Marcus McGee once again put on a fantastic Best of the Best Florida Middle School Showcase. This time it was the South Edition and had some of the best elementary and middle school talent in south Florida. I was impressed…
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SubscribeMarcus McGee once again put on a fantastic Best of the Best Florida Middle School Showcase. This time it was the South Edition and had some of the best elementary and middle school talent in south Florida. I was impressed throughout the day, and here are some of the young guys that stood out…
CJ Westbrook (6’0/Guard/’27/Imagine Charter)
Instagram: cjwestbrook12
CJ made a case at camp that he was one of the best that was in the building. His play backed up everything I was thinking, as he can absolutely get it done. He attacks inside and out and scorers at all levels. His toughness as a scorer was unmatched by any in the camp. He lets no one off the hook, and he attacks without hesitancy when he smells blood in the water. He has a game that draws fouls and makes you hold your breath every time he touches the ball in anticipation of what is coming. Different defenders took their chances guarding him throughout the day, but none found success. CJ is an offensive juggernaut who gets whatever he wants in one-on-one situations.
CJ made a case at camp that he was one of the best that was in the building.
Terry J. Drake
Kyler Ambrose (5’1/PG/’28/St. Gregory)
Instagram: Kjambrose20
I loved watching Kyler in action because he is a shifty guard who plays at different paces and levels. He has a nice hesi move that kept defenders off balance. When he got two feet in the paint, he made great decisions with the rock. He balances scoring and facilitating but does both of them at a high level. He has a good IQ for his age, and you can tell he has sat under some good basketball instructors. He showed his passing abilities with several creative passes, and he was often seen driving, collapsing the D, and kicking out to open teammates. His game instincts were second to none, and he is on a trajectory, even though small in size, to be a highly sought-after prospect.
He has a nice hesi move that kept defenders off balance.
Terry J. Drake
Xavier Police (5’8/PG/’28/Crestwood MS)
Instagram: virxl.zayy
Xavier is a lengthy slasher who thrives in transition. He is at his best when he is in the open court and attacking the rim off the bounce. He is a nightmare to deal with as he is very crafty with the rock and can make plays. He creates for himself and others and had defenders on their heels when he was in attack mode. Xavier has developing physical tools and a frame to build upon that will help him hold his own wherever the game takes him. He is skilled when it comes to facilitating as well as scoring. He has a lot of potential and showed promise, and it remains to be seen if he stays in the lab and continues developing his game, that he will emerge as the player he showed that he could one day become.
Xavier is a lengthy slasher who thrives in transition.
Terry J. Drake
Lunden Knights (6’0/SF/’27/Franklin Academy Sunrise)
Instagram: Lundentown
One of the most dominant players in camp was Lunden. He was difficult to contain off the bounce and practically lived in the paint all day. He is an excellent finisher at the rim, as he attacks the rim with sheer aggression. He handles the ball well and pushes the tempo. His strength is playing as a downhill attacking guard that attacks in straight lines. He is a gifted scorer that can create his own shot off the bounce. He has a very good middle game, as his stop-and-pop is lethal. There is a lot to like about his game, and we will keep an eye on him as he prepares for his last spring/summer action prior to entering high school.
One of the most dominant players in camp was Lunden.
Terry J. Drake
Amari Robinson (6’3/C/’27/Ramblewood MS)
Instagram: _.13playz
Amari was a kid that everyone had their eyes on. He has size and was making life difficult in the paint as he clogged up a lot of space. His presence forced a lot of guards to reconsider if they wanted to penetrate deep into the paint, knowing that they would have to deal with Amari’s size. He is still developing offensively and learning how to position himself in the paint defensively, but one thing he was good at throughout camp was cleaning the glass. He is a rebounding juggernaut who made his presence felt on the glass. He has to continue working on his skillset and conditioning, but if he can commit to working on his skills, it will be interesting to see him in a couple of years.
Amari was a kid that everyone had their eyes on.
Terry J. Drake
Noah Francois (5’7/PG/’27/Walter C. Young MS)
Instagram: noahfrancoiss
Noah had a good showing at camp. He is a playmaker who can score by creating his own or setting up scoring opportunities by moving without the ball. He is a crafty player with the rock in his hands that has good vision and a good feel for the game. He does a good job orchestrating the offense as he doesn’t over-dribble and keeps the ball moving. He is a heady guard who can be counted on to run an offense, find the open man, and keep the offense flowing. He did a lot of things extremely well at camp but didn’t really stand out in one area, which is not a knock on his game but actually a compliment, as he brings a lot of ability to the floor. He functions as a triple-threat player that contributes as a shooter, passer, and driver. He is a player that will be in complete control of his high school team one day, and the coach will be able to trust that the team is in good hands.
He is a crafty player with the rock in his hands that has good vision and a good feel for the game.
Terry J. Drake
Gabriel Durand (5’11/F/’27/Tequesta Trace)
Instagram: gabebasketball18
This is the second time I am putting ink on Gabriel in several months. I have been in contact with Gabriel’s parents monitoring his progression, and I was looking forward to seeing him in action. He has made some advancements in his game, which is what you want to see in a kid on his basketball journey. His shot looks a lot better; he was more aggressive, moved better on the court, and looked more confident overall. I could tell that the work he has been putting in is transferring from drills to game action. I encourage Gabe to keep working, and I look forward to seeing the growth the next time I catch him on the court.
His shot looks a lot better; he was more aggressive, moved better on the court, and looked more confident overall.
Terry J. Drake