2023 FHSAA State Championships: Day 1 Standouts (Part I)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 Florida High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Championships got underway on Wednesday morning and will continue through Saturday. Prep Hoops Florida scouts Allen Pettigrew and Ross Van De Griek are on the grounds of the RP Funding Center in Lakeland throughout the week. Here is who stood out in the morning session of Day 1:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1055591"],"_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":"The 6-5 junior forward used his strength and ability to get to the basket in the first half, scoring 11 of his 15 points in the first 16 minutes of the game. Watts was knocking down tough shots through multiple defenders on numerous occasions. Watts also added 10 rebounds, 2 assists and recorded three steals in their 55-43 win over Providence.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1660048"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The 6-4 freshman wasn't phased when it came to playing his first Final Four game adding 12 points and 6 rebounds. He was playing tough on both ends of the floor. He recorded a key block in the fourth quarter which turned into a basket on the other end that sealed the win for his team.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1301788"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The 6-4 sophomore played with an edge and was a bruiser inside finishing with a team-high 19 points, on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also added six rebounds and recorded a blocked shot in their 68-67 win over Tampa Catholic.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["962519"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The Furman University signee finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 21 seconds left, to put his team ahead 68-67. Despite shooting just 7-for-21 from the floor and 3-for-12 from beyond the arc, he knocked down some key shots down the stretch for the Crusaders.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2294486' first='Myles' last='Fuentes']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Riviera Prep","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The 6-0 combo guard knocked down the game-winning shot, finishing with 15 points and 3 rebounds in today's 68-67 win over Tampa Catholic. Fuentes finished 7-for-10 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1055774"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The 6-4 junior forward put his team on his back when it was needed most. Finishing with a game-high 18 points and 6 rebounds in their 44-28 win over SLAM Academy (Tampa). He also went 8-for-10 from the free throw line, with most of his free throws coming down the stretch. Brown was finishing well around the rim, as well as catching a lob early in the first quarter.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1055785"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"The 6-0 junior guard played under control throughout the game adding 13 points, on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-for-6 from beyond the arc. His composure and getting his teammates involved early was huge for Orlando Christian Prep. He played with a high motor and was aggressive when his teammates counted on him the most. He will be playing for his third state championship in as many years on Friday afternoon.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ffb91e57c9a"} /-->