Double Header: IMG Versus Montverde

Saturday’s double header showed how deep the talent is at these two programs. Players with interest and offers from all college levels hit the floor in Bradenton, Florida. Duquesne and Eastern Michigan were in attendance for one of their targets. A 2024 guard displayed his scoring repertoire in his sophomore season opener. As always, we have some under the radar gems, including a forward who had no trouble scoring against a post player a full foot taller than him. Montverde <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/IMG_6474-rotated.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323653 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/IMG_6474-150x150.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1055584" first="Cameron" last="Codio"] | 2024 Codio’s quickness made him Montverde’s best playmaker. The lead guard possesses a tight handle and navigates the paint. He may be a smaller player but has the floater and jump shot needed to score inside and out. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image1-rotated.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1323651" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image1-150x150.jpeg" alt="Batuhan Goktas | The Traveling Hoopers" width="150" height="150" /></a>Batuhan Goktas | 2023 At 6’6 Goktas was a consistent finisher around the rim. He powered through contact of similarity sized opponents for several and one finishes. The junior lead Montverde in rebounding. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image2-rotated.jpeg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323650 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image2-150x150.jpeg" alt="Brendan Yecora | The Traveling Hoopers" width="150" height="150" /></a>Branden Yecora | 2023 Yecora bounced between on ball and off ball duties. He found open teammates and proved to be a solid decision maker against pressure. The 2023 prospect scored in double figures, knocking down three 3s in the process. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image3-rotated.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1323648" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image3-150x150.jpeg" alt="Brennan Whittington | The Traveling Hoopers" width="150" height="150" /></a>Brennan Whittington | 2024 Whittington had a great debut hitting three 3s in the season opener. Not only did he score in the face of pressure, he left the game with a four point play. At 6’ he has the size and shooting that will make him a sophomore to track throughout his career. Montverde (Varsity) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image7-rotated.jpeg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323647 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image7-150x150.jpeg" alt="Xiangxiang (Noah) Sun | The Traveling Hoopers" width="150" height="150" /></a>Xiangxiang (Noah) Sun | 2023 Coming in at 6’8 Sun showed real wing skills. He has a nice handle and shoots well off the dribble. He takes advantage of mismatches shooting over the top of smaller players when they switch on him. When he was on the attack, he made kick outs to find open teammates. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image8-rotated.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1323646" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image8-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1130804" first="Cole" last="White"] | 2023 White may not have had the best game, but with 6’5 size and an obvious skillset, he’ll be 2023 to monitor. At his size, he played on and off, all making plays early in the game and playing multiple roles in the offense. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image5-rotated.jpeg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323645 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image5-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>Omar Adegbola | 2023 The Alaska native has the chiseled broad shoulders of a football. He’s an athletic 6’3 guard that knocked down perimeter shots and threw down big dunks on the break. His size and strength made him a good on ball defender. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image6-rotated.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1323644" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image6-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>Toluwani Babs-Ajayi | 2022 The 6’5 forward 2022 didn’t let IMG’s massive frontcourt stop him from making shots in the paint. He’s created space with his body, made reverse lay ups around 7’5 Oliver Rioux, and hit floaters over the outstretched arms of [player_tooltip player_id="863952" first="Carson" last="Cooper"]. Babs-Ajayi took it to the duo all game long finishing with double digit scoring and several and1s. finishing well around Oliver hood interior scorer <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image4-rotated.jpeg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323643 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image4-150x150.jpeg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a>IMG Jr. National The IMG guys played to the scouting report. [player_tooltip player_id="1300764" first="Myles" last="Kirby"] led all scorers while hitting shots off the dribble, scoring in transition, and making defensive plays with his athleticism. Eli Zimmerman pushed the offense forward with a healthy balance of aggressive drives to the rim and setting up the offense. Jorge Cardenas made the offense flow thanks to his speed, passing, and constant search for the next play. [player_tooltip player_id="1163410" first="Riley" last="Harrington"] is a stellar finisher with body control and a nice handle. Jacob Hammond’s athleticism and physicality helped him finish at the rim, push in transition, run the floor, and make some ridiculous catches. Raegan Cornish hit a three, played intense on ball defense, and ran the offense in spurts. IMG Blue (Varsity) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/IMG_5906-rotated.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1323628" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/IMG_5906-150x150.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="863952" first="Carson" last="Cooper"] | 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="863952" first="Carson" last="Cooper"] is having a big week. He played well in front of Eastern Michigan and Duquesne coaches, earning a scholarship from the latter. Listed at 6’10 or 6’11 by most sources, Cooper has the size and athleticism that makes him pop at this level. He runs the floor, rebounds, and has no problem finishing above the rim in a crowded paint. The senior is developing a corner three and shows off a handle in the open court. Cooper and point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1049220" first="BJ" last="Brown"] displayed how dangerous their pick and roll will be this season. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image15-rotated.jpeg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323630 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image15-150x150.jpeg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1049220" first="BJ" last="Brown"] | 2023 Speaking of BJ, he’s a dynamic lead ball handler. The 2023 prospect is shifty, quick, and knows how to get to his spots within the offense. He knows how to shift between fast and slow, leaving defenders guessing where he’ll be next. His drive and kick game helped him find diving big men and open shooters. He can make all the passes you need him to make out of the pick and roll, consistently placing the ball right in his big man’s hands. At 5’8 he scored in the paint, made mid range jump shots, and constantly broke down his defender. On defense his quickness and hustle help him force turnovers. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image16-rotated.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1323631" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image16-150x150.jpeg" alt="Eishin Natio | The Traveling Hoopers" width="150" height="150" /></a>Eishin Natio | 2023 10 points, 5 steals, and 3 assists is a good stat line for a season opener. Natio is a good finisher on the break and in the half court, who uses his body to shield the ball from defenders. He starts the break with his passing and court vision hitting teammates for deep outlet passes down the court. He has active hands on defense that poked away balls in passing lanes and picked the pockets of his defensive mark. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image17-rotated.jpeg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323635 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image17-150x150.jpeg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1163379" first="Gerard" last="O’Keefe"] | 2024 O’keefe is the lone 2024 on the varsity team, and it makes sense after watching him for a few possessions. He’s poised, skilled, and shoots the ball well. We currently rank the sophomore 62nd in a deep Florida 2024 and earned a top 30 spot at Pangos All-South Frosh/Sophomore game. He’s still finding his footing in this offense, but he’s making good decisions and knocking down perimeter shots. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image18-rotated.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1323636" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image18-150x150.jpeg" alt="Jamie Qualley | The Traveling Hoopers" width="150" height="150" /></a>Jamie Qualley | 2022 Qualley started the game on fire, hitting three shots from beyond the arc in a row. The senior finished the game four of six from deep, making all of them off catch and shoot opportunities. He’s a shooter by trade, but from what I’ve seen of him in warm ups and practices, he’s a good athlete that can finish above the rim with authority. He used his size and athleticism to crash the glass. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image11-rotated.jpeg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323637 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image11-150x150.jpeg" alt="Michael Astorino | The Traveling Hoopers" width="150" height="150" /></a>Michael Astorino | 2022 Astorino can score with his jumper, but it was his defense that stood out. As an athletic 6’6 wing, he played a physical brand of perimeter defense. He was in guards and forwards jerseys, forcing them to turn their backs and pick up the ball. The senior checks the athletic, shooting, and defensive boxes to be a great rotational piece at the next level. <img class="alignright wp-image-1323641 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image19-rotated-crop-1512x993-1636307574-e1636307666441-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Anquan Bolden Jr. | 2022 Bolden Jr’s athleticism and name scream good bloodlines. He drives to the basket with ill intent, looking to put the defender and the ball through the rim. In a half court setting, he’s a good cutter that draws fouls at the rim. He’s currently being recruited at the Division II level with Albany State, Barry U, and Lynn University extending offers. Expect the senior to earn a few posters this season. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image9-rotated.jpeg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1323642 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/image9-150x150.jpeg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a>Oliver Rioux | 2024 Rioux has time to gain more skill as a post player, but his 7’5 size already helps him produce. He was a near double digit scorer in limited minutes, including a dunk and a few putbacks. On the defensive end is where he shines. His 5 blocks made the rim smaller when he was on the court. His standing reach is just a few inches under 10’ making him a deterrent at the rim for guards.