North Central Florida Breakdown Week 9: Best Shooters

<p>Having a reliable shooter, no matter what position, is very important for success in high school basketball. Here’s some of the best shooters from Week 9 of the North Central Florida basketball season.</p> <p><strong>Gian Rolon - The Villages, 6’3", 2022</strong></p> <p>Rolon is a role player for a very talented The Villages roster, but he stands out as a shooter as soon as he touches the floor. He doesn’t make a huge impact on other parts of the floor, but his jumper is solid. He has a slight ability to free himself for jumpers, but mostly, he’s a catch and shoot threat. He vies for the role of best shooter on his team with another player on this list ([player_tooltip player_id="962432" first="Derek" last="McCray"]), but when he’s hot, I want Rolon as my shooter everyday of the week. He’ll be an important piece of this team next season, once other perimeter threats like [player_tooltip player_id="549082" first="Nasir" last="Mann"] and [player_tooltip player_id="962432" first="Derek" last="McCray"] graduate. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962432" first="Derek" last="McCray"] - The Villages, 6’1", 2023</strong></p> <p>McCray is a consistently high-level shooter who is unafraid to be defined as a volume shooter. He nailed 2 big threes on his way to 10 key points for the Buffalo in their comeback win over Wildwood on senior night. No matter who they face, McCray is able to get to his corner (his specialty) or anywhere behind the arc and get shots off. He is a slept on pick up for class of 2023, and has been developing more than just a jumper in his offensive repertoire. McCray is buried deep in a solid guard rotation ([player_tooltip player_id="549082" first="Nasir" last="Mann"], Alvon Isaac, Corey Goldwire, Q’Zarion Jackson) but could definitely shine if he was given control of an offense at the next level.</p> <p><strong>Jalen Jerkins - P.K. Yonge, 6’1", 2022</strong></p> <p>Jerkins is a reliable option for the Blue Wave, especially when [player_tooltip player_id="818734" first="Adrian" last="Bloodworth"] isn’t hitting his shots. Jerkins is unafraid to take threes in anyone’s face, and has been stroking from downtown at a much better rate this season that last. He’s a perfect shooting guard for a P.K. Yonge team who has a standout point guard in Bloodworth, but next year will be even more vital for this Blue Wave team. Add his incredible jumper with his strong footwork and physical frame, and Jerkins will be a serious threat this year and next.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1068721" first="Charleston" last="Ponds"] - Columbia, 6’4", 2021</strong></p> <p>Ponds is without a doubt the most underrated wing in the region, and has been hitting from everywhere all season. In addition to his lank and defensive abilities, Ponds’ jumper is one of the best in the area. He can consistently hit 2-3 deep shots per game, and knocked down 5 triples on his way to averaging 16 PPG over two games last week, in which the Tigers went 2-0. Ponds gets to his beloved corner with ease and is confident in his jumper, enough to take even the most contested of shots. His guard-like handle helps him free himself up from defenders if necessary, making him even more deadly. His jumper will be key for the Tigers as they try to make a post-season run. </p> <p><strong>Jhett Hill - Buchholz, 6’4", 2021</strong></p> <p>This man Jhett is a sniper from outside. Playing on a Bobcats squad that is well known for having reliable perimeter threats, Hill stands out among his sharpshooting teammates. He hit 4 threes in a tough loss to Columbia, and contributed another pair of triples in the Bobcats’ buzzer-beater victory over the Vanguard Knights this week. Hill will be this team’s only hopes of getting far this season, as they currently sit at a 4-10 record. Nevertheless, Hill will continue to show opposing teams that he is a force to be reckoned with from behind the arc.</p> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTION: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="549002" first="Jarveil" last="Gainey"] (Eastside), [player_tooltip player_id="1068779" first="Omar" last="Brown"] (Eastside), [player_tooltip player_id="1068735" first="Nate" last="Rembert"] (Wildwood), [player_tooltip player_id="818725" first="Nate" last="Mikell"] (Wildwood), Lionel Manning (Vanguard), [player_tooltip player_id="953465" first="Matthew" last="McKinney"] (Oak Hall), Dante Brown (Columbia), Matthew Willenborg (Buchholz)</p>