Risers: Palm Beach County

<p>As we move right up the South Florida coast, I would like to next highlight players in Palm Beach County. In my opinion, this area is underrated in basketball talent. This past season, a tremendous run by <strong>Boca-St.Andrew’s</strong> gave the region a well deserved boost. Regardless, the PBC area is rich in prospects.</p> <p>Let’s take a look at this list.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="818768" first="Roderick" last="Johnson"] Jr.</strong> - <em>Dwyer Panthers</em></p> <p>2021 Johnson Jr. helped blitz the Panthers to a 23-5 record and a victory in the 7A-District 9 championship. The athletic wing/forward averaged 12.6 points and 7.7 rebounds a season ago. Against <strong>Westminster Academy</strong>, Johnson reached double-figures with 21 points and 15 rebounds. The rising senior finished in double-digits 19 times, including a season-high 23-point effort against <strong>Coral Springs</strong>. Against N<strong>orth Miami</strong>, Johnson Jr. collected 17 rebounds. In addition, his vision around the paint to make the extra pass is underrated. At 6-foot-4 with a powerful lower body, Johnson Jr. can finish strong around the glass and collect rebounds like a power forward. In addition, he has great length and can block shots in and around the perimeter. For more on this prospect, check out his highlights <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12502908/RODRICK-JOHNSON">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="953081" first="Jalen" last="Jeter"]</strong> - <em>Forest Hill Falcons</em></p> <p>A talented multi-sport athlete, Jeter helped Forest Hill to a 28-3 record and a spot in the Class 7A semifinal. The agile 5-foot-9 combo guard averaged 13.0 points and 2.5 steals for the Falcons. Against <strong>Palm Beach Lakes</strong>, Jeter tied a season-high with 24 points and knocked down five 3-pointers. A deep threat, Jeter added three other games in which he canned five from long range. Defensively, the 2021 has quick hands and moves his feet well to stay in-front of defenders. In 15 games this past season, Jeter recorded three or more steals. With prospect <strong>Donovan</strong> <strong>Draper</strong>, the Falcons have a terrific tandem heading into next season. A quarterback on the football team, Jeter recently picked up an offer from <strong>Stetson University</strong>. In addition, Jeter sports a 3.0 GPA in the classroom. For highlights, click <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10451835/Jalen-Jeter">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>Christopher Walker</strong> - <em>Wellington Wolverines</em></p> <p>With plenty of attention drawn to freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="709215" first="Marvel" last="Allen"], </strong>Walker put together a productive year averaging 10.6 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Wolverines. The 6-foot-6 wing/guard possesses a blend of athleticism and length that can frustrate opponents. With his size, Walker can spot up from the outside and consistently knock down shots from long range. With an offer from <strong>Rider</strong> under his belt, Walker has received interest from <strong>Murray</strong> <strong>State</strong>, <strong>Florida Atlantic</strong>, <strong>Temple</strong>, <strong>Holy Cross</strong>, <strong>Canisius</strong>, <strong>Princeton</strong> and <strong>Appalachian State</strong>. Check out some of his highlights by clicking <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12118475/Christopher-Walker">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="818757" first="William" last="VanHook"]</strong> - <em>Palm Beach Central Broncos</em></p> <p>With the loss of <strong>Eduardo Diaz</strong>, VanHook returns as the Broncos leading scorer after averaging 13.8 points per game. In addition, the 2021 finished first in assists (3.1) and fourth in rebounds (4.4) a season ago. Against <strong>Oxbridge Academy</strong>, the 5-foot-10 guard scored 25 points and knocked down four 3-pointers. A strong rebounder at his size, VanHook collected four or more rebounds in 17 games. Against <strong>Palm Beach Lakes</strong>, the rising senior pulled down a season-high nine boards.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="818874" first="Shane" last="Allen"]</strong> - <em>Village Academy Tigers</em></p> <p>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="818874" first="Shane" last="Allen"] is a sleeper in Palm Beach County. The productive point guard put together a tremendous junior year after averaging 15.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. The 6-foot-1 Allen is a playmaker in the back-court and dished out 26 assists in a three-game stretch late in the season. Moreover, his vision allows him to read defensive sets and limit mistakes. In a win over <strong>Oxbridge Academy</strong>, Allen scored a season-high 30 points and knocked down four 3-pointers. A steady shooter who can keep you honest with his range, Allen knocked down three or more from deep in ten games. Overall, a playmaker who can contribute on all levels of the court. Therefore, he should be getting more attention.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>For any South Florida Prep Hoops news or information...please contact Michael Costeines on Instagram @Steins_23 or Follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23.</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>