Florida Get Down Standouts (Part 2)

<p>Dan Cross and Co. pulled out all the stops this year to bring us the Florida Get Down showcase in Gainesville, Florida. The event features teams from all over Florida and this year expanded to include teams from Georgia. The New Year’s favorite event was a bit smaller in scope this year due to limitations which arose as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but nevertheless featured a ton of high level talent that was worth taking a second look at. Here were the event standouts: </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jordan Burks, 6-8, 2023, Central Pointe Christian Varsity Grey</strong></p> <p>Burks was one of the best performers of the weekend. He dropped 29 points against Creekside Christian (GA) and displayed a full arsenal of offensive and defensive tricks. Burks is as long as they come, making him an offensive issue around the rim, where not even the Creek’s 7-footer was able to stifle him. Add that to his elite athleticism, and he was an animal going to the basket. He had some ridiculous dunks in pre-game and continued to dominate the dunk game throughout the entire contest. While I initially assumed he was probably just a bouncy, lengthy finisher, he proved that he can knock down triples and convert at the free throw line. Defensively, his length made him a threat on the glass and generated a ton of blocks for him and his team. Burks is incredibly underrated in my eyes and will definitely fill a spot at a D1 university after high school.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1316835" first="TJ" last="Hurley"], 6-4, 2022, The Rock</strong></p> <p>Hurley I think was my personal favorite player of the tournament. I had heard the hype but didn’t get a chance to watch him in person until the Florida Get Down. His jumper is one of the smoothest in the entire state. He can light it up from downtown and has no issue with pulling up from well beyond the three point line. In addition to his shooting, he can really get downhill and finish over bigger defenders. He’s physically strong and has enough of a bag to make him more than just a 3-and-D kind of guy. He is a point generation machine and I think should be the focus of Florida collegiate coaches around the state, especially ones who need a guy who can immediately contribute with his shooting.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1060186" first="Dallas" last="Jones"], 6-4, 2023, The Rock</strong></p> <p>Man, it’s nice to watch [player_tooltip player_id="1060186" first="Dallas" last="Jones"] have a good game in front of me. He led him team in scoring in their big win over King. His jumper looks much improved, contributing a triple or two to the cause and even a nice pull up mid-range bucket. His best attributes are still his freak athleticism, which he uses to meet defenders at the rim, and his strength, which he uses to get through those defenders and either draw a foul or get a good finish (or a wild dunk). It was also fun to watch Jones adapt into one of the leaders at The Rock, a team that lost a lot of big time guys last year to graduation or transfer portal. The newly reloaded team needed a new alpha, and Jones has risen to that challenge nicely and is guiding that team to a great start to the season. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814919" first="Tony" last="Livingston"], 6-6, 2022, King</strong></p> <p>Livingston lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw him, and has not only kept it off, but has developed the agility that goes right along with it. He was always lanky and tall, but now with his new athleticism and agility he was able to glide downhill for some big finishes despite being heavily outmatched by a tough The Rock squad. Livingston also was pulling up from anywhere in the half court and it felt like he really couldn’t be stopped offensively. He was the only guy really putting up numbers for King, so if they want to make a good run in the playoffs this year, they will look to Livingston as their guy.</p>