Orlando Hoops Festival Standouts: Part 4
The 2017 Orlando Hoops Festival took place at The First Academy this past weekend.
Source Hoops put together a full slate of competitive games from Friday through Sunday. A packed schedule made for plenty of solid matchups, but also some games where players looked tired. That is typical of the live period.
Coaches from FSU, LSU, Clemson, FGCU, Drexel, USF, UCF, Stetson and more looked on as they evaluated the talent.
Here are is the second part of my top standouts list.
Read Part 1, here.
Read Part 2, here.
Read Part 3, here.
Alonzo Carter (Boca Ciega/Team 727)
The 2018 forward plays an old school style of basketball. Alonzo Carter drove to the rack often and hit key jumpers for Team 727 this weekend. He is a leader for his group and he has the ability to further his progression this season as a senior for Boca Ciega. Carter is an ideal Division II or NAIA player.
Zhahidi Robinson (Largo/Warehouse Ballers)
Another player from Pinellas County that made plays in this tournament was 2018 guard Zhahidi Robinson. The Largo guard has range and is really good with the ball in his hands in transition. Robinson has proven to be a consistent playmaker. He is an ideal Division II player.
Darin Green Jr. (Wharton/Team CP25)
Darin Green Jr. is one of the top shooters in the entire state of Florida. He was streaky this weekend, but when he found his groove, he was hitting them. Wharton has a good one in the 2019 guard/forward. He is ready to take that next step and I know a ton of college coaches in attendance love what he can do. Green Jr. is a low to mid-Divison I prospect.
Nick Heard (New Smyrna Beach/Q6 All Stars)
You can say that 2018 Lake Highland Prep Jaxson Strates was the top player for the Q6 All Stars this weekend. However, I thought Nick Heard played a smart style of basketball. He is highly involved in the team’s defense as a vocal leader and he has the speed to find openings for 3’s. Heard is a 2018 forward who is a Division II prospect at this point.
Kai Jones (Orlando Christian Prep/Team Breakdown)
Orlando Christian Prep added yet another athlete in Kai Jones. The 2019 forward is very skinny but at his 6’8″ frame, he is going to fill out. He came over from the Bahamas earlier this summer and he has the smarts to develop. Jones plays smaller because he recently grew three inches. He’ll have to adjust to playing the four and five spots on the floor in high school ball. Jones could prove to be a low to mid-Division I player.