Top performers: 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 are the top performers from the Kreul Showcase:
Amen Thompson (Pine Crest)
The 6-foot-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.
Sam Griffin, Chase Johnston (Westminster Academy)
The senior guard duo continues to do major work. Griffin had 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in a 27-point blitzing of a young Wellington squad.
Johnston added 20 points and 6 rebounds. Johnston, one of — if not the — top 3-point shooters in the state, already has made 17 this season in three games.
Griffin has signed with Texas Arlington and Johnston with Purdue Fort Wayne.
Vernon Carey Jr. (University School)
The 6-10 senior All-American poured in 29 points as the Sharks improved to 2-0 against a quality Blanche Ely squad. The 2018 Florida Mr. Basketball had 12 points in the first half and 17 over the final two quarters.
Carey plans to announce his college decision Thursday. His three finalists are Duke, Michigan State and North Carolina.
Linton Brown (Wellington)
The 6-4 senior scored 21 points in a loss to defending Class 4A state champ Westminster Academy.
Aderes Staton-McCray (Blanche Ely)
The 6-4 junior played big vs. the defending Class 5A state champions. Staton-McCray had 14 points in the first half as the Tigers stayed within three of U-School, 33-30, at the half. He finished with 16 points, including two 3-pointers.
Gertautas Urbonavicius (Cardinal Gibbons)
The 6-7 senior is the Chiefs’ go-to guy. Urbonavicius tossed in 16 points in the victory over Dwyer.
“G,” as they call him, is very versatile. He does his best work down in the paint with a variety of moves. But he can step outside and shoot, had two dunks and makes his free throws.
Will play somewhere on the next level. He led three Gibbons players in double figures.
Mikey Ingraham (Dwyer)
The 5-10 senior scored 28 of Dwyer’s 59 points during the Panthers’ first loss of the season.
I’ve watched Ingraham twice this season: He had 19 points (four 3-pointers) in a 64-57 W over Wellington and Saturday he tossed in nine field goals (five 3-pointers) on the way to a 28-point performance. Gritty player …. he will be among the state’s leaders in diving on the floor in 2018-19.
Anthony Atkinson (Westminster Academy)
If Westminster Academy is to make a deep run at Lakeland, Atkinson will have to have a big year in the middle. Saturday, he was a force posting a double-double vs. Wellington.
The 6-8 D-1 prospect scored 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. Later that night he watched his older brother, Paul, and Yale beat the Miami Hurricanes.
Jelani Heard (Monarch)
The senior transfer from Coral Springs High was Monarch’s offense in the second half of a loss to Cypress Bay.
The 6-3 Heard poured in 17 of his total 21 points in the fourth quarter. The loss was Monarch’s first in four games with victories over Flanagan, Plantation and Everglades.
Heard said his goal this season is, “to help Monarch win districts for the first time.”
Stephen Mereus (Deerfield Beach)
The 5-10 sophomore scored 18 points to help the Bucks get out to a 2-0 start. Mereus made five 3-pointers in the win over Westwood Christian.
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.