Hoophall Classic: IMG ACDY vs Montverde ACDY: (The Next Step)

Joel Francisco

January 19, 2022 @ 10:17 PM

Hoophall Classic: IMG Academy (FL) vs Montverde Academy (FL): (The Next Step) 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"], 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="546187" first="Dariq" last="Whitehead"] (Montverde Academy, FL) 2022, G, 6-foot-6, 190 pounds Joel’s Take: I’ve been witnessing Whitehead’s act since his freshman campaign and he has taken his game to a new level. He has always been a high-flying athlete who excelled at slashing to the rim. Now he has added a consistent jump shot. His pull-up game has evolved and he gets an excellent lift on his shot. Although his game has improved, in this game he forced the issue a bit and took some tough shots. [player_tooltip player_id="787609" first="Jaden" last="Bradley"] (IMG, FL) 2022, PG, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds [caption id="attachment_1254317" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Jaden-Bradley.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1254317" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Jaden-Bradley-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Cassy Athena NBPA Top 100 Media Approval[/caption] Joel’s Take: Bradley is one of the more physical point guards in the nation. The Alabama-bound prospect will be an instant impact player. He has a solid burst off the dribble, has the strength to carry defenders on his hip and he can finish through contact. He is a true point guard who looks to distribute to teammates on a consistent basis and his jump shot (very little lift) has improved but needs to get more consistent to keep defenses honest at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="814897" first="Jett" last="Howard"] (IMG, FL) 2022, SG, 6-foot-5, 195 pounds Joel’s Take: Howard’s frame has filled out in the past year and it’s opened up different aspects of his game. He is known as a spot-up shooter and he is one of the more potent shooters in the country. His burst is not overly quick, but he does have the strength to finish through contact. In addition, he shows off his savvy for the game with his passing acumen. Going forward, he needs to continue to improve his triple-threat game and pull-up game against physical defenders. KJ Evans (Montverde Academy, FL) 2023, PF, 6-foot-9, 200 pounds Joel’s Take: One of the more intriguing prospects in the game was Evans. First and foremost, his potential is enormous. The rangy lefty has a smooth stroke both from the mid-range as well as beyond the arc. Didn’t get to see him operate in the paint, but he does have some Chris Bosh in him, especially if he takes his game inside next season. Also, although Montverde will lose a lot, Evans and 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1089573" first="Derik" last="Queen"] should form a formidable duo next season.