I Have A Dream Showcase: Top 5 Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first couple of months of the season are typically dominated by tournaments and showcases. The middle of January around the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is when those showcases make a short comeback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those showcases was the I Have A Dream event at 4A West Florence HS. A total of 16 teams took to the court and a grand total of eight games occurred at the home court of the Knights.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Hoops also made the trek to West Florence for Monday's festivities. Without further adieu, here are a few of the top performers from the day's play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1931197"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2322556,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eTaking a Gamble on this rising freshman star is proving to more and more of a safe bet by the day. West Florence's boys were the first male team on the card for Monday's showcase. Gamble led the 4A Knights to a successful defense of The Castle with a 19-point performance in a 59-41 victory over 1A Johnsonville. While his game is still developing, the scoring prowess he is already displaying as a freshman should serve the Knights well over the next several seasons. 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Ross tallied 22 points which led all scorers for Johnsonville's contest against 4A West Florence despite the homestanding Knights coming away with the 59-41 victory. Among the positive attributes Ross displayed was an ability to attack the rim. He understands the art of weaving through defenders and concluding with strong finishes at the basket. Ross will have plenty of occasions where he draws contact and takes his chances at the free throw line.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a64b2086c83"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1645096"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2322559,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eTwo of the day's games featured 1A teams matching up against 4A squads. Both 4A squads were victorious – including Asuzu's Richland Northeast assembling. Asuzu tallied 12 points to pave the way to victory. He is listed at 5-foot-11 on the Cavaliers' roster and displays his versatility with an ability to play at either of the guard spots in the backcourt or as a three in the frontcourt. Asuzu understands how to locate open teammates, will create additional possessions for his team with steals and puts plenty of emphasis on attacking the basket. During the 2023 AAU campaign, he wore the uniform of Palmetto City Hurricanes.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a64b2086cf0"} /--> <!-- 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":2322562,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2354713' first='Jae' last='Thomas']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Trinity Collegiate","_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIt does not get any more clutch than how the veteran Thomas gave his team new life in a tough matchup against 4A Lugoff-Elgin. He finished with 19 points to power Trinity Collegiate to an overtime triumph over the Demons, but he sank a game-tying triple at the end of regulation to give his Titans four minutes of new life. Trinity Collegiate rode that momentum en route to the victory. As reliable as he is as a point-getter, Thomas is every bit as reliable as a rebounder. He gives a team productive minutes either in the backcourt or frontcourt along with finding valuable time as a wing.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a64b2086d81"} /--> <!-- 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":2322571,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2614011' first='Kiauj' last='Allen']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lee Central","_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eEarlier this month, 2A Lee Central suffered defeat at the hands of 4A Hartsville with the final being 62-50. At the I Have A Dream Showcase, the Stallions and Red Foxes renewed pleasantries and Allen led the way to victory by a score that was nearly identical as the first get-together. Allen placed 18 points on the board for Lee Central. The sophomore forward particularly got it done by converting on attempts near the basket. Allen will bolster a team's rebounding efforts, come up with big plays on defense and can absorb contact to give his team chances at the free throw line. Another element that makes him a name to keep an eye out for is his all-around toughness.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a64b2086e0c"} /-->