Notable Performances: South Florida, Central Florida
Miles Coleman, Dwyer
After defeating a traditionally potent Iona Prep (N.Y.) team featuring several Division-I players and led by oft-attacking and freakishly athletic Stanford-bound guard Bryce Wills, Dwyer seemed like the likely bet to take the Palm Beaches Holiday Classic tournament in the national bracket.
They did just that, scoring a 59-49 victory over Ridge View of South Carolina in the title game. Miles Coleman, a pivotal component of a deep and balanced Dwyer team that defended its Palm Beach Gardens home court, led the attack with a team-best 19 points against Ridgeview.
Keying an early run with his 3-point shooting, the Class of 2018 guard showed his multi-positional capabilities. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Coleman loves to operate in the one-on-one game, take defenders off the dribble, and create enough space to get his shot off.
A drive-first guard who loves to get into the lane and finish, Coleman has improved with a quicker release from beyond the arc. He’s gone from having a set shot to a considerable catch-and-stick threat in Dwyer’s half-court attack. With the tournament victory and three straight wins, Dwyer enters 2018 with an undefeated (13-0) record.
Bryan Williams, Wellington
It’s been very clear from the beginning of the season, the loss of electrifying guard Trent Frazier would have to be filled by committee. If any player was going to be flushed into a more prominent role and inherit some ownership of this Wellington team, however, it was going to be Class of 2018 sharpshooter Bryan Williams.
Leading by example and displaying poise down the stretch, Williams turned in a team-best 20 points in leading Wellington to a 70-58 win over Forest Hill. This was the championship of the Palm Beach Shootout at Atlantic Christian High, the tournament in which Williams was named MVP.
Elijah Weaver, Rockledge
Circumventing traffic, finishing in the lane and at the rim in crafty fashion, getting downhill with a full head of steam, and knocking down nifty pull-up jumpers, the USC-bound Weaver was an absolute handful during the Kingdom of the Sun tournament. With a signature victory over Orlando Christian Prep, Weaver solidified his status as a McDonald’s All American probable and one of the most ferocious finishers out of the backcourt.
Weaver possesses unrivaled strength and a fullback’s build at point guard, an attribute that helps him when penetrating and dissecting a defense with hard attacks to the rack.
P.J. Person, West Oaks
In the championship of the Bull City tournament in Durham, N.C., Person’s toughness and swagger were central components in West Oaks pulling off a pulsating 86-84 win on the tournament host’s home court.
Person scored 20 points, tore down eight boards, and doled out six assists. Another hard-driving scorer, Person has the skill-set and veteran savvy to turn in pivotal plays during heightened crunch time moments. His performance on a stage of this magnitude was indicative of this.