Most Intriguing Prospects: Booker at Riverview
With just under two minutes left in Monday night’s game at Riverview, 2019 Booker guard Johnnie Williams had just four points.
That didn’t stop him from making the biggest play of the night with the score tied at 55. He had a putback dunk (video seen below) that shook the whole gym and he followed that up with another dunk on the following play in transition.
Booker held on for a 62-57 victory at Sarasota Riverview. The Tornadoes trailed by as much as 13 in the opening quarter to rally back in front of a near sold out crowd at Riverview.
2019 Booker G Johnnie Williams saved the best for last with a massive putback dunk in a 62-57 win over Riverview. @workpassmylimit @Wade_Elite @BookerBBall @GreenLightViews pic.twitter.com/yQ7xAJIfTB
— ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) December 11, 2018
Here is a look at the most intriguing prospects from the evening.
Johnnie Williams (Booker)
As mentioned above, it was Johnnie Williams who won the game for Booker. Despite early foul trouble and not much offensive output, the 2019 6’5″ guard stuck with his roots and saved his best antics during clutch time. The passion and persistence that Williams plays with is something that is fun to watch and that colleges love to see. He finished with eight points, but there weren’t two bigger ones than the go-ahead dunk with just under two minutes left.
Malachi Wideman (Riverview)
Shots weren’t falling for 2020 6’5″ guard Malachi Wideman as much as they normally do. The junior had 14 points which were highlighted by some super athletic dunks in the third quarter. However, Booker held him scoreless in both the second and fourth quarter. Wideman was at his best when he took the ball to the rack. He likes to shoot and can at times, but his combination of speed and length is what can carry him as an attacker.
Jordan Clark (Booker)
At times it certainly didn’t look fun for 2019 6’3″ guard Jordan Clark. However, the senior leader fought through the contact on numerous occasions to finish with a team-best 16 points. Clark was scrappy on the boards, attacking often no matter who guarded him and continues to grind in all four quarters of games. He was the only player in the game to score in every quarter.
Alain Kalisa (Riverview)
2020 guard Alain Kalisa scored a team-high 17 points including four 3-pointers. The junior had a pair of 3’s in both the first and fourth quarter. A Riverview staff member yelled to Kalisa early after his second triple in the opening quarter that it was “his night” and it turned out to be quite a performance from the undersized guard. Kalisa surprised me with his floor stretching ability and is someone who can be a mismatch moving forward alongside the deep group of athletes Riverview has.
Curtis Butler Jr. (Booker)
Scoring 11 of his 13 points in the second half, 2021 6’3″ guard Curtis Butler Jr. really gave Booker strong minutes when it needed it the most. He accounted for seven straight points in the third quarter alone. Butler Jr. is still young and makes mistakes as a passer, but he is a high IQ player, who is blazing fast and learns on the go. He is someone the Tornadoes can ask to do a lot night in and night out.
Jayven Millien (Riverview)
It was a fast start for 2021 6’6″ forward Jayven Millien. He opened up the first quarter with six points, giving his side tons of energy and effort. Booker used a variety of defenders on him the rest of the way as he finished with 10 points. Regardless, his dunking ability and pure grittiness inside is what stood out. Millien is coming along nicely in his sophomore campaign and is someone who can develop quickly.
Tavon Beard (Booker JV)
The Booker and Riverview JV game was quite entertaining before the feature varsity matchup. 2022 Booker forward Tavon Beard proved to be a man amongst boys in the JV game. He had a ridiculous one-handed block at the halftime buzzer that got the entire Booker varsity team running onto the floor to celebrate. Beard stuck with his shot in the second half and buried 3’s from the corner time and time again. He’s a prospect to watch from here on out.