Shooters With Something To Prove
Avery Brooks, Lake Worth
The deadly 3-point trigger man has a Chris Lofton style game to him. When the Class of 2019 heats up and reels off a few treys consecutively, it could be a long night for defenders. Brooks had several high-20s and 30-point performances alongside Jay Medor in the backcourt last season.
This year, playing alongside a dish-first creator in point guard Willie “Tank” Razz, Brooks has the chance to be a special scorer. He can’t be pigeonholed as a strictly a shooter anymore, either. While he’s best when firing in from downtown, he’s been able to diversify his package with his surges to the rim. With Razz feeding him off the ball, Brooks has the potential to be one of the state’s premiere spot-up men. You will be hard-pressed to find a better shooter in the Palm Beach County area this season.
Chance Dixon, Santaluces
The 3-point rainmaker had several games of 5 or more 3-pointers as a sophomore. Now, the Class of 2020 off guard has a chance to be a stabilizing force in a much-improved offense. Dixon is a stealth 3-point bomber, a guy who can roam the baseline and get free for a quick catch and snipe. He’s very adept at drilling straight away 3-pointers.
His coaches would like to see him penetrate more and mix up his shooting with powerful tools like a stepback and a pull-up. As he showed during Palm Beach State camp over the summer, he’s developed added range. He’s more comfortable creating his shot off the dribble and also throwing a head fake here and there to create space.
Diego Rivera, Miami Christian
No longer the lesser-known backup to Neftali Alvarez, Rivera has the opportunity to lead this team in scoring and field goal percentage. The Class of 2019 guard is a pure shooter with a quicker release, which results in plenty of transition 3-pointers. He can get off shots in a breakneck attack. A la the aforementioned Rivera, he’s got consistency and the type of hot hand which can break open a game or trigger a maddening 11-0 spurt.
Rivera showed promise in spurts and glimpses last season. With the wealth of experience and ready-made offensive game, expect Rivera to seize the leadership reins. With Juan Cardona’s staunch emphasis on thorough ball movement and finding the right shot, Rivera will savor the captain clutch role this season.
Coulter Dotson, Huntington Prep
The re-classed Class of 2019 guard has the chance to be a pivotal piece with his 3-point shooting. At 6-foot-5 and having shown consistency with his stroke and decisiveness while at Aspire Academy (KY) last season, Dotson transitioned to the rigors of high level basketball in a hurry. He still needs to embrace defense and know where he is defensively. As he continues to get bigger and shuffle his feet defensively, he will have the opportunity to be a key role player for a traditionally powerful prep program.
Austin Galuppo, SCS
The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter has significant range from beyond the arc. He’s firing in from NBA territory and becoming a reliable 3-point shooter in transition. His form and release are translatable to high levels of Division-I basketball, as programs such as Bryant, Pepperdine, and Princetown are keeping close tabs on his production rate.
Playing in some maximum exposure events as a reclassified Class of 2019 prospect, Galuppo has the chance to up his stock. He scored 51 points in a game last year and has a spurt-ability and a swagger to his game. His deceptive bounce and sneaky explosiveness are notable facets of his game. If they come alive and supplement his sniping from downtown, he’s got a chance to pile up a horde of mid-major Division-I offers. It certainly helps that he has a 3.6 GPA.
Zeke Blauner, St. Thomas More
Since he was very young, the 6-foot-4 Blauner’s set shot and ability to knockdown shots in clusters has been the crucial component differentiating himself from others. As a junior at Ardsley (N.Y.) last season, Blauner’s ability to slice into the lane and finish along with his length on the defensive side helped lead the Panthers to a berth in the New York State final.
Blauner developed the clutch gene as a junior, hitting a number of pressure-spiked shots and keying momentum surges during the Panthers’ improbable and wild run. The re-classified Class of 2020 prospect will enter a rigorous environment at St. Thomas More, playing a national schedule and competing against finely tuned Division-I signees day in and day out. He’s got the work ethic and the mentality to improve. If he continues to get bigger and capitalizes on what the Division-I game favors (athleticism), he will open up more opportunity for himself. Few in Westchester County (NY) have improved from their freshman to junior season like Blauner has. This is why he’s got a high ceiling and could improve as he gauges his grit against the country’s elite.
Malik Reneau, Mater Academy
The idea of Reneau playing a significant role as a high ceiling Class of 2022 prospect appears more and more realistic by the day. At 6-foot-4 and 170 pounds, Reneau showcased a deft 3-point stroke while at Palm Beach State camp this summer. His form and the early strides in his shooting could propel him to meaningful minutes, especially with Mater bidding adieu to a gritty cornerstone guard in Jorge Becceril (who transferred to Coral Gables). This will be one of the youngest teams legendary South Florida head coach Marcos “Shakey” Rodriguez has ever had, and Reneau could potentially become a figurehead in this youth movement.
Tony Sanders, Gulliver Prep
The 6-foot-5 guard has a high release point, an attribute that allows him to stick a number of uncontested shots. His form is smooth and he’s developed an adeptness and drilling corner treys. Sanders has been extremely reliable off the ball, as he has his feet set and ready instantly on the catch. More and more eyes will be pasted on the high major prospect as he assimilates to the role of a flamethrower. With Jamal Mashburn Jr. now at talent-laced Brewster Academy, Sanders will shoulder a significant load of scoring.
Joey Martinez, Miami Palmetto
The fluid left-handed stroke and the ability to spread the floor out at 6-foot-6 are what makes the Class of 2019 prospect an enticing late bloomer. He’s got the pull-up game now and has executed in the one on one game, showing more confidence in his ability to pull up off the bounce.
He’s hard to guard because of his left hand and the bird’s eye view of the rim he gets on smaller defenders. While he’s still a bit raw, he’s tightened up his handle and worked at circumventing defenders in traffic while hunting for his shot.
Jovan Debrito, Miami Rebels
The 6-foot-1 guard has the potential to be a true 3-point ace this season. He’s very adept at spotting up, catching, and sticking a 3-pointer in quick-hit fashion. This summer, he’s improved with his range. He’s now firing in from a few feet behind the 3-point line.
He’s shed the habit of leaning to heavily on the set shot, as he’s now finding innovative ways to set up his shot and coming off screens ready to fire. He still needs to work on his scoring off the dribble, albeit with his work rate this summer he could be one of the better shooters in the area in 2018-19.