Soon To Be Ready Made: Rising Prospects
Francisco Brea, Schoolhouse Prep
The 6-foot Class of 2021 guard exemplifies major promise when he shoots the ball with consistency. He needs to shed the feast or famine tendencies in order to play quality minutes under heightened pressure. One notable compartment of his game is his first step, which is very advanced for a player of his age level. While making consistency a livelihood needs to be a priority for Brea, he’s got a smooth stroke and can really manufacture points when he’s feeling it.
Brea’s advanced handle and ability to facilitate will thrust him into a significant role as a sophomore.
Anthony Salazar, Champagnat
The 6-foot-3 Hialeah Gardens native mastered the role of interior bully this summer, feasting on smaller competition with eight blocks per game this summer. He has become a sound scorer who can shoot the ball at a high percentage. Scoring in the trenches and also knocking back that 15-footer with consistency, Salazar appeared ready for the rigors of varsity play this summer.
While he still needs to work on his skill development and his body, he’s got the playmaking ability and drive to handle quality minutes this season. Not bad for a freshman, but you have to watch out for those underclassmen. All are chomping at the bid to expose you.
Julio Rodriguez, Champagnat
The Class of 2020 guard is full throttle with his downhill game. He’s displayed blur-like speed and tenacity in his routine forays to the rim. Finishing with either hand and in crafty fashion, Rodriguez has got some finesse to him. Expect the pitbull-tough guard, who has the all-around tools to be a consistent 20+ scorer this season, to fall along the same sentences as Chaminade Madonna’s Toumani Camara and Mater Lakes Cyrus Largie as one of Miami’s most prolific scorers.
Rodriguez has a high-arching outside shot, one he’s beginning to rely on more so than ever before in his career. The true asset associated with his game is his ability to carve through defenders. He’s as good between the ears as any player in the Miami-Dade area. This attribute enables him to use his dribbles wisely and really beat guys that fall into playing him one-on-one.
Blake Owens, Scotland Campus Sports
The Oklahoma native is 6-foot-8 and nearing 6-foot-9 as he enters a re-classified 2019 senior year. With a smooth jumper and decent elevation on his shot, it won’t be hard for the Oklahoma native to establish himself as an inside outside threat. He’s got to improve with physicality and stamina, two components that could dictate where he winds up after this season.
Defensively, he’s got effective and instinctive play. He stays engaged throughout the game. He will play at a ramped up tempo and have the opportunity to ply his trade on some significant stages nationally.
Ian Tajalli, Coral Springs Charter
The 6-foot-6 guard/forward has the chance to be one of the premiere prospects in the Class of 2020. He’s got a skill-set in his ability to create space for his shot and dial in from beyond the arc. He’s also very advanced at reading the defense and finding the right shots. A player of this type is the kid you want with the ball in crunch time, steering the pressure cooker.
Tajalli also has good elevation on his shot and has shown he can produce with a hand in his face consistently. While he’s still getting bigger and developing his body, he’s improved at finishing through contact and knifing his way to the rim. He still needs to focus on scoring more off the dribble and utilizing dribbles with effiency before setting up his shot.
Edward Valero, American
The Class of 2019 sharpshooter has become lethal for his ability to hit 3-pointers in succession. While he’s got a proclivity for spotting up and drilling corner treys, he’s become more versatile as a shooter and embraced the mid-range game. He’s still adding on to his arsenal as far as developing a pull-up, stepback, and other nifty tricks of the trade. The key for Valero will be the transition from 3-point ace and supplementary scorer to a flamethrower who can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry.
How well he fares as a go-to option will determine if he’s mentioned in the same breath as surefire shooters and prolific scorers such as Richard Charles of North Miami Beach and Chase Johnston of Westminster Academy.
Justin Johanessen, The Nation Christian Academy
The 6-foot-11 big possesses big, soft hands and a decent short-range jumper. While his post-up game is still very much a work in progress, he’s got the fleet of foot and college ready body to play in the type of quick-paced offense the program preaches with an iron fist.
Similar to the Nation’s other newly acquired and polished big, 7-foot-1 sophomore Nsude Chidera, Johanessen has a college ready body. While he may have tweaks to make on his offensive game, he’s got the type of work ethic and interior movement which aligns with today’s Division-I game. McNeese State recently offered the skilled big.
DeQuarius Nicholas, Scotland Campus Sports
The 6-foot-1 point Class of 2019 guard has shown a consistent jump shot, one which he has considerable elevation on. After playing more of a quarterback role while flanked by multiple Division-I players in Georgia last season, expect Nicholas to be a dual threat in a souped-up attack this season.
He’s got the quickness and downhill game necessary for the controlled breakneck style enforced by nationally lauded head coach Chris Chaney. Nicholas has an adept feel of how to operate an offense and hit scorers in stride.
Anticipate a significant role for him in an Uber-competitive environment which includes Grind Session events. Working in Nicholas’ favor is his work ethic and desire to produce and coach-abililty, aspects which give him appeal as a veritable “safe bet” NCAA prospect.
He still needs to pack 10-15 pounds of muscle onto a spindly frame, as physicality is a component he will pay special devotion to this season.