Jordan’s Kingdom of the Sun Standouts – Local Teams (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best features of the Kingdom of the Sun is that is consistently features some of the best local teams in the 352. This year was no different. Here's the first batch of local guys who made a name for themselves at this year's Kingdom! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1450208"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAs a prospect, Ingram has come a long way from his freshman self. Only a sophomore, Ingram looks cool, calm and in control leading the Hawthorne offense. He's a 6-4 guard with football-player-length and a well-developed athleticism that made him difficult to contain on the fast break. However, the offensive trait that stands out most about his game is his pace. Just one year ago, Ingram was tasked with leading a young Hawthorne team that had lost most of their star players. He looked sped-up or frantic with the ball, at times. However, he has taken major strides: he makes incredible reads, is able to break down defenders easily off the dribble, and can direct the Hawthorne offense against the press. He's one of the best prospects in North Central Florida, and with 2.5 years left to mature, Ingram will end up as one of the best players in Florida by the end of his career. Hawthorne will go only as far as he takes them. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Jailen Ruth","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77243","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Hawthorne High School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eRuth was a pleasant surprise to watch inu003c/spanu003e u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eHawthorne's L to North Marion. I came in expecting to mostly watch [player_tooltip player_id='1450208' first='CJ' last='Ingram'], but Ruth made himself known right from the first possession by finishing a nice dunk off Ingram's dime. Ruth is a classic rim-running big man who often found himself in the right spot for nice finishes around the rim. His athleticism made him a problem for North Marion inside on both the offensive and defensive end. He served his role as a nice complementary piece to Ingram and will be this team's best second option going into the rest of the season. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Elija Walton","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2023`","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"North Marion","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWalton is the primary motor for a North Marion team composed of high-level athletes. While some of the soft skills are still in the works, Walton and NM pride themselves on high-intensity, hard-nosed basketball to grind out possessions. Walton was the team's primary offensive threat. At 6-4 and one of the strongest guys in the county, Walton was able to put pressure on the Hawthorne interior and force guys to outwork him or outjump him (both of which are a tall order). Walton was able to grab the ball around the basket and finish strong several times, as nobody on Hawthorn was really able to deter his physicality. He's a one man low-post machine who is able to get to work in the paint. He's a football guy, so his basketball career will end with his high school career, but for the rest of this season, teams will be tasked with trying to muscle up to Walton's standard. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63b21ab95df1a"} /-->