December Stock Risers – SWFL

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>December was a busy and eventful month for Florida High School Basketball, there were a number of Holiday tournaments and many great games taking place throughout the entire month. Teams have started to find their true identify and come together to make a run in the ladder half of the season. Many of the top players of the area have continued to impress, but let's take a closer look at some of the lesser know prospects of SWFL and and how they've performed on the court and seen their stocks rise. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Andrew Leopold","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gateway","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Leopold is a big, strong, and athletic forward who plays with intensity on both ends of the court.  He has helped lead Gateway to an 8-1 record, which is among the best in the area.  He compliments The Eagle's speed and strong guard play very nicely, giving them some size down low and a presence in the middle.  Leopold is a very strong rebounder both offensively and defensively, and his athleticism allows him to guard multiple positions.  The 6'7u0022 strong-bodied prospect is averaging 11.8 ppg and 6.7 rpg.  He has scored in double-figures in all but two of the times he's taken the floor and has also recorded multiple double-doubles so far this season.  Keep an eye on him as he continues to improve and become more and more of a contributor for Gateway in 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2125500"],"_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 5'10u0022 CG continues to impress and and take advantage of the opportunity each time he steps on the court.  He has started to find his scoring and looks to be a major piece for the Pirate's as we close out 2023 and head into 2024.  Nestor scored 16 points against a solid Palmetto Ridge team, dropped another 19 points against a very talented SLAM Tampa squad, and his solid play also earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team in the Lemon Bay Holiday Shootout.  He has unlimited range and shoots the 3-ball at a high-rate, but also has a quick first step and isn't afraid to get to the hole and draw contact.  It his defense that sets him apart though, he's a tenacious defender who is in your face for 94 ft. and who likes to just wreck havoc.  The freshman is a prospect with high upside who has already started seeing some interest from colleges.","_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":"Corey Hunter","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Mariner","_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":"Hunter is a strong, shifty guard with great court vision.  He does a little bit of everything offensively, where he's aggressive at getting to the rim, but also has a solid, consistent mid-range game.  He's an above-average passer and rebounds the ball very well for his size.  He is great on-ball defender and won't back down from any assignment.  The dual-sport athlete has had multiple 20+ point games and notched a season-high of 28 in a win over Island Coast.  Hunter is averaging 16.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, including outings of 18 points and 15 points in the City of Palms Tournament.  Continue to monitor this prospect as he continues to get his basketball legs and looks to help lead his talented Mariner team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Jamar Underwood","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Riverdale","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Underwood is averaging 12.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 3.4 apg for a much improved Riverdale squad.  He's an athletic guard who does a little bit of everything on both ends of the court.  The 6'1u0022 junior is an above-average rebounder and is able to guard multiple positions on defense.  Offensively he has had a great start to the season, scoring in double-figures in all but 3 games, and also recording multiple double-doubles in 2023.  Underwood had a stretch of 7-straight games scoring in double-figures and dropped a season-high 20 points in a win over Bonita Springs.  Keep an eye on this prospect as he looks to build on his early season success and help lead the Raiders in 2024.","_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":"Javarius Jackson","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_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":"Oasis","_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":"Jackson has been a huge bright spot for Oasis this season, who heads into 2024 with a record of 10-3.  He has a great basketball IQ and looks to be one of the leaders for this much improved Sharks squad.  He can guard any position on the floor and is a tremendous rebounder on both ends of the court.  Jackson has recorded multiple double-doubles this season and has scored in double-figures over 10 times on the year.  He scored a season-high 29 points in a win over Canterbury, and is averaging 12.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 3.1 apg on the season so far.  Look for Jackson to keep producing on the court for Oasis and become a more well-known name in SWFL by seasons end.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2294520"],"_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":"This 6'4u0022 freshman CG is really starting to make a name for himself early on in his career.  Settles has a tremendous basketball IQ and plays with passion and intensity.  Every time he steps on the court he gives it 110% and just loves to play the game.  He is averaging 10.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg, including 6 double-digit scoring performances for the Indians in 2023.  Settles is a 3-level scorer who can get to the rim and finish with both hands, but is also an exceptional free-throw and 3-point shooter.  He scored a season-high 19 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists in a tough fought double-overtime loss to a talented Bradenton Christian squad, where he had some clutch baskets down the stretch to keep Venice in the game.  Settles is a young prospect to monitor with very high upside, who should start seeing interest from colleges very soon.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6591a2d869f38"} /-->