Thrown Into A Prominent Role: Florida
Willie Razz, Lake Worth
Possessing the build of a football player, anticipate Razz to really impose his will as a tenacious on-ball defender as a senior this season. While he may not have the scoring prowess that since graduated Jay Mephor brought, his toughness and calming influence will be vital to a veteran core.
A well-built guard similar to Detroit Pistons great Joe Dumars, Razz is a dish-first facilitator. He’s displayed an instinctive nature in making smart, timely reads in the half court set. Strong and adept at getting to the rim, Razz looks to attack first as a scorer.
Though he rarely looks to pull it, he’s worked consistently at developing a reliable outside shot. Expect him to inherit the leadership reins this season. If he can incorporate that 3-point shot and score in double digits consistently, he’ll broaden his opportunities as a Division-II player.
Malik Reneau, Mater Academy
The 6-foot-4 Class of 2022 guard/forward is raw, but he’s got upside as a scorer with length and shooting ability. While he’s shown a promising touch from beyond the arc, the freakish freshman needs to put a skill set behind the talent he already has.
If he can become more physical and develop ball skills, he’s got a chance to open up the first page of a memorable career under Shakey Rodriguez.
Farris Kabalaoui, Trinity Prep
The 6-foot-7 Class of 2019 forward has a proficient game, as he’s sound in all components. While he could still use some refined post moves and more of a back to the rim arsenal, he’s got a knack for getting around defenders and scoring with either hand on the fly.
The Park Vista product has been a role player much of his career, an aspect which could change this season. He’s very effective at triggering the outlet pass fresh off a defensive rebound, an aspect which keeps defenses on their heels.
Expect the hybrid forward to develop more of a guard’s skill set as he is propelled into a more prominent role as an experienced senior.
Malik Nelson, Forest Hill
The diminutive Class of 2021 has dazzling ball handling ability, an attribute that makes amends for his lack of size. With a beyond his years skill set, Nelson has the ability to shred defenders off the dribble and turn in plays which very few at his age are capable of.
He’s a smooth lefty with a fearlessness and advanced one on one game. While his shot is still a work in progress and while he needs to get bigger, the skill set and prodigious dribbling is very promising. Nelson has become very stealth as a creator in the half court. His go-to move is luring in defenders and then whipping a precision pass to an astonishingly open big at the rim.
Stone Bureau, undecided
The Class of 2023 prospect has shown a prodigious, beyond his years ball handling. He’s able to really create, carve through defenders, and hit the open man. While he’s so young and inexperienced and it would be unfair to put such high expectations on him so soon, you can’t deny the advanced feel for the game Bureau possesses.
He’s an old soul as far as his will to win and knack for vital defensive stops.
Ryan O’Connor, Santaluces
The Class of 2019 guard has gone from a shooter to an all around playmaker. Getting into the weight room and eating right, you already notice the increase in his physicality and impact on the game. While he showed a decent stroke last season, there were several games were he deferred too much.
Being an experienced and vastly improved senior, expect O’Connor to emerge into a supplementary scorer behind 3-point marksman Chance Dixon.
Chol Marial, IMG Academy
It was never about talent with the towering 7-foot-3 behemoth, who has been marred by a spate of injuries.
Marial, who spent time at West Oaks and the now defunct Arlington Country Day school, has upside as an above the rim finisher and adequate rim protector. He has the potential to be a real unicorn, should he stay healthy.
Marial has been linked to Georgetown, as he’s developed a tight relationship with Hoyas head coach and former NBA great Patrick Ewing.
A clean bill of health and a year of imposing his will at the prestigious prep level would help bolster his high major and draft stock.