Gauntlet At The Gulf: Best Athletes Pt. 2

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Athleticism can be a game-changing piece at the youth level. Knowing how to use it can turn you from prospect to player. We’ll highlight players that best used their athleticism to impress our scouts in Daytona. This is the second part of a two-part series. Click here for Pt. 1.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1060262" first="Kyle" last="Jones"] | North Florida United</p> <p>Jones’ linebacker build went along with athletic feats. He made defensive plays in transition by running guys down on the break. He created offensive opportunities for himself in transition by running the floor and gliding above the rim. Jones is an active two-way player that can defend on the perimeter and finish through contact.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1055718" first="Chris" last="Cornish"] | Athletes of Influence </p> <p>Cornish has outplayed the 16U division. His speed and athleticism have helped him become one of the best slashers on the circuit. A blazing first step and an ability to attack angles in space give him the drop on defenders. There are only a few 16U big men that can challenge Cornish at the rim. He’s finishing over the rest of the field with forceful dunks or finger rolls.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962569" first="Kyle" last="McNeal"] | Ball4lyfe</p> <p>McNeal played with anger this weekend. He attacked the rim with ferocity showing off explosiveness and power on drives. McNeal left the gym with a new poster attempt at every game. Between his three-level scoring and femaleness attacking the rim, it’s time to buy stock. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1060257" first="Isaac" last="Edwards"] | Jacksonville Trojans 2023</p> <p>6’5 size, a motor, and nimble feet made Edwards a fun player to watch in Daytona. The hard playing forward has the athleticism to erase size differentials in the paint. He plays a physical game with the skill to create space in the midrange for his jumper and jump hooks. </p> <p>Jeremiah Ways | No Sleep 2023</p> <p>Ways played hard to produce below the rim. He may not be the highest jumper on this list, but his speed translated to his moves in the paint. He’s a strong 6’5 forward that used his quickness to create in paint. Every move he made at the rim happened at a pace few could match.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1173749" first="Renard" last="Surrency"] | Jacksonville Trojans 2024</p> <p>Surrency made fans with his high-flying act. He’s still raw, but at a long and bouncy 6’5, he stayed above the rim. Whether it was changing shots or hunting for putbacks around the rim, the 2024 prospect used his athleticism to impact the game. There’s upside here, but he’s more of a dunker spot finisher and cutter at this point in the game.</p> <p>Caden Douglass | Lockwood 2023 </p> <p>The 6’2 guard spent the weekend surprising everyone in attendance. He’s bouncy and will get above the rim when he has a sliver of daylight on drives. Whether on the ball or off the ball, Douglass uses his athleticism to score in the paint. He’s a good off-ball cutter, has good court vision, and finishes against contact.</p>