Orlando Hoops Festival Standouts: Part 5
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.
Read Part 4, here.
Van Wilkes (Winter Park/Team CP25)
The younger brother of 2017 FSU commit Wyatt Wilkes, Van is a big kid in for a major role at Winter Park this upcoming season. The 2020 forward is already 6’4″ and he is starting to fill out. He certainly needs to become a stronger defender, but that will come in time. Right now, his role is to score points and he should get that chance for a young Wildcat group.
Thomas Bernard (Cypress Creek/MTE Diamonds)
It is hard not to like Thomas Bernard. Not only is the 2018 Cypress Creek guard a really good kid off the court, he also hustles on the floor when he gets the ball in his hands. He played one game in the tournament this weekend, coming on Saturday and that was enough for me to be impressed. He is an ideal Division II energy guy.
D.J. Henderson (Wharton/Team CP25)
Coaches were excited about 2019 guard D.J. Henderson. The Wharton starter is a lengthy point guard at 6’5″ and has the athleticism to hang with the best of them. Low to mid-Division schools were talking about Henderson all weekend long. He has a chance to boost his stock during his junior season.
Kentron Poitier (SLAM/Triple Threat)
A 2020 athlete, Kentron Poitier is dripping in pure athleticism. He threw down dunks left and right at the Orlando Hoops Festival. At 6’4″, he has the height and muscle to hold his own. Look for Poitier to expand his game as a sophomore at SLAM down in Miami. His abilities put him as a Division II or NAIA player currently, but he could move up to a low-Division I prospect soon.
Josh Marte (Osceola/Team CP25)
Last but not least is an undersized 2019 point guard Josh Marte. Speedy, smart and poised, Marte can bury jumpers as well as get his teammates involved. Some coaches don’t like the cockiness that he plays with. However, the chip on his shoulder is evident and that helps him play bigger than his 5’9″ frame but as his leadership expands so will his game. He’s a low-Division I/Division II prospect.