#FLDreamMLK Day 1 Immediate Takeaways
Marcus McGee has brought together another quality I Have A Dream MLK Challenge with a loaded field of teams and talented players. Two games took place on day one, and here are a few players that caught my attention… Avner…
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Continue ReadingMarcus McGee has brought together another quality I Have A Dream MLK Challenge with a loaded field of teams and talented players. Two games took place on day one, and here are a few players that caught my attention…
Avner Etienne (6’3/PF/’24/Atlantic Community HS)
IG: avn.etienne
X: @AvnerEtien85545
Avner could be considered an undersized power forward, yet as I always mention, in some high school games, he can get away with playing the position at his size. He will have to expand his game out onto the perimeter if he is looking to get to the next level. On day one, he showed that he is a workhorse for his team and could easily be the glue guy that keeps everything together with his squad. He is highly active on the glass as he is quick off the floor and manufactured points off the offensive boards with several putbacks. He is an energy-effort guy who isn’t a primary scoring option, but because of his activity on the court, he finds ways to contribute in the scoring column. He finished with 12/pts in the match-up against St. Brendan.
Javi Jimenez (5’11/SG/’25/St. Brendan)
IG: javi.jimenez
Javi is a lead guard who fits St. Brendan’s system very well. He creates exceptionally well off the bounce, has really good floor vision, and does a good job spraying to open shooters once he has the defense reeling. He is good at breaking down defenders with his ability to handle the rock and his ability to get into the heart of the defense. He is a prototypical lead guard who plays like a coach on the floor and keeps his team flowing. He is unselfish, makes plays for others, and keeps his scorers happy as he equally distributes the rock.
Kaiden Francis Kaiden Francis 6'1" | PG South Plantation | 2024 State FL (6’2/PG/’24/South Plantation)
IG: Bykaiden
X: @Bykaiden
Kaiden was aggressive early in the day 1 match-up and set the tone early for his team. He is a physical lead guard with a quick first step, gets downhill, and has an array of finishing moves at the cup. He has playmaking instincts and showed his ability to create for his teammates as well as himself. He does a good job getting his own shot during any point of a possession, and he has an uncanny way of drawing fouls that drive his opponent’s coaches wild. He finished with 13pts as he tried to put his team on his back and lead them to the win late in the game.
Stefan Frisby (6’3/PG/’26/Western)
IG: stef_frisby
X: @stef_frisby
Stefan is a young PG who was very impressive on day one. He plays with a good feel and pace. He has a solid PG IQ, as he understands time and situations. He does a good job getting his teammates involved, as he is crafty with his ability to set the table. He has court awareness and court vision and makes some really nice passes off the bounce. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense with his dribble-drive game and his ability to make high-end decisions in tight spaces. He seems to have gotten hurt in the first half and wasn’t able to finish the contest, but he is definitely a prospect to keep an eye on.
Adrian Alicea (5’10/PG/’24/St. Brendan)
IG: Adrian.alicea_
One of the best offensive scoring threats on day one was Adrian. He is an elusive PG who is hands down a score-first lead guard. He has the ultimate green light and range from the parking lot. His ability to score the rock is the strength of his game, and at times, he makes it seem effortless. He can hit shots off the dribble or the catch-and-shoot, and defenders must be conscious of him from the moment his team begins their offensive possession. He is a high-volume shot-taker, and I understand that he can make the deep ball, but I would love to see him understand his shot selection better over the course of a game when the deep ball isn’t falling. He finished with a team high 16pts.