Underclassmen: Part II
Romeo Gonzalez, Coral Gables
The Class of 2022 guard/wing has a swagger and a creative style to his game. He’s adept at slashing to the rim and finding ways to score the ball with either hand. He’s improved his vertical and developed some bounce, a necessity given the athleticism and souped up style employed in Miami.
He’s shown good defensively versatility, shuffling his feet on guards and also capable of fronting the post and guarding considerably taller and bigger guys in the trenches.
Kevin Campos, Homestead
The 5-foot-9 guard has a silky smooth game underscored by his shot-making ability and how well he’s able to get his shot off and score amid draping hands of defenders and hard close outs. He’s got all the tools to really pilot Homestead’s perimeter game in the future, as he develops strength and gets bigger.
The Class of 2022 Campos is a safe bet caliber prospect because he embodies the gym rat mentality and is devoted to wanting to get better. Through his day to day improvement, he’s become a better who can engineer the offensive game with swift passing. He’s additionally become a kick-starter with the ball who can spur the transition attack, playmake, and kick in the hockey assist.
Taderrius Davis, Miami High
The Class of 2022 6-foot-7 forward plays with a mental moxie and physical style. Defensively, he has really bought into the mentality of protecting the goal. He registered numerous games of four blocks or more as a freshman last season. If Davis can evolve on the offensive end, where he’s a high percentage scorer who needs to expand his game beyond hustle points this season, he’s got the opportunity to really thrive this season. He can sky for rebounds and also supply stickback buckets, emblematic of the workmanlike glue guy.
Tank Miller, South Miami
The 6-foot-1 Class of 2021 guard catalyzes South Miami on the defensive end. He’s got a knack for winning 50-50 balls and impacts the game with steals, deflections, and the type of shoulder to shoulder pressure which instigates forced passes and errant shots. Offensively, he’s a smooth and cerebral guard who can bully his way to the rim and manufacture points in a number of ways. He’s still developing an outside touch, one which will balance his hard driving and oft-attacking style.
Arturo Dean, South Miami
Another young piece in a reputable program that breeds backcourt talent, Dean is a skilled young guard who can really engineer the transition game. He’s blur quick and cerebral with his approach. He’s shown early promise with his ability to pass the ball and get the ball up the floor. His offensive game is coming along. After gaining muscle and putting some weight on, Dean certainly could be a key young piece in this year’s core.
Jayden Higgins, Gulliver Prep
Higgins was once regarded as the top point guard in the Class of 2021, a rugged scorer and facilitator who leads by action out there. A multi-sport athlete who has gotten stronger, Higgins is adept at picking apart a defense and really fighting for his shot. As both a middle schooler and on the J.V., Higgins has been a defensive pest who has routinely led his team in steals.
He’s still a bit skinny, but the heady guard has the chance to supply meaningful varsity minutes as a supplemental scorer to the highly lauded Tony Sanders. He can play at the quick pace Gulliver is known to employ and has the ability to be a ball-hawk who can also distribute and find Sanders (he of the funky slingshot jumper) for 3-pointers.
Walter Daniels, Coral Gables
The versatile 6-foot-5 guard/forward has a scorer’s mentality and can manufacture points at a torrid pace. He’s also a reliable presence on the glass, as he registered a number of double doubles on J.V. He passes it well and knows how to carve his way to the basket. He’s improved his hops, a necessity given how much of his game is predicated on hard and thorough surges to the rim and transition leakout finishes. He’s got some multi-layered qualities defensively and could develop into a true unicorn this season.