#BOTBFL Middle School Showcase South Edition Standouts (012024)

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='2748873' first='Marcus' last='McGee'] once again put on a fantastic Best of the Best Florida Middle School Showcase. This time, it was the South Edition and had some of the best elementary and middle school talent in South Florida. I was impressed throughout the day, and here are some of the young guys that stood out...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2322597,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Joshua-Lowe-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Joshua-Lowe-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2322597" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Joshua Lowe&nbsp;</strong>(6'1/SF/'28/Margate Middle)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: virall.josh</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @JL34_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Josh is a very aggressive player who is very intentional when it comes to his scoring modus operandi. He is a physical downhill attacking guard with size who embraces contact and finishes at the cup. Even though he knocked down a trey ball, I would still have to see consistency before saying it is a part of his arsenal. He showed a little potential as a mismatch post-up player, but he still has work to do in this area. That part of his game remains to be seen if it can be a part of his arsenal, depending on how he grows over the next couple of years as he moves to high school ball. Defensively, he was aggressive, making it hard for players who did not like physical play.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2322598,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Vincent-Kokonis-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Vincent-Kokonis-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2322598" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Vincent Kokonis&nbsp;</strong>(6'1/F/'28/Jupiter Middle School)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Vincent_kokonis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Vincent is a young prospect who does a lot of things very well. There really isn't one thing I can say that he does exceptionally well, but his overall game is the calling card for Vincent. I will say that he was the hardest-working kid in the entire camp. He plays both ends of the floor equally hard and is a relentless competitor who does not stop. He did most of his work on the interior but showed that he could play out on the perimeter as he could put it on the floor and attack the cup. Whether he is running the floor in transition, going hard to the glass, or defending multiple positions, he is a guy players will love going to battle with night in and night out.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2322600,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Gavin-Gorman-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Gavin-Gorman-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2322600" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Gavin Gorman&nbsp;</strong>(6'1/SG/'28/Grandview Prep)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Mrgorman11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Gavin has good positonal size and his length and skillset are a factor on both ends of the floor. He has defensive versatility, as he can guard multiple positions. Offensively, he created mismatches and capitalized on his height advantage with his ability to score over the top. He has a good understanding and feel for the game, plays with poise, and makes sound decisions with the ball in his hands. As he continues to hone his perimeter J and develop and work on his physical attributes, he is going to be very difficult to deal with as he can play anywhere on the perimeter.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2322604,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Staton-Tillman-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Staton-Tillman-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2322604" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Staton Tillman&nbsp;</strong>(6'2/SF/'28/Millennium)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: humblestat.7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Staton caught my eye when the 5v5 games began because I did not initially see much during the 3v3 games. It seemed like he turned on a switch and became another player. He was very dominant as he scored the rock at a high rate, as he got out in transition attacking, and was attacking in the half-court. He used his size and length to score over the top, particularly in the paint and at the cup. Even though he showed his ability to rim and run and lead the break, he is a good secondary supportive ball handler because of his versatility and skill set. He is at his best when he has the freedom to focus on scoring the rock and not having to facilitate the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2322605,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Frizzy-Catilus-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Frizzy-Catilus-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2322605" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Frizzy Catilus&nbsp;</strong>(5'7/PG/'29/Mater Brickell Academy)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: outworkwho_frizzy1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Frizzy is a shifty PG with wizard-like handles. He is a potent iso scorer and very few defenders truly stepped up to defend him. He has pop to his game and is elusive with his handle when slicing through defenses. He balances scoring and facilitating and has a budding PG IQ along with a potent scoring prowess. He does a good job creating space off the dribble for his own offense and equally does a good job off the dribble creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. Frizzy plays with an up-tempo style, and even though he plays fast, he is very cerebral and makes smart decisions with the rock in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2322606,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Michael-Sebastian-Moreno-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PHN-Michael-Sebastian-Moreno-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2322606" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Michael Sebastian Moreno&nbsp;</strong>(5'5/PG/'30/Doral Academy)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Michaelsebymore34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Michael was perhaps the best player in camp, regardless of division. He is a small, highly skilled lead guard who had his entire repertoire on display. As I mentioned, he doesn't have a lot of size but was one of the most challenging players to contain in any aspect of the game. When he was on the floor, he handled the ball about 95% of the time and had very few turnovers, as he is a reliable ballhandler and initiator of the offense. He has floaters, runners, pull-ups, creative finishes around the basket, a lethal shot from behind the arc, and more, which keeps defenders on their heels. Now, there have been talented kids who have been identified at this stage in the past who did not become what the early expectations placed upon them, so I encourage Michael to stay humble and focused and continue to commit to the process of getting better without listening to the outside noise. As good as Michael is at this age, there is a lot that needs improvement in his game on both ends of the floor, but one thing is for sure: I will be watching his journey.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->