#BOTBFL Middle School Showcase Immediate Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='2748873' first='Marcus' last='McGee'] has gathered some of the best middle school talent from across the southeast for the Best of The Best Middle School Showcase. Here are my immediate takeaways from a few players on day one…&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2271507,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Yadiel-Arredondo-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Yadiel-Arredondo-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2271507" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Yadiel Arredondo </strong>(5'3/SG/'28/Southeastern Prep Academy) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Yadii2009</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Yadiel is 5'3, but don't get it twisted; he was one of the best shooters in the gym on day one. As productive as he was scoring from beyond the arc, what I was really impressed with from Yadiel was when he was attacking off the bounce, got to his spot in his middle game, and scored off the bounce. Well, you might ask what was so spectacular about that, and to answer you, he used the glass, which many players, especially at this age, struggle with, leading them to not even attempt the shot off the glass. Hopefully, Yadiel will hit that growth spurt soon as he prepares for life at high school next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2271508,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Jeremy-Willmore-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Jeremy-Willmore-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2271508" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jeremy Willmore </strong>(5'11/CG/'28/Central Point Christian Academy) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jeremywillmore_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jeremy is a combo guard but spent a lot of time initiating the offense. He is very tough with the rock in his hands as he is a downhill attacking guard who is very physical off the bounce. He lived in the paint throughout the day and showed off his unselfish nature, constantly dropping dimes and spraying to open shooters. He is a playmaker who did a good job creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Jeremy has a strong drive game that creates fouls. He has to be better at not creating tough shots at the cup and just getting the bucket, especially when there is no need for extra.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2271509,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Owen-Boyle-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Owen-Boyle-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2271509" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Owen Boyle </strong>(5'11/PG/'28/St. Martha) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: owen_boyle_hoops</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I have put ink on Owen before, and it was great seeing him in action again. He has grown and has added more tools to his bag. He is more confident and did a good job creating for his teammates. He has good court awareness and court vision and was making some very good passes off the bounce. He plays within himself and does a good job taking care of the ball while running the show. He still has to work on his foot speed as it relates to being able to defend out in space.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2271510,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Kelvin-Ceballos.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Kelvin-Ceballos.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2271510" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Kelvin Ceballos </strong>(6'2/PF|C/'28/Ruth K Broad Bay Harbor K-8 Center) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: kelvinceballos11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kelvin wasn't the most explosive frontcourt player or the flashiest, but he is a budding interior presence. He finishes well around the rim, was active on the glass, and even stretched the floor with his ability to knock down the trey ball. He is patient on his post catches and displayed some good footwork in the paint. He was active on the glass and defensively did a good job contesting shots. He is not the caliber player right now who is a shot-blocking machine, but he does alter shots when challenging potential scorers in the paint. I am not sure how much more growing he has, even though he will grow some more, but I encourage Kelvin to continue expanding his game beyond the paint.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2271514,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Ethan-Knox-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Ethan-Knox-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2271514" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ethan Knox </strong>(6'2/SF/'28/Victory Christian Academy) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">One of the most explosive and athletic guys at camp was Ethan. He is long and can really get off the floor. He got everybody off their feet with a thunderous dunk out in transition. He battles on the glass, which leads to his ability to rebound at a high rate. He finishes well around the rim, but sometimes he tries to avoid contact and makes himself small, while other times he goes right through the contact. Ethan has a lot of promise and was at his best, attacking the basket and taking shots from inside the arc. As he expands his game to be able to handle and take shots beyond the arc, his stock will continue to rise.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2271518,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Jordan-Rivera-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Jordan-Rivera-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2271518" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jordan Rivera </strong>(5'5/PG/'28/BCAT) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Jordan_rivera_vega</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jordan is a small lead guard that impacts both ends of the floor. He can handle the rock and does a good job facilitating. He is a reliable ball-handler and does a good job getting his teammates in the flow of the offense. He is shifty with the rock and puts a lot of pressure on the defense. He does a good job changing speeds and keeping defenders off balance. Even though he is only 5'5, he did a good job finishing at the rim amongst the trees. He keeps his hands moving on defense and is very disruptive. He forced players into several turnovers today and turned his defense into offense.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2271519,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Angel-Ortiz-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/PHN-Angel-Ortiz-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2271519" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Angel Ortiz </strong>(5'7/PG/'28/Conniston Middle School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Aj_smooth56ace</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Angel is a lead guard with all the pieces in his toolbox to work with and continue to build upon. His vision and passing skills are beyond his years, and his ability to orchestrate was high level. He is tough off the bounce and does a good job making the right decisions when he gets into the heart of the defense. Whether he calls his own number and scores with a runner or directly at the rim through contact, Angel does a good job getting buckets by playing off two feet in the paint. He does a good job dropping dimes to open teammates after he collapses the defense, especially when the defenders are slow in their rotations. Angel is tough, fearless, and willing to take on all challenges because he is a relentless competitor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->