Mark’s Scoutbook: Raines Vikings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we continue our journey of team previews, we head over to the north side of Jacksonville. The new look Raines Vikings has had a facelift to its basketball program this offseason. A completely new coaching staff with a plethora of transfers as well. There is only one returning player in the program. This team has some of the top media presence in the area. Widely known for its success on the gridiron every year, the basketball program looks to get back to its winning ways as it has been a few years. Raines has only one winning season in the last five years, so stability is needed.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Games: </strong>11/30 @Ponte Verdra, 12/16 Home vs Ribault &amp; 12/18 @Providence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings have three key games to look at this season. Right out the gate, they head into the Shark tank against Ponte Vedra. The teams split their two matchups in the summer/fall. Look for this to be a back-and-forth match. Big-time rivalry game a week against reigning Final Four and Regional Champs, Ribault Trojans. This game is always a delight, as it can go either way each time they tip-off. Look for this to be a scrappy, competitive game. A rare match against Providence appears on the schedule; This should be a good test for the Vikings. Raines has depth to match against Providence. Raines has guys who know how to score. I like this game as it is a good measure to see where you are as a program heading into the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Moore is entering his first season as the Head Coach. He has had previous stops as an assistant at Ribault, Sandalwood, and Ed White before landing his first head coaching opportunity at Raines. Last year, Raines tallied a 7-18 campaign. After speaking with Coach Moore, a goal of 19-6 has been set for the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The X-Factor:</strong>&nbsp;Makai Purkiss l 6-9 l Center/Forward</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Purkiss is the most impactful player on the team. He is their anchor as he continues his development in the post offensively. Purkiss is starting to turn the corner defensively. He protects the rim, rebounds on both sides, and is trying to dunk whatever he can. This team has the guard play, but he makes them a different animal with his presence around the rim. Nothing easy. Purkiss has recently committed to Tusculum University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hidden Gem:</strong>&nbsp;Jabez Griffin l 6-1 l Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Known to be gritty on both ends of the court, Griffen is the hidden gem. It is easy to get caught up on the other big names the program has reeled in, but I like this move here. He is a respectable shooter with a good touch around the rim. His positioning without the basketball stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Impactful Transfers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ta'Veon Dunbar l 6-2 l Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming from Sandalwood, Dunbar is a heavy favorite to lead the team in scoring. You have to appreciate his game. He can beat you inside or out. Dunbar is athletic, shifty, and dynamic with the ball offensively. He is another gritty kid that fits in the Raines style of play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1163419' first='Jeremiah' last='White'] l 6-0 l Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White is a pass-first tempo setting guard. He plays with pace. I like this underrated move overall. He will set up their scorers and take pressure off them defensively. White is already adept to the gritty style of play as he has been with Ribault &amp; Jackson.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zion Kemp l 6-8 l Forward</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kemp is another transfer that helps on their front line. He affects shots with his lanky frame. Kemp has left Ed White and looks to make an immediate impact on the defensive side for the Vikings this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ja'karee Eley l 6-2 l Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eley is another guard for the Vikings that scores the ball in bunches. Most effective on the perimeter, he is a volume shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Impactful Underclassmen:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2397034' first='Terrance' last='Walker'] l 6-0 l Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect an immediate impact from Walker. He has already hit the ground running. Expect to see his name a lot this upcoming. Walker gets active and can score the ball at a high clip from all three levels. The incoming freshman will have an immediate impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2398850' first='Ian' last='Beaufort'] l 6-3 l Guard/Wing</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beaufort is active around the basket. He finishes with grace around the rim. Beaufort is a good-energy kid who could reel in a few minutes on the varsity level. It would not surprise me if we were talking about him in a few years as a great glue guy. He is another 2027 prospect to keep an eye on in the future.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>For any Florida Prep Hoops news or information, contact Mark Holland on Twitter&nbsp;</em></strong><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/mark__holland" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong><em>https://twitter.com/mark__holland</em></strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->