Top Performers: Florida Jam (Part 1)
The HoopSeen Florida Jam took place this past weekend on the campus of IMG Academy.
Four courts featured competition from 11th, 10th, 9th, 8th and 6th grade. Various IMG teams played and the games were in motion.
I took in the action and came away with a list of top performers.
Here is the first part.
Eric Dailey Jr. (IMG)
The son of two former basketball standouts in his parents, Eric is off to a good start as a 2022 prospect. A guard, for now, the 6’3″ athlete is far from done growing and his instincts and jumper are already seasoned. He is a high-upside, confident shooter and shot blocker. If he follows through more on his mid-range shots, he’ll be better off. Dailey Jr. played up in 17U.
Curtis Butler (Booker)
One of my favorite lengthy ballhandlers of the entire weekend was Curtis Butler. The 2021 Booker guard is as sound as can be with the ball in his hands and he sets things up for his offense. Playing for Florida Sons Select, I saw a player, who shines as a point man and features pure length at 6’2″. If he attacks more, he’ll be better off.
Charles Crews (Strawberry Crest)
One of the most relentless and quality scorers was Crews. The 2021 Strawberry Crest guard carried Bay Area Hoops Elite throughout the tournament. At 6’1″, he’s a vocal leader and a guy who plays through pain. Crews is a natural shooter, boxes out tough and has quick bursts on the court. He has room to grow as a driver.
Cardin Joubert (Gulf Coast)
Joubert is not afraid to pull the trigger. He hit important shots for Florida Elite Southwest, especially in a back and forth game against Team Tampa. The 6’0″ guard has very good court awareness and feels out the game well. Joubert is a true spot-up shooter.
Norris Taylor (Sebring)
A rising senior, Taylor gets it done as an attacker. At times, the 6’1″ Sebring guard has a nice touch from outside and he is a lot stronger than he appears. The 2019 athlete is a hard worker for Team Tampa and fits the tone of the entire program.
Caleb Crumly (North Cobb Christian)
Crumly is a natural shotblocker who uses every inch of his 6’9″ frame to his advantage. The 2020 center had a wonderful sequence late in a loss to High Hoops. First, Crumly blocked a drive to the rack, then he followed that up with moving out to the mid-range spot to make another block. For Team Impact, he showed a keen ability to mix it up inside and is a very instinctive player.
Damian Tucker (Atlantic)
Perhaps the most athletic player on any team in attendance, Tucker paced the floor well for the Boynton Heat. A 6’3″ guard, Tucker is taking control of his role after his sophomore campaign at Atlantic. He loves to drive to the rack and use his long arms to win 1-on-1’s. If Tucker gets stronger, he’ll be very hard to slow down.
Michael Blake (Clearwater)
A 2021 guard that impressed me for both the first and second half of his game was Clearwater Elite’s Michael Blake. In a win over Dream Nation, the 6’0″ Clearwater guard played bigger than his frame. He’s a thickly built guard who fights for every rebound and uses his strength as an attacker often.
Anthony Bittar (Oldsmar Christian)
Bittar is known for his 3-point touch, but he used his high IQ and understanding of positioning this weekend for Clearwater Elite. At 5’11”, Bittar doesn’t care about size, he loves to drive and he anticipates the next move before anyone else. The 2021 Oldsmar Christian guard is a true basketball mind.
Stephen Knowles (Lake Wales Vanguard)
A true power player, Stephen Knowles is 6’7″ and loves to be aggressive on both ends of the floor. He takes pride in being a shut down defender and a hard working rebounder. For Florida Elite, Knowles is a reliable contributor.
Cayden Baker (Southwest Florida Christian)
Focused on football mainly, Baker still has a ton of basketball skills. The 6’6″ Southwest Florida Christian forward is an inside player and a tough one at that. He struggled in the first half of the game against Team Impact but he bounced back for High Hoops. Baker never stopped fighting for baskets and consuming impact. He’s a highly underrated passer, especially on cuts to the basket.
Cobey Harraway (Victory Rock)
Harraway is a team player. The 2020 Victory Rock doesn’t do anything spectacular but he is solid when you need him to be. The 6’3″ guard/forward has a nice outside touch, plays with endless energy and smoothness. Harraway gets plenty of run with Florida Sons Select.