Recruiting Update: New Signings and Stock Increase
Bryan Williams, Wellington
The hot-shooting 6-foot-2 guard entered the season with an increased role as a scoring threat. Of course, filling the monstrous void left by Trent Frazier (now at Illinois) realistically had to be done by committee. Williams, however, shouldered a bulk of the scoring onus. He went from being a knockdown shooter to a primary score, a guy tasked with calling his own number during crunch time and breaking games open.
Williams transitioned to being a lead guy and all around scorer, averaging 19 points en route to earning All-State first team honors. On May 9, Williams signed to prolong his basketball career at St. Petersburg State College.
Nico Toledo, Wellington
The fearless 5-foot-9 guard played with instincts and a knack for turning in eye-opening plays. As a senior, Toledo established himself as a considerable two-way threat. He invested more focus in pesky, on-ball defense and took pride in instigating all types of discomfort for bigger offensive catalysts.
The southpaw was a supplementary scorer to Williams, with crafty one-on-one moves and a blurring quickness which enabled him to beat defenders to the rack. The Wellington Wolves product will continue his career at Webber International in Babson Park, Fla.
Dante Moses, Inlet Grove
The 6-foot-4 guard plays with a flair and a swagger that spreads contagiously. His above the rim game and thunderous finishes cater to the crowd, albeit its his nose for the rim and ability to manufacture timely points that really garners notice. Moses’ scoring aptitude and leadership were factors that propelled Inlet Grove to a regional playoff drought.
Moses, who averaged 19 points, nine boards, and four steals, recently received a Division-I offer from Radford. He had been entertaining steady Division-I interest, as programs such as Kansas State had inquired. High level Division-II programs such as Townsend and Salem International recently upped their ante for the electrifying Class of 2018 guard.
Ben Lubarsky, Benjamin
The 6-foot-5 lefty may not have the sky-rising vertical or the rim to rim athleticism that Division-I coaches salivate over. He surely has the scoring and IQ and multi-positional attributes, though. Lubarsky was a consistent 25+ PPG scorer during critical stretches of the season. He’s got a smooth left handed stroke from outside, one which opens up the entire offense. He’s an underrated high-low passer and can into the lane and finish. Expect the Class of 2019 prospect to be a surefire double double threat next season. After tapping into the Palm Beach County area with Moses, Radford also recently offered Lubarsky. Stetson has also been in active pursuit of the bullish guard/forward, impressed with his toughness and the edge he plays with routinely. Winthrop has offered and several Ivy Leagues are now in the picture.
Rodwens Albert, Atlantic
Albert’s play during Atlantic’s wild 41-40 victory over previously undefeated Lake Worth back on Jan. 12th is a microcosm of the impact he has on a game. Albert scored 16 points in that upset, rattling off a personal 7-0 run during the third quarter. He made plays scoring and facilitating and also helped produce critical stops defensively. Defense was the major area of deficiency in his game heading into his senior campaign. He worked diligently at rectifying the weakness and eventually transferring it into a strength. The well-built guard has decided on Clayton State, a competitive Division-II program in Morrow, Ga.
Chase Johnston, Westminster Acad.
The 6-foot-2 3-point rainmaker has a knack for hitting clutch shots. While Johnston is synonymous with his quick-strike shooting, his passing and all around game have developed this spring. Johnston averaged 21 points, five assists, six boards, and shot a sublime 56 percent from downtown during the Lonestar Challenge in Dallas.
Johnston is currently entertaining interest from Holy Cross. He holds offers from Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson, Bucknell, and several others. It would be hard to pigeonhole Johnston as strictly a shooter–especially after a 30-point, five assist, five rebound showing against NW Christian during the state playoffs.
Maxime Demeus, Boca Raton
The deft, oft-facilitating guard will be flushed into a prominent role next season.
With 2018 graduation claiming high-scoring, Rollins-bound guard Cade Long (the program’s all time leading scorer), Demeus will inherit some ownership of the program next season. He’s got the ability to pick apart a defense and turn in plays which only rarified talents are capable of at this level.
UMass and Florida Atlantic have both offered the heady guard. With Dusty May and the new staff at Florida Atlantic, the Owls have made a concentrated effort to prioritize local talent. He’s strong, he’s shifty, he’s got a feathery left-handed stroke and he can create space. It’s a no-brainer.