CHSAA Finals Recap: 9 Can’t-Miss Prospects Who Shined

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. John's Prep captured the CHSAA ‘A' Championship, and Cathedral Prep seized the key moments and pulled away in overtime to win the ‘B' Championship. Both St. Joseph by the Sea and Kennedy Catholic were competitive but came up short.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3142678' first='Daquan' last='Bryant'] <strong>(St. John's Prep)</strong> Soulfood brought a bulldog mentality to the game, setting the tone with tough on ball defense that led to a clean steal and a strong downhill finish. He added a smooth leaner, knocked down a standstill three from the right corner, and repeatedly used his speed and strength to get downhill and finish through contact. After halftime, he came out firing, hitting shots with confidence, including a deep three from the top of the key off a screen, sparking his team's second‑half push.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3530408' first='Jake' last='Youngblood'] <strong>(Cathedral Prep) </strong>the CHSAA Play of the Year hit standstill threes from both corners and the left wing, blocked shots from behind, and played strong on ball defense with good anticipation for steals. He impacted the game in multiple ways, including a downhill finish off a baseline inbound for an and one, a well timed pass to the roll man, and another clean defensive steal, showing two‑way activity and versatility. When the momentum shifted in Kennedy's favor, he elevated his play and held strong under pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3530423' first='John' last='Patzuro'] <strong>(St. Joseph by the Sea) </strong>He executed a flashed to the elbow, rose into a smooth midrange jumper. He displayed good footwork, and a hint of wiggle that showed his shot creation ability. He was a player teams had to identify as soon as he crossed half court.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3142688' first='Myles' last='Perry'] <strong>(St. John's Prep)</strong> He added steady defensive production throughout the game, showing strong contests at the rim, cutting off drives into the paint, and finishing possessions while securing offensive rebounds consistently. He was active on the glass on both ends, turning defensive boards into transition chances and keeping plays alive with offensive rebounds that created extra possessions. His timing and physicality around the basket helped him control the interior, and he closed the night with a double‑double, anchoring the team's effort on both ends.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2248991' first='Nicholas' last='Rebracca'] <strong>(St. Joe's by the Sea) </strong>He made a clear two way impact, delivering strong defensive plays with steady effort and controlling the glass on both ends. He piled up multiple blocks through timing and athleticism, hit a right corner three off a screen from Moran, and even while being shadowed for most of the game, continued to find ways to influence the action offensively.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3142680' first='Richard' last='Fernandez'] <strong>(St. John's Prep) </strong>He put together an impressive offensive stretch, knocking down a transition three from the left wing, a catch‑and‑shoot three from the left corner, and a standstill corner three. He mixed in sharp playmaking reads and capped the run with a strong downhill finish through contact, giving his team scoring in multiple ways and keeping the defense off balance.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2303118' first='Sebastian' last='Jackson'] <strong>(Kennedy Catholic) </strong>He put together a highly versatile scoring performance built on a mix of shot creation and downhill pressure. Sebastian knocked down an elbow jumper after smooth jab. I believe seeing the ball go in early helped his confidence. He consistently created advantages by passing well to open shooters and knocking down jumpers off the move. He added a strong step back three from the top of the key and multiple downhill finishes, including a scoop layup to close the half and a determined floater to end the quarter. You used a hesitation move to split two defenders for another floater, then buried a long left wing three. Late in the game, he used a shot fake to free space for a clutch three that tied the score. Altogether, you scored 33 of your team's 54 points<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3530426' first='Sebastian' last='Pedroza'] <strong>(Cathedral Prep) </strong>Pedroza hit a mid‑range step back jumper, and I noticed how he showcased the ability to rebound and immediately start the break as a ball handler. Throughout the game, he consistently caught the ball high and finished downhill, grabbing offensive rebounds allowed the team to get extra possessions, he provided strong help for a block, and knocked down a standstill three from the right corner. He did a ton of key things on both ends to impact the game<strong>.</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2891626' first='Se'nre' last='Tuitt'] <strong>(Kennedy Catholic) </strong>Tuitt, one of the youngest key players, showed the ability to drive, draw defenders, and kick out to the corner, demonstrating solid facilitation and awareness. He moved well off the ball for back door opportunities and jumpers, and he finished coast to coast, consistently getting downhill with crafty moves. He also made effective baseline drift passes, highlighting good playmaking instincts. His ability to control tempo and get both feet into the paint is underrated.<br><br><strong>Additional Impact Players</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3037112' first='Ari' last='Boubert'] - Kennedy Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3530431' first='Joey' last='Moran'] - St. Joe's by the Sea<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3530436' first='Nykeil' last='Naggie'] - St. John's Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->