The Preseason Palm Beach County Five
The road to my preseason selections finally falls up to Palm Beach County. As I have proclaimed in the past, this part of South Florida tends to be undervalued. With Miami casting such a shadow, I guess anywhere outside of…
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Continue ReadingThe road to my preseason selections finally falls up to Palm Beach County. As I have proclaimed in the past, this part of South Florida tends to be undervalued. With Miami casting such a shadow, I guess anywhere outside of that proximity can be overlooked.
Boca-St. Andrew’s gave this region a big boost with a state championship last season. It was the first state title for head coach John O’Connell and the program.
Let’s get right into my picks…
Josh Minott Josh Minott 6'9" | PF St. Andrew's | 2021 State #30 Nation FL – St. Andrew’s
This might be the easiest call of them all. 6-foot-8 small forward Josh Minott Josh Minott 6'9" | PF St. Andrew's | 2021 State #30 Nation FL is the best player currently in the tri-county region. In reality, Minott can play all five positions at this level and possess a high intellect on/off the court. The Scots went 26-5 with him and won that elusive state championship over Andrew Jackson. On the season, Minott averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. During the Lakeland run, Minott scored 101 points over five games. Included in that stretch was a dominant 28-point performance against Santa Fe Catholic. He is currently committed to Memphis to play for Penny Hardaway.
Donovan Draper Donovan Draper 6'6" | PF Forrest Hill | 2021 State FL – Forest Hill
Over in West Palm Beach, Draper paced the Falcons to a 28-3 overall record and an appearance in the Class 7A final four. The 6-foot-6 guard/forward averaged 14.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals for Forest Hill last season. Moreover, Draper scored in double figures in 16 of 28 recorded games. Programs such as Sienna, Georgia State, Maryland Eastern Shore, IUPUI, Stetson, FGCU and Drake have shown interest. Draper plays with a ton of effort and intensity from baseline to baseline. Momentum after a strong summer has him trending upward across the state.
Chris Walker Chris Walker 6'6" | SG Wellington | 2021 State FL – Wellington
Walker is one of my favorite players to watch out for across the state. You are not going to find many guys that posses his length and athleticism. Walker is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard that is just beginning to scratch at his potential. As a junior, Walker averaged 10.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game for the Wolverines. His ability to create his own shot and size over his opponents make him a difficult guard. Walker holds offers from Rider University and Arkansas at Little Rock. *Walker has committed to Arkansas at Little Rock as of today*
Jonathan Joseph Jonathan Joseph 6'1" | PG King's Academy | 2021 State FL – King’s Academy
6-foot-1 point guard Jonathan Joseph Jonathan Joseph 6'1" | PG King's Academy | 2021 State FL is the general for King’s Academy. Joseph averaged 17.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game last season for the Lions. The program went 17-10, marking its best season in three decades. Joseph deserves a ton of credit for setting a winning standard at the school. Look for him to continue it as a senior leader.
Micah Octave Micah Octave 6'4" | CG Grandview Prep | 2021 State FL – Olympic Heights
A transfer from Grandview Prep, Octave should bring instant results on a Lions squad that went 7-18 last season. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Pride as a junior. Back in August, Octave averaged over 30 points per game for Team Parsons (CP25) in Atlanta. Moreover, Octave dominated defensively with over 15 steals in a pair of games. The Lions have a solid two-way player who should bring more victories this season.
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