Versatile forwards, point forwards, and stretch fours
Aime Ciza, Scotland Campus Sports
The 6-foot-7 forward oozes of potential as a Class of 2021 prospect who can operate in multiple flow offenses. A lefty with an ambidextrous scoring ability around the rim, Ciza has added a new layer to his game with his hops and ability to dunk the ball in explosive fashion. He’s sneaky rugged in the paint, especially with his ability to finish through contact and turn in traditional 3-point plays.
He’s improved as a shooter and has opened up his 3-point shot. Having tightened up his handle and incorporated more of a guard’s skill set, Ciza has the type of tool-set tailor cut for the multiplicity role. He’s grown immensely since he arrived at the doorstep as a demure freshman. With the progression of his game and physique in a short period of time, his coaches envision him becoming ranked in due time.
Antavion Collum, TPA
The highly-lauded 6-foot-8 point forward had a breakout junior year. He’s a multi-layered high major prospect who sees the floor extraordinarily well and can facilitate. His 3-point shot also went from a letter grade of C to dependable, as he proved he can hit from outside and deep fluidly. The kid they called “Dude” churned out a number of double and triple doubles last season, because of his strength and NFL wide receiver build.
With his scoring prowess and polished game all around, Collum has the chance to be one of the most exciting players on the prep circuit this season. He’s a guy that adds flair to the skill components, which is a refreshing alternative to all the athletic freaks who can churn out highlight reel dunks but sputter when putting the ball on the floor and shooting it. His coachability and leadership were notable last season.
Roman Gray, Miami Beach
The Class of 2019 point forward has developed his niche as a sturdy offensive threat. He solidified his scoring aptitude this summer, as he learned how to move and score with the ball and really surge to the rim. Developing a yo-yo handle and backing down smaller defenders were instrumental in his ascension.
Gray, who plays with a sustainable focus of relentlessness and now some swagger, added a collection of turnaround moves. He’s become more adept at fighting for his shot and working the defender in the one on one game. His shot is more of a set shot and he’s opened it up from the perimeter.
Tobias Long, SCS
The bullish 6-foot-6 Class of 2019 forward has the build of a tight end and can power his way to the rim with ferocity. He’s shown flashes of the unique blend of athleticism, durability, and toughness this pre-season. With his ability to contain guards and his width and wingspan, he’s got the ability to guard multiple positions defensively.
His sound jumper and ability to exploit mismatches should garner the notice of several high Division-II and low Division-I programs this season. With his body and the way he moves up and down the floor, he would be a classic “get” at a school looking for defensive versatility at the 3-4. He can handle the ball and guard the ball well for his size, an attribute that gives him a swiss army knife caliber look this season.
Nick Silva, Miami Christian
The 6-foot-6 Class of 2020 prospect has the look of a European guard and his skill set really aligns with that style. He can dribble low and operate the offense, seeing the floor like a point forward. He’s also an exceptional perimeter player who can bag timely 3-pointers with a hand in his face. His length and deep shooting ability will spread this team out along the perimeter.
Shooting may be Silva’s calling card, albeit the multi-faceted Brazilian has shown a knack for scoring off the dribble and dropping floaters and finishing through contact.
Joseph Pena, BK Law and Tech
The 6-foot-5 lefty has a motor and a deep 3-point touch. He’s still working at his intermediary game and has shouldered an impressive work rate and a desire to perform as a go-to source for a young and unproven core this season. Pena is a smooth finisher in transition and scores a lot of his points through his perimeter shooting and at the rim finishes. He still needs to incorporate a pull-up game, an art mastered by the unrivaled program legend Matt Scott (Niagara, overseas).
Pena readied himself for the bigger role this season throughout the summer leagues in New York, where he pieced together several 20+ point performances and an offensive engine. He’s an undersized forward at 6-5 and is tightening up his handle and shiftiness en route to applying the guard’s skill set to his game. He’s an active defender and has improved his workload on the glass.
Kuran Bryant, Coral Gables
With guys like Jimel Lane and several other promising young Class of 2022 prospects capitalizing on productive summers, this could be one of the better seasons for freakish freshman in the South Florida area. Bryant, who has guarded the 1-5 at both age appropriate and advanced levels this summer, has the jack of all trades role ingrained in him.
He enters this season with the reputation of a guy who can play all five positions, but it should be a quantum leap to the varsity level for the neophyte. He needs to prove that numerous stat sheet stuffing performances are a portent of what’s to come and not just a bigger kid feasting on helpless, meager competition.
Kendrick Wilson, Miami Norland
The 6-foot-7 stretch five has discovered a newfound confidence in his shooting. While he’s had to play inside for a majority of his career, he’s proving himself as a reliable scorer from outside while developing a good feel for the face-up game.
Groomed as a scorer who can really bang on the interior, expect Wilson to register among the city’s leaders in rebounds next season. While he has finely tuned his shooting, he’s still learning how to handle the ball and sidestep defenders off the dribble. A pretty accurate depiction of a unicorn, Wilson has the potential to really rack up double doubles with consistency next season.
Dudley Blackwell, Somerset Pines Academy
While he earned plenty of recognition for his springboard-bouncy finishing, the transfer via Westminster is a jarringly good passer who can engineer an offense. This season, he will shift his gaze to a point forward and stretch four type of position and savor the role of playmaker. Blackwell, who has offers from high majors across the country, has also opened up a dependable outside shot to supplement his loud and theatrical above the rim game.
Being at Somerset grants Blackwell the ability to take on the alpha dog role and really take leadership matters into his own hands out there. While Westminster gave him the chance to become flanked by Division-I talent and some high-efficiency scorers, this opportunity at Somerset Pines really opens up the gate for the Class of 2020 forward to be the focal point from the very beginning.