Orlando Names to Know:2023 (Part I)

<p>Throughout the spring and summer I have highlighted several of the top seniors in the Orlando area. With fall league in full swing, and the season right around the corner, I’ve decided it’s time to show the class of 2023 some more love.</p> <p>These are some of the players worth keeping an eye on:</p> <p>PG Edgerrin James Jr. 6-1 Olympia</p> <p>Athleticism and work ethic are two things to be expected out of the son of an Hall of Fame running back, and James represents the family name well. Last season he was the second leading scorer for a team that was one play away from beating eventual state Champion Dr. Phillips, and having their own shot at Lakeland. In that 2 point loss the sophomore point guard nearly willed his team to victory scoring a team high 26 points. On the year he posted numbers of 14.4 PPG 3.6 RPG and 3.4 APG to go along with 2.0 SPG. In isolation there are few defenders who can stay in front of James with his quick crossover, and he always finds his way to his spots. In addition to shooting 35 % from behind the 3-point line,the Titans star has a great mid range pull up, and is an ambidextrous finished around the basket. With Olympia graduating [player_tooltip player_id="818881" first="Tyeree" last="Bryan"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1069191" first="Jacari" last="White"] (Both at D1 Junior Colleges) expect to see some huge scoring nights from the Junior. Georgetown was the first Division I school to offer James and many other high and mid major schools are showing interest.</p> <p>CG [player_tooltip player_id="812632" first="Eduardo" last="Placer"] 6-5 Windermere Prep</p> <p>After a standout year at The Master’s Academy, Placer made the move over to Windermere to finish out his high school career at Windermere Prep. The 6-5 guard can handle the ball, but shooting is what separates him from his peers. With ideal size for a Division I shooting guard, Placer was one of the Orlando area’s leading scorers as a sophomore averaging 22.0 PPG to go along with 5.9 RPG and 3.0 APG. The first time I ever saw Placer play, he dropped 41 points against Lyman sinking multiple 3-pointers both off that catch and dribble, and he showed that he has the ability to create his own shot. This past AAU season college coaches have taken notice with Florida Atlantic, Southeastern Louisiana, North Florida (where his brother plays), and Georgia State having extended offers. Expect to see a lot of 3-point makes at Windermere Prep this winter between Placer, [player_tooltip player_id="956830" first="Jayden" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="829440" first="Drew" last="Kousaie"] all with the ability to catch fire at any moment.</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="709255" first="Sean" last="Stewart"] 6-8 Windermere High</p> <p>With [player_tooltip player_id="818648" first="Trey" last="Moss"] (South Florida) and [player_tooltip player_id="714790" first="Kanye" last="Jones"] (Boston College) having moved on to the college ranks, Stewart inherits the role of the go-to guy at Windermere. Last season Stewart was the number three option, now it seems as though the Wolverines will play more of an inside-out game. Stewart has had an excellent summer of AAU, and he has also been invited to just about every prestigious showcase camp in the country. It is evident that he has been working on his mid range game, and handles with the fruits of his labor being evident. Expect to see a major jump from his numbers of 11.6 PPG 9.6 RPG and 3.0 BPG . As far offers go he has Stanford, Georgetown, Alabama, Ole Miss, Kansas, Texas A&amp;M, Florida, Maryland, Arizona State, Pittsburgh, Penn State, and Harvard among others.</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="812622" first="Jalen" last="Debose"] 6-2 Windermere</p> <p>With so much production moving from the Windermere High lineup to the college ranks, Debose is a likely candidate to step into a bigger role. Last season he was a frequent starter for Windermere, often being tasked with guarding the opposing teams top perimeter scorer. He has lighting quick hands which allow him to excel defensively, and great body control in which allow him to thrive in transition. He’s not the biggest guard, but his toughness makes up for it. Recently he has shown the ability to rise up and dunk in traffic, and expect to see a few posters created this season. As a sophomore he averaged 9.1 PPG 3.3 RPG and 1.7 SPG while shooting 34/97 from 3-point territory. He is in the beginning stages of his recruitment but at this point it is safe to predict that he is a scholarship player.</p> <p>C [player_tooltip player_id="709236" first="Jayden" last="Hastings"] 6-10 Orlando Christian Prep</p> <p>Each season Hastings has gotten a little bit better, and his ceiling is as high as just about anyone’s in Florida. He has played a key role in each of Orlando Christian Prep’s state championship teams these past few years while sharing the floor with several other Division I prospects. At 6-10 with a wingspan of over seven feet , Hastings is the back bone of OCP’s defense as a shot blocker. He runs the floor very well for a big man, and his footwork is significantly better than the first time I saw him as a freshmen. Recruiting wise he has picked up offers from Dayton, USC, Penn State, Dayton, St. Johns, and South Florida. I anticipate a major jump in his production this season, and another state championship from OCP.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>