HOLIDAY HOOPFEST Standouts, Part 2

Bishop Verot High School hosted its annual Holiday Hoopfest Tournament during the last week of December, and as always it was a tremendous success. It included a number of talented teams with many intriguing prospects to get your eyes on, and was an excellent 4 days of basketball to close out the year. There was great basketball played throughout the tournament, and I'd like to take a closer look at some of players who really stood out and entered 2025 on a high note.    Williams was one of the most intriguing prospects I watched throughout the tournament. He didn't put up huge numbers but filled the stat sheet in every game. He is a very smart player who likes to play with the ball in his hands and facilitate the offense. Williams has great handles and a quick first step, where he likes to attack the basket. He has the ability to finish with both hands but also has great court vision and looks to get his teammates involved. The junior PG is the type of player who flirts with triple-double numbers night in and night out.     Burgess is a skilled big man who can score in a variety of ways. The 6'8" junior is a strong kid with a wide frame who uses his body nicely down low. He positions himself well and is an excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor. He has the ability to finish in the paint while absorbing contact, but also has a very nice stroke from behind the arc, where he shoots the 3-ball at a high rate. Burgess had multiple double-digit scoring performances during the tourney, including a 24 point, 10 rebound outing against Barron Collier.     The highly-rated football prospect proved he can be quite a force on the hardwood also. The 6'5" forward is explosive off the floor with tremendous leaping ability. He likes to play above the rim and rebounds the ball very well with his size and strength. He recorded multiple double-digit scoring outings throughout the tourney and finished with a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) in a win over St. Brendan. Petit is a special talent and seems to have the ability to score at will when he wants to.     The heart and soul of this Naples squad, Llamo, put up some great numbers throughout the tournament. The 5'8" PG scored 23 points in a win over Ferguson and nearly recorded a triple-double in a tough loss to Mater Academy with 20 points, 8 steals, and 7 assists. Llamo is a hardworking prospect who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. He is a tough, gritty defender who won't back down from any assignment and rebounds the ball well from the guard position. Offensively he is a big time scorer who has a quick release and shoots the 3-ball at a very high rate.     Powell had a monster game in a win over Ferguson where he scored 42 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. The 6'4" dual-sport athlete does a little bit of everything for his Golden Gate squad. He's a 3-level scorer who can score in bunches and is a catalyst for the Titans each and every time he steps on the floor. Defensively, his size and athleticism allow him to guard any position and makes him a huge asset on the boards also. Powell finished the Holiday Hoopfest tournament averaging 27 ppg and 9 rpg.

Bishop Verot High School hosted its annual Holiday Hoopfest Tournament during the last week of December, and as always it was a tremendous success. It included a number of talented teams with many intriguing prospects to get your eyes on, and was an excellent 4 days of basketball to close out the year. There was great basketball played throughout the tournament, and I'd like to take a closer look at some of players who really stood out and entered 2025 on a high note.