6-10 forward [player_tooltip player_id="709236" first="Jayden" last="Hastings"] who puts the ball down and finishes inside in a variety of ways while holding down things defensively. 2024 6-1 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1055798" first="Julian" last="Clarke"], 2024 6-4 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1055774" first="Isaiah" last="Brown"], 2024 6-0 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1055785" first="Ameer" last="Ramadan"] and 2023 6-0 guard [player_tooltip player_id="546235" first="KJ" last="Robinson"] all play heavy minutes and made plays of their own. OCP won't lose many games this season. Columbus One of the youngest starting lineups in attendance came on the side of Columbus. 2025 twin duo, 6-3 guard Cayden Boozer and 6-7 forward Cameron Boozer are hard to contain. Add in 2025 6-0 guard Benny Fragela, 2024 6-6 forward [player_tooltip player_id="1163358" first="Malik" last="Abdullahi"] and 2023 6-0 guard Garyn Bess and this team is dangerous. Cayden is a bonafide scoring point man, Cameron is a slasher and a long armed finisher who is just scratching the surface. Fragela got red hot Saturday night from deep and he gets his side going with his energy. Abdullahi is a long body and a bouncy athlete who can finish with ease inside. Bess is an under-the-radar quick and poised guard. Riviera Prep The champions of the top bracket in this camp, Riviera Prep (playing under its travel team name Shahbaz Elite) upset Orlando Christian Prep in the finals on Sunday. A true three-headed monster showed off this weekend in 2022 6-8 forward [player_tooltip player_id="1062414" first="Edward" last="Nnamoko"], 2022 5-9 guard [player_tooltip player_id="814913" first="Esteban" last="Lluberes"] and 2023 6-7 forward [player_tooltip player_id="709232" first="Osmar" last="Garcia Araujo"]. Nnamoko was a worker inside, finishing alley oops and hard-nosed lay-ins. Lluberes is one of the fastest point guards you’ll see anywhere and his outside shot has improved two-fold. Garcia Araujo is a banger and a big body who simply moves guys around wherever he is on the floor to score. Florida High You might not find a better trio of guards at any high school in the state of Florida than at Florida High. 2022 6-6 guard [player_tooltip player_id="814900" first="Jaylen" last="Martin"], 2022 6-2 guard [player_tooltip player_id="814922" first="Tre’" last="Donaldson"] and 2023 6-2 guard [player_tooltip player_id="962384" first="Anthony" last="Robinson"] are all legitimate scoring threats. Martin is a confident slasher who performed at a high level this weekend. Donaldson singlehandedly won his group a classic double OT game in sudden death against Class 2A defending state champions Orlando Christian Prep. A high major football recruit, Donaldson is one heck of a performer on the basketball court. Robinson continues to mature and plays well off of his teammates, especially as a mid-range shooter and finisher at the cup. USF and Appalachian State added to his offer list on Tuesday. Pembroke Pines Charter Destined for another trip to Lakeland fresh off a Class 5A state title, Pembroke Pines Charter has the roster to do so. 2022 6-1 guard [player_tooltip player_id="955774" first="Kolby" last="King"], 2022 6-0 guard [player_tooltip player_id="829396" first="Geoffrey" last="Sprouse"], 2022 6-5 forward [player_tooltip player_id="829389" first="Elijah" last="Wyche"] and 2022 6-4 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1065434" first="Caelum" last="Ethridge"] represent a ton of scoring and versatile threats to work with. King is a speedster and a heck of a shooter who can take over a game in the blink of an eye. Sprouse is gaining confidence with his outside jumper and his smoothness as a driver is fun to watch. Wyche is a brute and a strong athlete/finisher at that. Ethridge is a quick outside touch shooter who can hurt defenses often. Winter Haven This team is packed with length, speed and bonafide athletes. 2023 6-8 forward [player_tooltip player_id="814550" first="Dylan" last="James"] is well on his way with his jumper, handles and ability to finish inside. He is a long body who continues to expand his offensive game. FGCU and Appalachian State offered Tuesday adding to his long list of offers. 2024 6-5 guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id="1055750" first="Isaac" last="Celiscar"] does so much for this squad with his ball fakes and his smoothness as a ballhandler and finisher. 2024 6-4 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1055762" first="Jamie" last="Phillips"] is an instinctive shooter and a prospect who can get going in a hurry with his jumper. Windermere Prep Set up for another rock solid year, Windermere Prep has a team that can shoot the lights out of a gym. 2023 6-4 guard [player_tooltip player_id="812632" first="Eduardo" last="Placer"] (transfer from Oveido Master’s) was the No. 1 leader of this group with his impressive drives to the hoop and true unselfishness. He is crafty. Placer had an offer from UNF prior to this weekend and added Southeastern Louisiana to his plate on Tuesday. 2022 6-5 guard [player_tooltip player_id="956830" first="Jayden" last="Williams"] is a true athlete who threw down the body of the weekend (<a href="https://twitter.com/JakePerper/status/1403512703646375937?s=20">VIDEO</a>). He can get hot from deep and his long body helps him defend and attack with ease. 2022 5-11 guard [player_tooltip player_id="829440" first="Drew" last="Kousaie"] is fun to watch as a determined and versatile point guard. Central Florida Christian This team is destined for really good things this season. 2024 5-7 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1055796" first="Ta’veon" last="Jones"] basically did everything he wanted in terms of his advanced handles, speed and finishes at the cup. He is fun to watch and his confidence is through the roof as the leader of Central Florida Christian. 2022 6-0 guard [player_tooltip player_id="829405" first="Nicholas" last="Rodriguez"] continues to fill out his out body and make smart decisions as a shooter and driver. 2024 6-5 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1163617" first="Cameron" last="Simpson"] (transfer from East River) is a true x-factor with his outside shot and length. Doral Led by 2023 6-7 guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id="955591" first="Justin" last="Johnson"], Doral has a bonafide scorer and slasher. He is a seasoned ballhandler and someone who has the length and athleticism to score on just about anybody. Johnson is a true grinder. 2023 5-11 guard [player_tooltip player_id="962508" first="Gabriel" last="Hernandez"] is a talented point man and 3-point shooter who can get going in a hurry. He makes everyone around him better no doubt. Mainland Up in Daytona Beach, Mainland always has something brewing. With youngsters in place, this is team is led by 2023 6-5 guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id="812620" first="Nigle" last="Cook"] with his stretch shooting and length. He is someone that certainly opened eyes all weekend which included the FSU coaches in the gyms. 2024 5-9 guard Yamare Bell is a speedy leader who can get to the rim with crafty finishes and strike from outside. Durant Shooting is going to be the strength of Durant this upcoming season. 2024 5-11 guard Austin White is an impressive 3-point shooter and one who is oozing with confidence right now. He has a quick trigger. 2023 6-4 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1060151" first="Braylon" last="Jackson"] is the most athletic player on the roster and someone who can get inside and slash and finish with dunks. 2022 6-1 guard Douglas Blackwood is an intriguing bloomer who fits the culture this team is building. West Oaks A new look West Oaks group earned steady outings from 2022 6-5 guard RJ Moore. He is a lengthy athlete who gets to good spots inside for finishes and certainly makes his presence felt on defense. I expect him to be a huge piece to the puzzle at the SIAA contender. He holds an offer from Missouri Kansas City. 2023 5-10 guard [player_tooltip player_id="812639" first="Jeremy" last="Torres"] transferred in from Montverde and he immediately moved into the point man role. He is blazing fast and makes life hard for defenses. Trinity Prep The two leaders for Trinity Prep are [player_tooltip player_id="598747" first="Javon" last="Bennett"] and [player_tooltip player_id="829459" first="Krishen" last="Atwal"]. Bennett, a 2022 5-10 guard looks more seasoned than ever. He was crafty with the ball and dishing out up court passes often. His shot is smooth too. Atwal, a 2022 6-5 guard/forward is a versatile athlete who is a tough defender and a very talented quick-twitch outside shooter. Choctaw 2024 6-9 guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id="1055578" first="Asa" last="Newell"] is a special shooter and a long one at that. He was the clear top talent for Choctaw all weekend. With offers from Ole Miss and Oklahoma State, he is going to continue to blow up this summer and beyond. 2022 6-7 forward Elijah Johnson played hard and took a lot on his shoulders with finishes at the cup. Clearwater Calvary Christian 2024 5-11 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1055592" first="Daniel" last="MacGregor"] caused problems for defenses all weekend long with his toughness and attacking ability. He is a locked-in scoring point guard. 2023 5-11 guard [player_tooltip player_id="962382" first="Dominic" last="Saragumba"] played well off of him, getting to the rim with the ball skills and finding ways to compete defensively. 2022 6-3 guard [player_tooltip player_id="829492" first="Trevor" last="Parks"] is the top shooter on this squad and he is getting better as a strong finisher. Impact Christian Impact Christian is a mainstay in the Class 2A state tournament. 2024 6-0 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1055712" first="Taylor" last="Thompson"] showed flashes as a freshman last season. He is ready to take the next step forward clearly and he had some nice takes with jumpers and lay-ins. 2023 6-5 forward [player_tooltip player_id="814927" first="Kelvin" last="Johnson"] showed well as a gritty finisher and one who can spin on defenders. This team is still solid as can be. Lee A different-looking Lee squad has a 2023 pair to keep an eye on in [player_tooltip player_id="1060191" first="Tahj" last="McClain"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1060243" first="Dominick" last="Scott"]. McClain, a 6-5 forward is a brute inside and a shot blocker. Scott, a 6-4 guard/forward had one possession where he flew past two defenders and threw down a one-handed slam. He has a chance to be special with more seasoning. Episcopal Filled with talented shooters and unselfish players, 2022 6-0 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1065411" first="Mark" last="Flakus"] was the top option for Episcopal all weekend long. He can get away from defenders with his ball skills and he can flat out shoot the rock. A North Florida commit, Flakus fits the bill for that Division I program at the next level. Lincoln 2022 5-11 guard [player_tooltip player_id="814995" first="Josh" last="Robertson"] did a really good job of taking smart shots and dishing out rock solid passes. He is the glue of this Lincoln offense and it showed this weekend. I like his chances to be a true all-around point guard all season long. Oakleaf 2022 6-2 guard David Compere was impressive for Oakleaf all weekend long. Against Columbus in bracket play on Sunday, he kept his team afloat with some huge outside shots. He is an active finisher and someone who fights for boards and buckets. I expect him to continue to be a top scorer, especially from long range for this team. Fleming Island There is an interesting mix here at Fleming Island. I really liked what 2022 duo [player_tooltip player_id="1062416" first="Antoine" last="Sandy"] and [player_tooltip player_id="955797" first="Ahman" last="Greenidge"] brought to the table together. Sandy is a long athlete at 6-3 and is someone with very nice speed, tipping ability inside and reach defensively. Greenidge is a strong body at 6-4 and someone who can fight for buckets and points down low. He can shoot the mid-range as well. Orange Park Playing most of its guys in attendance, Orange Park definitely had team chemistry. 2022 6-3 guard [player_tooltip player_id="956785" first="Josiah" last="Sabino"] is a jack of all trades player for them, dishing out good feeds, getting open down low and pushing the cause in transition. He is likely to average close to a triple double this fall. A true athlete, who holds an offer from Jacksonville also shines in both swimming and track and field as a triple jumper. Sabino is a special talent. Rickards The clear alpha for Rickards was [player_tooltip player_id="829508" first="Kent" last="Carroll"]. The 2022 6-4 guard attacked with purpose and helped his teammates find openings. Carroll will be leaned upon to do plenty this fall for an always contending Rickards program. Holding an offer from Stetson, Carroll is in for a huge senior campaign. Miami A different-looking Miami squad was missing its top prospect in Coral Gables transfer 6-5 guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id="712125" first="Kuran" last="Bryant"] due to injury. However, 2022 5-9 guard [player_tooltip player_id="829412" first="Andre" last="Bynum"] held it down with his blazing speed and finishing ability. 2024 6-5 pair Dwayne Wimbley Jr. and Romari Robinson both proved to be intriguing prospects to keep an eye on. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> .<a href="https://twitter.com/FSUHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FSUHoops</a> Team Camp: It’s a bad idea to jump with 2022 Windermere Prep G [player_tooltip player_id="956830" first="Jayden" last="Williams"] (<a href="https://twitter.com/Jayden_W_25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jayden_W_25</a>).<a href="https://twitter.com/LakersHoops_WPS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LakersHoops_WPS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BeHoff21?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BeHoff21</a> <a href="https://t.co/vDuRQKMrxo">pic.twitter.com/vDuRQKMrxo</a> — ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) <a href="https://twitter.com/JakePerper/status/1403512703646375937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>