May Day Hoopfest Standouts (Part 1)
The 2017 May Day Hoopfest, hosted by Skills Center Elite took place this past weekend at various high schools in the Tampa Bay area.
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 host Skills Center Elite and eventual 17U gold champion Q6 All Stars Elite. The two sides went toe to toe until the end as Q6 pulled out the 62-57 victory.
Here are the top standouts from the May Day Hoopfest (Part 1) written by Jake Perper and Jerome Reed.
Tyrone Perry (Q6 All Stars Elite)
Perry was the heartbeat of the Q6 offense this weekend. The 6’1″ 2018 Wekiva guard has impressive handles and his court vision is up there with the top guards in the state. At times, he was too quick for his own good, but he really played well overall. Perry was a huge reason why Q6 was able to pull out the tournament victory win over the Bartow Blazers on Sunday. – Jake Perper
Gavin Antoine (Skills Center Elite)
Antoine played in the first game I saw of the tourney and proved himself to be a threat in the low-post. The 6’4”, 175-pound sophomore ran the floor with energy, hustled on the rebounding glass and asserted himself in the lane for tough layups. Look for him to be a key man for SCE and Tampa Tech this fall. — Jerome Reed
Denari Garrett (Skills Center Elite)
For Skills Center, Garrett is asked to do a lot as the biggest player on the roster at 6’6″. The 2018 Sickles forward had a really good Sunday, working inside time and time again in the semifinal against Q6. He had a decent Saturday, but his Sunday performance showed why he is a rising threat in Tampa Bay. – JP
Alex Romero (Florida Storm Elite)
Romero was the most offensive-minded player I saw all weekend. With 27 points and four threes against the Florida Thunder, the Port Charlotte sophomore proved that he can create his own shot, as well as drain jumpers with a hand in his grill. The biggest thing holding him back right now is his size—needs to pack on a few pounds. Once that happens, Romero could grow into a stud. — JR
Jalon Borders (Bartow Blazers)
This kid really stood out to me. Borders is lengthy at 6’2″ and his initial burst is solid which helps get by defenders more often than not. He hit open 3’s, drove to the basket and turned his body to record layups. Doubling as a wide receiver for the Bartow football team, Borders is a 2018 athlete to monitor. – JP
C.J. Zavada (Q6 All-Stars)
“Quick feet, quicker release”. This was the mantra I had for Zavada as he made his impact off the bench. The First Academy sophomore notched 14 points off great three-point shooting and solid floaters coming through the lane. Definitely, a tough guy to guard when he turns on the shiftiness. — JR
Corey Friar (Hoops on Mission)
Strong and built, that is what Friar is. The 6’1″, 185-pound 2018 Ida Baker guard can attack the rim with authority and hit jumpers. Friar needs to get better with the ball in his hands around the perimeter, but his talent inside will help Hoops on Mission all summer long. He doubles as a wide receiver for the Ida Baker football team and that helps him with his power on the court. – JP
Jared McGarrity (Florida Thunder)
McGarrity is a marksman from downtown who heated up in his first Saturday game, only to catch fire in the following matchup. He’s more of a spot-up shooter, but if space is there, he’s draining it. In game two of Saturday, the 6’4” wing exploded for 31 of the teams’ 47 points. Definitely, want to see him work the floor a bit more and not just focus on the three. If he can do that, the sky is the limit. — JR
Darrius Dejesus (Red Storm Elite)
Dejesus carried the Red Storm Elite through some very tough patches this weekend. The 6’0″ guard played sparingly at Durant the past two seasons, but that will change as a senior. He’s on the rise and he looks the part for an attacking guard. Dejesus has a quiet confidence in his game. – JP
Logan Rogers (Florida Storm Elite)
Looking more into the future, Rogers is a rising freshman who could make a splash for his eventual high school, given the playing time. Rogers kept his head up and alert while dribbling, steadily found the open man and made his presence felt from the three-point line. The height and strength will come with time, but Rogers has a basketball IQ that couldn’t be ignored. — JR