Hoophall Classic: IMG ACAD. vs Montverde ACAD. (Standouts)

Joel Francisco

January 19, 2022 @ 08:21 PM

Hoophall Classic: IMG Academy (FL) vs Montverde Academy (FL): (Standouts) SPRINGFIELD, MA— The two premier prep schools met for the 2nd time this season and again it was chock full of highlight-reel plays and high-level skill. IMG would hold on for a 57-53 win over Montverde Academy—which will probably be a dress rehearsal for another showdown at the Geico Nationals later this season. [player_tooltip player_id="781876" first="Keyonte" last="George"] (pictured), a Baylor signee, was arguably the most impressive performer for IMG as he dropped in an efficient 17-points. Indiana signee, [player_tooltip player_id="577854" first="Jalen" last="Hood-Schifino"] put together the best all-around performance as he led Montverde with Nineteen points, seven rebounds, and four assists. [player_tooltip player_id="781876" first="Keyonte" last="George"] (IMG,FL) 2022, SG, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds Joel’s Take: George, who is headed to Baylor in the summer, has a well-rounded offensive game. He has a college-ready frame with long arms and he’s a solid D1 athlete. However, the most impressive aspect of his game is his overall maturity in terms of approach. Even though he is a high-level scorer, he allows the game to come to him. In an offense with a ton of screen action—he should operate at a high level. He knows how to come off of screens, cut ball-side, and his patience is impressive. He is a smooth shooter from deep, but he’ll affect the game in the ares of astute passing and rebounding as well. [player_tooltip player_id="577854" first="Jalen" last="Hood-Schifino"] (Montverde Academy, FL) 2022, G, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds Joel’s Take: Hood-Schifino, who is headed to Indiana, has a tight offensive game. Head Coach Mike Woodson will immediately put the ball in his hands as he possesses a well-rounded game. His mid-range game is tight and he creates space with his ability to change speeds. He is equally adept at scoring as he is distributing and his motor runs hot. He needs to improve his consistency beyond the arc, but he is best described as a basketball player. [player_tooltip player_id="546189" first="Jarace" last="Walker"] (IMG, FL) 2022, F, 6-foot-8, 240 pounds Joel’s Take: One of the more improved players in the nation is Walker. The Houston-bound forward has definitely added to his game both physically and mentally. He is burly power forward with improved ball skills and he is playing with more patience. His triple-threat game has evolved as he is showing the ability to take defenders off the drive and finish through contact in the paint. The range and touch on his shot have improved as well as his passing acumen. [player_tooltip player_id="814898" first="Dillon" last="Mitchell"] (Montverde Academy, FL) 2022, F, 6-foot-7, 180 pounds <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/08/Dillon-Mitchell.png"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-816330 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/08/Dillon-Mitchell-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Joel’s Take: One of the fastest rising prospects in the country is the high-flying Mitchell. The willowy acrobatic athlete literally has springs in his legs as he was hopping all over the paint area snatching rebounds, getting put-backs. Not too mention he had one of the most explosive rebound finishes I’ve seen on any level of basketball. He needs to tighten up his face-up skills and shooting touch, but his upside is absurd.