Easter Classic Standouts (Part 1)
The 2017 Easter Classic took place this past weekend at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and various other locations around Orlando.
Teams from the youth to high school ages participated in the bracketed tournament. I bounced around a lot of courts and watched some really close games.
The game of the weekend went down between the Jacksonville Magic and Lake Worth Pride in the 16U bracket as the two sides went to double overtime before the Pride pulled out the win.
Here are the top standouts from the Easter Classic (Part 1).
Rodwens Albert (Boynton Heat)
Albert had a very stellar weekend which included a 30-plus point performance on opening day against the Tampa Titans. The 2018 Atlantic guard averaged just over 20 points per game for the Eagles this past season. He hit outside jumpers, carried his group and racked up 23 points in the first half of that game on Friday. Albert is a 6’0″ guard who plays an aggressive style of ball and it works.
Niven Glover (E1T1)
Sitting out last weekend’s E1T1 Invitational, Glover came back into the lineup at the Easter Classic. The 2019 Oak Ridge wing brought his athleticism into the mix despite still not being at 100 percent. He drilled 3’s, drove to the basket and had some big dunks. At 6’5″, the sky is the limit for Glover as he progresses this summer.
Darius Hopkins (Tampa Titans)
Hopkins caught fire this weekend which included that Friday victory over Albert and the Boynton Heat. The 2018 guard dropped 29 points which consisted of a ton of 3’s. He was full of energy and up to the task for the Titans. With nine seniors graduating from Seffner Christian, Hopkins, a rising senior, will be in for a key role this upcoming fall.
Johnnie Williams (E1T1)
Williams put up buckets last weekend and continued to do so again here in Orlando. The 6’4″ 2019 guard has length and speed. He kept shooting 3’s and made them more often than not. Williams also found space inside for dunks and attacking layups. He will be the main piece for Booker next fall.
Hunter Cattoor (Team M.O.A.M.)
This is a kid who stood out to me last weekend and also at the Easter Classic. At 6’3″, Cattoor has really good handles and burst when he finds some open room. The 2019 prospect is a true leader for an offense and on multiple occasions, he wowed me with fakes to the basket for two. He’ll be the top point guard for Bishop Moore as a junior.