Sarasota/Manatee Under the Radar Prospects

Several under the radar prospects in Sarasota and Manatee County have emerged and are deserving of recruiting attention from college coaches. Here is a look at five underclassmen who are on the rise.    Rivers is a left handed scoring guard with good positional size, a high basketball IQ, and the ability to score at all three levels. The junior is comfortable creating offense off the dribble, whether attacking the paint, operating in the midrange, or making shots from beyond the arc. He plays with poise, consistently making quality reads with the basketball in his hands. Rivers is playing this offseason with [program_tooltip program_id='2863450' first='Tre' last='Mann Elite'] on the PUMA Pro16 circuit, where he continues to showcase his offensive versatility and overall skill set against high level competition.     Dauer has carried the momentum from a strong sophomore season with the Sailors into an impressive spring with Austin Rivers SE Elite on the adidas 3SSB circuit. A better than average athlete with good positional size, Dauer continues to show that he understands how to play and impacts the game in a variety of ways. He is a capable shot maker who plays with confidence, moves well without the basketball, and consistently makes solid decisions on the floor. His combination of size, feel, and developing offensive skill set makes him a prospect college coaches should continue to monitor closely.     An All-Area selection after averaging 13.0 points per game for Venice this season, Palao continues to trend upward as a backcourt prospect. He has good quickness and a strong feel for the game, consistently making smart decisions and impacting winning. His perimeter shot making has continued to improve, adding to his effectiveness as a scoring option, while his activity level and competitiveness at the defensive end allow him to make plays on both sides of the floor.     Mercer emerged as one of the area's top scorers this season after averaging 19.3 points per game for Bradenton Christian. A quick, skilled scoring guard, he combines strong ball handling ability with a confident offensive approach and the ability to create his own shot. Mercer is a reliable perimeter shot maker who can score both off the bounce and off the catch, while his high basketball IQ and feel for the game allow him to consistently make smart plays with the ball in his hands.     Dauer's teammate at Sarasota High, Jenkins is a strong, smart, and tough guard who brings versatility and consistent production on both ends of the floor. He is a capable ball handler and reliable shot maker with a high basketball IQ and a strong understanding of the game. Jenkins is effective attacking the rim and finishing in the paint, while also making sound decisions with the basketball in his hands. Defensively, he is a high level competitor who takes pride in guarding the ball and brings toughness and energy every possession.

Several under the radar prospects in Sarasota and Manatee County have emerged and are deserving of recruiting attention from college coaches. Here is a look at five underclassmen who are on the rise.