High Impact Incoming Transfers: Florida
Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy
The Class of 2020 prospect is a smooth-as-oil 6-foot-7 wing with a good build and guard’s skill set. The five star recruit is freakishly athletic, possessing one of the best aerial games in the nation. Cunningham has a wow-factor to his game with how easily he’s able to create his own shot in the one-on-one game. His open court finishing and considerable hangtime are equally notable. Cunningham is a smart offensive player with on-court awareness, aspects which help him carve through defenders and knife into the teeth of a defense. Expect his high major stock to increase rapidly this season at Montverde Academy.
His production during the GEICO National championship, which will likely feature a sizzling matchup between the Eagles and Oak Hill, is heavily anticipated.
Precious Achiuwa, Montverde Academy
The transfer via New Jersey power St. Benedict’s brings a deft skill set at 6-foot-9. He’s an explosive attacker with freakish athleticism, finishing those surges to the rim in typical highlight reel fashion. The top ranked wing in the Class of 2019, Achiuwa can score it all three levels. He’s very adept at scoring between a defender and the basket, and finding ways to beat his defender in the one on one game or elude the defender with slashes and an array of manipulative moves. Achiuwa’s pull-up game and set shot are pivotal weapons in his arsenal, facets which help him take taller defenders away from the rim.
Taelon Martin, Potter’s House
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 18.5 points as a sophomore at Putnam Vocational Tech (Mass.), earning First Team All-Western Mass. honors while catalyzing the team offensively and defensively. He comes to Potter’s House as part of a prized recruiting class, one additionally including Keano Calderon, Mayoum Mayoum, and Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander.
A heady playmaker with rarified athletic ability and an instinctive defensive style, Martin possesses a tool-set beyond his years. As both a facilitator and a finisher, Martin has a high-major Division-I aptitude.
Jarringly similar to Providence freshman Daivd Duke, Martin has capabilities in picking apart a defense and altering his shot through traffic. He’s got an advanced IQ in reading the defender and adjusting his shot accordingly, pulling off crafty finishes smack into the heart of the defense.
Martin’s toughness between his ears resonates with his method finding nooks and crannies in the defense, delivering those fireball passes which tend to freeze up defenses.
Also similar to Duke, Martin has length and sound on-ball tactics. This attribute enables him to convert deflections, picks, and battles for 50-50 balls into transition buckets at an effective rate.
While Martin will need to develop a quicker release at the ensuing level of play, he’s able to free himself up and create space for his shot. Hang time and superior above the rim athleticism are other appealing attributes that make Martin one of the biggest out of state transfers to hit Florida this season.
David Perez, University School
The smooth and bouncy 6-foot-1 guard is an enticing transfer via Riviera Prep. With his witty passing and downhill game, he’s got the potential to be an intriguing supplemental piece to nationally-prized recruits Vernon Carey and Scottie Barnes, the bulwark and faces of this U-School program.
Perez has a workmanlike downhill game and can get to the rim. His jumper is still a work-in-progress. If he can spruce up this component of his game, he’s got a special chance to fill the leadership gap left by Drue Drinnon (now at New Mexico). Drinnon was the unquestioned leader last year, an underrated point guard and two-way threat who helped lead U-School from obscurity to a berth in the GEICO National tournament title game.
Armando Bacot, IMG Academy
The 6-foot-9, 200-pound North Carolina-commit is an old school big. He’s got the imposing size and interior skill set to really sabotage defenders down low. With his hands, increased footwork, and now chiseled up frame, he can really bully his way to the rim. He’s evolved into a strong, one dribble and attack the rim threat.
Bacot also aligns with all that is prioritized in today’s high major game because he can go rim to rim as a mobile big. He’s improved tremendously at protecting the rim and really influences shots with his size and wingspan.