Postseason 2024: SWFL Players to Watch, Final Five

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have closed out the 2023-24 regular season, and look forward to postseason play which tips-off this week. Every team starts fresh with a record of 0-0 and with a win or go home attitude anything can happen throughout these playoffs. A number of SWFL teams would like to build on their successful regular season campaign, and make a deep run into the postseason. Let's take a close look at some prospects who have excelled on the court and hope to lead their teams through the postseason, in hopes of cutting down the nets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1457197"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Gateway's top scorer is looking to lead his Eagles to their third-straight district title.  Cook has recorded double-digit scoring in every contest this year, and has also had multiple 20+ point games, and multiple 30+ point games on the season.  The 6'3u0022 CG is averaging 24.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 3 apg and scored a season-high 34 points earlier in the season in a win over Dunbar.  The do-it-all guard plays very aggressive and likes to attack the rim.  He is a strong-bodied guard who rebounds exceptionally well for his position and can take a game over with his scoring ability.  Cook who led the Eagles to an 18-3 record, is staring down yet another district championship to add to the trophy case in 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Brady Knutson","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Estero","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Knutson is one of the most prolific scorers in the area, and Estero's postseason success depends heavily on their senior leaders play.  The 6'3u0022 high-flying SF has recorded multiple 20+ point games this season, to go along with 3 games of 30+.  He is averaging 24.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 1.7 apg, and has been held to single-digit scoring just one time this year.  Knutson recorded his 1,000 career point earlier this season on senior night, and hopes to lead his Wildcats into district play where they earned the #2 seed and a first-round bye.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1295962' first='Adrian' last='Rodriguez']","_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":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"First Baptist Academy","_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":"Rodriguez has emerged as FBA's go-to-guy here in his senior season, and has helped lead his team to a 20-4 record and a Private 8 Championship.  He his a big, strong guard who is an above-average rebounder and able to guard every position on the defensive side of the ball.  His size and skillset make him an extremely difficult matchup for opposing defenses.  He is able score down low but also has a very nice touch from the outside, where he can knock down the 3-ball consistently.  Rodriguez hopes to lead his team to postseason success after an impressive 20-win regular season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2300466"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The transfer from ECS has been a huge addition to this revamped Vikings squad.  Williams recorded his 1,000th point in his new uniform this year, and has helped lead Bishop Verot to a much improved record of 20-5.  He recorded multiple 20+ point games this year, and scored in double-figures in every contest.  He is a true 3-level scorer who averaged over 20 points a game this season, and is a guy who can score in bunches.  Williams is a fast, shifty guard who has a great mid-range game but is also very effective at getting to rim and drawing contact.  He  is very efficient from both the free-throw line and behind the arc, and with the help of some fellow transfers, Verot looks to make a splash in the postseason this year.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1620356"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Johnson has been an absolute force for the Griffins all season long.  The 6'8u0022 junior is a double-double machine, where he's recorded 16 double-doubles in 23 games.  He is the areas top rebounder and an absolute force in the middle for Gateway Charter.  The athletic, strong-bodied forward is a presence in the paint, where he's an elite shot-blocker and very efficient at altering the opposing teams attempts.  Offensively, he likes to play above the rim and capitalize on second-chance opportunities, but has even started to develop more of an outside game.  Johnson 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