Top freshmen/sophomores: Kreul Showcase (Day 2)
I drove up to Monarch High School in Coconut Creek on Saturday (Dec. 1) to cover Day 2 of the Kreul Showcase tournament. Saturday’s six final scores were:
University School 62, Blanche Ely 52
Westminster Academy 92, Wellington 65
Pine Crest 56, Heritage-Plantation 51
Cardinal Gibbons 63, Dywer 59
Deerfield Beach 40, Westwood Christian 31
Cypress Bay 48, Monarch 42
Here is a list of the top freshmen and sophomores that competed on Day 2 of the Kreul Showcase:
Charles Anyichie, Westminster Academy (2021)
The 6-foot-7 sophomore provides depth inside for Westminster Academy behind Anthony Atkinson and Ben Middlebrooks. A native of Nigeria, Anyichie is in his first year in the United States.
Anyichie (pictured above) has shown excellent leaping ability and low-post strength. He scored 8 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in the victory over Wellington on Saturday. He added 6 points in the W over Miami Palmetto on Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Asked what is different here in the States, he said, “Here is different. We have hamburgers, ketchup. It is different for me.”
Eros Carpio, Pine Crest (2021)
The 6-3 Carpio did most of his damage from the free-throw line on in.
The sophomore hit eight field goals — five in the second half — of a 56-51 victory over American Heritage-Plantation. He wears No. 12.
Pine Crest has one senior on its roster in Brian Anderson.
Troy Boynton, Cardinal Gibbons (2021)
The 6-3 1/2 shooting guard transferred from Westminster Academy to Cardinal Gibbons for “a bigger role,” he said. Boynton scored 10 second-half points for coach Devin Barta is the Chiefs’ 63-59 victory over Dwyer.
Boynton is a shooter, but drives it to the hoop hard. Says he would like to keep working on his handle.
Stetson and North Florida have offered and Colgate is showing interest.
Trey Perry, Wellington (2021)
The Wellington staff is counting on the 6-3 sophomore to have a big year.
Handles the ball well, good driver. Wellington is coming off a 31-1 season and has a lot of inexperience.
Ben Middlebrooks, Westminster Academy (2022)
Three games in and Middlebooks is already not playing like a freshman.
At 6-7/6-8, Middlebrooks can shoot the 3 and is a proven rebounder down low with senior Anthony Atkinson. He had 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks in the W over Wellington.
Amen Thompson, Pine Crest (2022)
The 6-3 freshman guard did an amazing job driving to the basket in a five-point win over American Heritage-Plantation.
Thompson finished with nine field goals on the way to a 21-point performance for Pine Crest (2-1). Eight of the nine field goals were layups and the odd one out was about a 3-footer. Very good finisher with good body control.
Ausar Thompson, Pine Crest (2022)
Ausar, the brother of Amen Thompson, pumped in 14 points in the win over American Heritage. The 6-3 freshman made two 3-pointers and was the primary ball-handler.
Stephan Mereus, Deerfield Beach (2021)
The 5-10 sophomore guard sparked the Bucks to the W over Westwood Christian. Mereus scored 18 points, including five 3-pointers.
Jose Amat III, Westwood Christian (2022)
The son of the coach is Westwood’s leader, despite being just a 5-8 freshman. Good vision. The Warriors have one senior on their roster.
Kellen Cashman, American Heritage (2023)
Cashman is actually just an eighth-grader. But the young point guard deserves mention as Heritage’s staff had him on the floor late in a tight game vs. Pine Crest. Cashman finished with 5 points. The Patriots have one senior on their roster in 6-5 Masai Olowokere.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com or via text at 954-661-9671.