Volume 2 In the Water Showcase Under the Radar Prospects

In The Water Basketball Showcase: Rip Tide Bracket CH Flowers defeats CMIT North 56-53   The Rip Tide Bracket at the Water Basketball Showcase brought together four competitive high school teams: CH Flowers, CMIT North, Laurel, and Arundel. Each squad arrived with the intent to test themselves against strong regional opponents and left their mark with spirited performances and individual standouts. Throughout the bracket, the games were marked by high intensity, strategic execution, and the emergence of new stars poised to make noise this season.   CH Flowers ultimately claimed the Rip Tide Championship, fighting back to edge CMIT North 56-53 in a thrilling final. [player_tooltip player_id='2639998' first='Brandon' last='Brooks'] led the way for Flowers, earning MVP honors with dominant scoring and rebounding across both contests. His strength, touch around the rim, and relentless hustle set the tone for his team's success. [player_tooltip player_id='3276079' first='Jayden' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2975309' first='Braylon' last='Brooks'] also contributed key plays, showcasing the depth and versatility of the Flowers backcourt. CMIT North, powered by standout point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2722714' first='Amir' last='Morton'] and the steady presence of [player_tooltip player_id='3276063' first='Cole' last='Williams'] and Joshua Owolabi, pushed the eventual champions to the limit, with Morton's leadership and scoring keeping them in contention until the final buzzer.   Laurel and Arundel, though not advancing to the final, demonstrated promise and depth within their rosters. Their participation helped elevate the level of competition and provided valuable experience for their players. The Rip Tide Bracket highlighted the talent and excitement present in the local high school basketball scene, leaving fans eager for the remainder of the season.    Brandon was by far the most dominate player in the event in the two games. Scored 24 and 26 points in the games to capture the MVP honors in the Rip Tide Bracket. Given his incredibly consistent production in every setting, it's impossible to ignore the value Brandon brings to a team. He is a wide body, forward with a quality blend of size, skill, and strength. Brandon frequently outworks opponents for extra possessions on both ends of the floor, both as a rebounder and hustle player. He finishes extremely well around the basket and scores seemingly everything he attempts within ten to twelve feet. Brooks display great touch but can also power through contact. He utilizes his strength and tenaciousness to wreak havoc defensively.     It should probably go without saying, but everything starts and ends with [player_tooltip player_id='2722714' first='Amir' last='Morton'] for the CMIT North team. Between his incredible production and leadership by example, it's difficult to say anything other than positives. At 6-foot 1, Morton is an incredibly polished, refined player. He's smart, quick, and has the ball on a string, which allows him to get wherever he wants off the bounce. Morton is a reliable creator, both for himself and others, and quality decision-maker with the ball in his hands. He's a willing playmaker who sees the floor well yet often needs to apply scoring pressure to keep this group at its most competitive. Fortunately, Morton can do so in several ways. He's a quality perimeter shooter who can knock down jumpers off the catch or bounce. Morton does a great job of breaking down opponents and accessing his midrange pull-up or finishing at the basket. He's a scrappy defender with the ability to force turnovers at the point of attack. Morton is a potential scholarship level prospect to watch in the 2nd half of the season. Scored 20 points in the championship game against CH Flowers.       Certain players can control the game by simply controlling the tempo of the game, and Jayden did just that in the championship game knocking down perimeter shot and making sound guard decisions with the ball. The Solid two-way guard showed itself to be the catalyst for Flowers. Played with deliberate pace out of ball screens, got to his sweet spots on the floor, and utilized his craftiness and quickness for a lead guard to finish in the paint. Made numerous plays in the clutch against CMIT North in the championship game.     Although his numbers won't explode off the page, it's easy to see the value that [player_tooltip player_id='3276063' first='Cole' last='Williams'] brings to this team. He's a smooth scoring guard, high-motor guard who provides an unselfish presence on both ends of the floor. Williams truly does all the little things. Whether it's diving for a loose ball, quickly making the extra pass, or making plays defensively, he consistently steps up. Williams knows how to fill in the gaps and impact the game without needing to score. His constant energy and involvement in the action make him an asset. In the 3rd quarter Williams went on his own 9-0 run scoring from all 3 levels on the floor in the championship game finish the game with 11 points.     Joshua is a long lean mobile forward who anchors the paint well as a low-maintenance cog on both ends of the floor. Joshua displays solid timing around the basket to block shots and secure rebounds. He's able to pose a nightly double-double threat with relative ease. It's easy to see how much Joshua has developed his offensive game over the recent months. He's still a quality lob threat and drop-off finisher but showed the ability to get deep position on the block and reliably finish over his left shoulder.     As a young guard Braylen brings value across multiple areas of the floor as a dynamic two-way guard. A strong creator who sees the game well applies pressure off the dribble and consistently makes plays for others. His length and bounce add another dimension to his game, allowing him to finish in traffic and disrupt opposing guards defensively. With his ability to impact the game on both ends, Brooks continues to establish himself as a versatile and reliable contributor. Also showed he didn't mind taking the tough shots. Braylon is a young prospect to keep tabs on going forward.

In The Water Basketball Showcase: Rip Tide Bracket CH Flowers defeats CMIT North 56-53