Montverde’s Post Grad Team Bridging The Gap
Basketball has been given the torch to carry proudly for Florida’s Montverde Academy, which is built and structured very much like a sprawling college campus.
Kevin Boyle’s program has featured high-profile players such as D’Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons. R.J. Barrett, the nation’s top Class of 2018 recruit and unrivaled 6-foot-7 lefty playmaker, is synonymous with the program’s prestigious reputation.
Yet for the past few seasons, Montverde’s post-graduate program has not had the same high-caliber prospects as its elite level high school team. There has been a significant drop off from the high school team to the post graduate program. That looks to change this season, as Montverde has ramped up its recruiting efforts and loaded up on high-major prospects who could reap the rewards of an additional year to develop.
Make no mistake about it, Barrett has earned some ownership of the program. Barrett’s 38-point scoring binge, the factor which propelled Canada to a 99-87 victory over USA in the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup this summer, cemented his status as the country’s elite prospect. He added 13 rebounds and doled out five assists during this marquee and memorable performance.
Crafty, explosive, and adept in all areas, Barrett recently sliced his list down to Duke, Kentucky, and Oregon. He is scheduled to make an official decision on Nov.10.
While the high school team features a troika of Barrett, pinpoint passer and Florida-commit Andrew Nembhard, and Georgia Tech-commit Micheal Devoe in the backcourt, Montverde’s post-graduate team is bolstered by bigs.
Morris Udeze, who recently committed to Wichita State, brings a massive presence in the trenches at 6-foot-8, 215 pounds. He showed a nose for the ball and refined back to the bucket moves during Scott Golden’s Hoop Exchange All American Jamboree in Apopka last month.
Football player turned three-star forward Josh Roberts, who is committed to St. John’s, will be a pivotal figure on the glass and as a high-efficiency scorer around the rim. He’s improved exponentially after investing a full time focus into basketball and playing a hyper competitive schedule on the AAU scene.
Montverde’s post-grad team lost 3-point assailant Cameron Healy (now at Albany), who made headlines when he knocked down 25 3-pointers during one three-game span last year. They added Seton Hall-commit Darnell Brodie, a monstrous 6-foot-10 forward/center with a feathery touch. The Newark, N.J. native is known for his work rate and workmanlike, unassuming style.
Montverde has an under the radar option in 6-foot-5 small forward Bikim Biyombo. The younger brother of NBA player Bismack Biyombo, Biyombo possesses superior strength and freakish athleticism.
If Biyombo develops his all around game and incorporates a guard skill-set to his arsenal, he will shed the tag of athlete and ramp up his recruitment. With a prodigious vertical and a work-in-progress mid-range game, Biyombo has the potential to have a special impact.
Boyle, who coached a couple of kids named Kyrie Irving and Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist while at St. Patrick’s in New Jersey, has often lauded the effects of stellar guard play at the high school level.
He’s cognizant of the fact that bigs take longer to develop than guards and most big men struggle to score between a man and the basket at the high school level.
This season, Montverde has added length, size and upfront strength to its front court on the post-graduate level. This infusion of ready-made forward/centers might finally bridge the gap between Montverde’s star-spangled high school team and post-graduate program.