South Florida’s Most Under The Radar
Christian Cruz, Miami Christian
The 6-foot-7 Class of 2020 prospect mirrors the program’s theme of versatility, interchangeability, and guys assimilating to new roles. Cruz has a fluid stroke from ten to fifteen feet out and is developing some range on his shot as well.
Like his teammates, he’s got the deliberateness and IQ factor to his game. This is translatable in his ability to make the right passes and commit to making that additional pass. He is still growing into his body and learning how to use his physicality in the trenches. With his length and ability to knife into the lane, he’s got the ability to be a deft finisher. Once he packs on muscle and becomes more comfortable scoring on the drive, he could be a very high percentage option.
Michael Potes, Cooper City
The quick and cerebral sophomore guard has the chance to be a facilitator and scorer from the gate this season. A leader in the transition attack, Potes has shown very effective decision making and creating acumen. Scoring-wise, he can create space for his jumper and really knock down shots. He’s improved incrementally with his deep jumper and has a rare ability to really create his shot off the dribble while really opening up space for his shot. This aspect makes him difficult to guard in the backcourt.
He’s shown he can finish with either hand at the rim. He still needs to get stronger and a bit more bouncy, aspects that should come with time and a devotion to player development.
He has developed a tighter handle and has improved with his reads and how well he can deliver passes and locate open teammates in the halfcourt set.
Algenis Quintana, Miami Christian
The well-built senior point guard brings knockdown shooting and a heady game from Puerto Rico, where he established himself as one of the fiercest guards. He’s able to carve through and weave around defenders with his driving game and ability to pick apart a defense.
He’s also a guy with eyes that are perpetually up, an attribute that allows him to deliver some fireball passes and really playmake in the half-court set. His style aligns with the type of play enforced at Miami Christian as he knows how to be patient and wait for the right shot. Defensively, he’s an active pest and can convert turnovers into transition leakouts and transition assists rather effectively. While he still needs to be a bit more controlled, he’s got the type of souped-up facilitating game and can trigger the break fresh off a defensive rebound. His quickness and ferocity at the defensive end have shown out early on in the pre-season. His coaches feel he’s got the smooth, hard-driving style that will enable him to get to the rim at will.
One year after boasting arguably the best point guard in the state in deft dishing Neftali Alvarez (now at Fairfield), Miami Christian will again go as its backcourt goes.
Alec Rodriguez, Belen Jesuit
The shifty 6-foot guard has a deft handle and has the tool-set to emerge into one of the city’s best facilitators. He’s adept at picking up his teammates’ tendencies and catering to their strengths by creating for them. He’s got the type of handle that translates to high efficiency in his assist to turnover rate and empowers him as a game manager.
The smooth left-handed guard can dial in from way, way beyond the confines of the arc. He’s also proficient at scoring on the run and creating space as he carves his way into the lane and finishes. He’s constantly under control as he gets to the rim via the baseline drive, finishing with either hand. Rpdriguez takes calculated risks as a passer because he’s capable of pulling off the type of dishes (behind the back shovel pass, cross-court heave pass) others cannot even simulate at this level.
Jared London, North Broward Prep
The senior forward has a rugged interior game and is rough and tumble in the trenches. He knows how to utilize his size and back down smaller defenders en route to the rim. He compiled several double doubles this summer, scoring around the rim and knocking down shots from short-range. He’s got the aggressive nature and attention to detail to become a consistent boardsmith, a guy who can really crash and outduel bigger players in the post.
If he can continue to refine his post game and develop an arsenal of one on one moves, he will have the opportunity to be a surefire double double threat. London will simultaneously register his presence as one of the city’s top rebounders. He’s shown a knack for hustle points and point blank finishes this summer. Expect much of the same throughout the 2018-19 campaign.
Donnell Simmons, Palm Beach Lakes
The pint-sized and pugnacious little Class of 2022 guard is a capable scorer who can manufacture points in a variety of ways. He’s improved as a threat from distance, sprucing up his 3-point stroke and becoming more comfortable pulling it and knocking down transition 3-pointers. He’s got nary a morsel of hesitance in his attacking and forays to the rim. He still needs to get better at finishing at the rim and absorbing contact from bigs, albeit this will come as he develops into his body.
Isaiah Ramsey, Pine Crest
One year after being a certifiable man-child while playing age appropriate, the Class of 2022 prospect will have the opportunity to crack meaningful minutes on some bigger stages. He’s a well-built guard with some bouncy athleticism, an aspect that’s very notable when the drive-first 6-foot-3 guard gets into the lane and finishes. He’s got some considerable burst and knows how to use his size in overpowering smaller defenders on his routine takes to the rack. If he can continue to develop and incorporate a feathery mid-range game into his arsenal, he will entertain a special four year career in South Florida.
He still needs to tweak his game so that he can grasp the skill components and disciplined entailed at this level. This will help him develop a crafty feel for the game and help him shed the habit of barreling to the rim with his head down.