Early Matchups to Watch: South Florida

<p>Preseason tournaments/showcases are underway across Florida. In South Florida, particularly in Broward County, you have a ton of quality teams. Therefore, fans can expect to see many interesting games during the season.</p> <p>Let’s look at a few...</p> <p>Westminster Academy @ Pembroke Pines Charter - 12/4</p> <p>The Jaguars looked very good during the Sunshine State Preseason Classic led by 2022 St. John’s commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="955774" first="Kolby" last="King"]</strong>. Moreover, the senior trio of <strong>Caelum</strong> <strong>Ethridge</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="829396" first="Geoffrey" last="Sprouse"]</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="829389" first="Elijah" last="Wyche"]</strong> provide a tough challenge for opponents. Emerging big <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963310" first="Sami" last="Elkamel"]</strong> looks to be getting more comfortable on both ends of the floor. 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1301705" first="Alexander" last="Lloyd"] </strong>appears to be the real deal for Westminster Academy. The 6-foot-3 guard should see a big test against a mostly senior unit. I’d be interested to see how Pembroke Pines Charter defends 2023 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="709227" first="Jaylen" last="Carey"].</strong> The 6-foot-8 power forward is nearly automatic around the rim. 2022’s [player_tooltip player_id="546221" first="Aidan" last="Abell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="814984" first="Rickey" last="Ballard"] can both carry Westminster Academy over stretches. This is a good test for both teams early in the season.</p> <p>Miami Norland @ Dillard - 12/3</p> <p>This Friday night tilt has a ton of star power. The Vikings have one of the top sophomores in the region in [player_tooltip player_id="1055745" first="Marcus" last="Allen"]. The 6-foot-7 wing provides a ton of versatility and can slash his way into the lane with his athleticism. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="955802" first="Cameron" last="Johnson"] provides additional scoring and is a great rebounder. The Panthers have two great young players in 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1055711" first="Jordyn" last="Kee"] and 2025 Dwayne Wimbley Jr. In addition, I expect a big game for 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="829449" first="Gabriel" last="Kincy"]. Kincy has improved his handle and appears leaner since I saw him with <strong>McArthur High School</strong>. This group should continue to gel as the season moves along.</p> <p>St. Thomas Aquinas @ Blanche Ely - 11/30</p> <p>I was very impressed with the Tigers during preseason play. Both Dez Brown and [player_tooltip player_id="1295917" first="Armon" last="Forrest"] give Ely a nice jolt in the backcourt. Their defensive pressure and scoring ability off turnovers really stood out. The Raiders have a quality shooting guard in 6-foot-5 [player_tooltip player_id="1161400" first="Matthew" last="Cadogan"]. I think Cadogan needs to be aggressive and use his length on the offensive end. He could be a problem off dribble penetration when his shot is on. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="955771" first="Andrew" last="Akuchie"] is very reliable around the rim and can stretch the floor for the Raiders. Therefore, getting quality minutes from those two players is a good recipe for success. 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="963316" first="Markos" last="Myrtidis"] could be an X-Factor if he knocks down some shots. I like the 5-foot-10 guard on defense as he is highly athletic. </p> <p><em>For any South Florida Prep Hoops news or information...please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 on Instagram or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>