Level Evaluation: South Florida Prospects

So I stumbled across this Victor Wembanyama kid after a goggle search. He is 7-foot-2 and has a wingspan that could stretch across Alligator Alley. I think its safe to assume he’s got a high-major or NBA future. Unfortunately, 99.9% of kids are not like that. Or Emoni Bates. Or Chet Holmgren. Life ain’t fair. At the same time, going D-1 is not always the answer. Did you see Flagler College go 18-3 last season and beat the likes of Central Michigan and North Florida? There is talent across all levels. So what about the following players? Let’s look into my thoughts on where I believe they currently stand. [player_tooltip player_id="829398" first="Ryan" last="Davis"] - Martin County 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="829398" first="Ryan" last="Davis"] was a pure winner for the Tigers last season. Martin County went 21-1 with Davis leading the way as a junior. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound prospect averaged a team-best 17.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor. Against Mater Academy Charter in a state tournament classic, Davis had 17 points and grabbed ten rebounds. He is a powerful small forward; evident by his 12 games with seven or more boards. I believe his toughness and physicality is unquestionable. I think Davis’ athleticism will continue to improve to guard 1’s and 2’s. He can also contribute offensively at these positions. I think the more he can do that, the better edge he will have. Davis can score from all three levels on the floor. On the outside, he knocked down 32 perimeter shots last season. Moreover, he was a consistent scorer in at least 16 of his 20 games played. I think he is a safe D2 prospect at this point. He has reportedly received interest from Murray State, Air Force, Lynn University, University of Alabama-Huntsville, D’Youville, Lincoln Memorial and Barry. [player_tooltip player_id="1062420" first="Noah" last="Kattan"] - Cypress Bay 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1062420" first="Noah" last="Kattan"] is an athletic player with size. At 6-foot-3, he has the height to play the one or two. I think Kattan could add more muscle onto his frame. This would help him take on more of the brunt work at the next level. Ideally, I see him as a shooting guard. Kattan can shoot the ball off the dribble. I saw this kid curl around ball screens and square up or take the ball to the rim and finish. He did this often and in bunches. Off that dribble, Kattan is dynamic and might surprise you with his craftiness. I would call him "instant offense" when he gets the ball in his hands. I think any extra quickness or agility would elevate him even further. I think he can play at the D2 level. As of now, he is getting interest from D3 schools. Kattan is underrated in my mind. [player_tooltip player_id="1161400" first="Matthew" last="Cadogan"] - St. Thomas Aquinas Cadogan has the ability to guard the 1-3. I don’t think you can question his athleticism or versatility to defend those positions. Specifically, he has solid length for a guard. Furthermore, Cadogan has enough athleticism to drive off the wing and finish in the paint. However, I think he can definitely improve in this area. Call it another gear to play at an elite level. I do like how he plays in transition and scores off turnovers. From the perimeter, I have seen him knock down a steady amount of shots. One area I would like to see him upgrade in is his mid-range. I think Cadogan can become a big problem if he shows that element in his game. He is a safe D-2 player that can possibly move up to the D-1 level. A 6-foot-5 guard is simply going to have an edge to play somewhere high up. Cadogan is also high-academic which helps his resume. [player_tooltip player_id="956782" first="Conner" last="Weston"] - Jupiter Weston will grind and fight for every play on the court. At 6-foot-7, he has the body type and power to grab an offensive board and go right back up for a bucket. He looks like he hits the weights so those 50/50 balls will likely end up in his hands. I think he just needs to work on his athleticism as a forward on both ends. I do like Weston’s ability to stretch the floor and hit a perimeter shot. He also holds a 3.83 GPA which is a nice selling point for college programs. Weston averaged 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds playing for Jupiter Christian last season. I think he is a safe D3 or D2 player at the right spot. However, he has another season to impress. I can guarantee you he will work and earn his stripes to continue to move up. He is also playing with a good teammate in 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="829416" first="Alex" last="Houck"]. Weston has familiarly playing with him from his younger days. For any South Florida Prep Hoops news or information...please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 on Instagram or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23.