Five Takeaways: Santa Fe Catholic v. Nature Coast Tech
Day one of the Prep Hoops Sun Bash hosted at Carrollwood Day School delivered some awesome talent over the course of four games. Nature Coast Tech & Santa Fe Catholic kicked off the event, with SFC taking home the 60-47…
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Continue ReadingDay one of the Prep Hoops Sun Bash hosted at Carrollwood Day School delivered some awesome talent over the course of four games. Nature Coast Tech & Santa Fe Catholic kicked off the event, with SFC taking home the 60-47 win. Check out the five things I learned from the matchup.
1. Santa Fe Catholic Is THIN, but it doesn’t matter.
The Hawks only have a roster of eight, and one player wasn’t able to make the event. So after the starting five, only two were seated on the bench. Still, SFC seems pretty well-conditioned. No one looked winded, everyone’s energy was up until the final whistle. And with getting the win, that tells me that EVERY player on the squad is capable of contributing.
2. SFC’s Matt Massarella is the team’s “X-Factor”.
Because he’s 5’8”, you can imagine how some opponents may sleep on the senior guard. But listen, he does a little bit of everything well enough to cause some attention. He can hit the three-ball, does a great job of breaking up cross-court passes, and penetrate the paint to quickly finish at the rim. Really enjoyed his energy.
3. Nature Coast Tech’s Orien Adams has promise.
This 6’4” junior forward was hard to contain in the post the entire game. Orien laced 25 points in the loss, but in order to really have a shot at the next level, one of two things need to happen: One, he has to create a serious set of guard skills. It’s awesome to see him as dominate as he was in the post. Although, a midrange jumper & his ball-handling needs to develop. Two, let’s say he grows four inches over the summer while ALSO working on the J & the handles. You’d have a problem, Houston.
4. Javon Bell is a top-two player on his team.
Only a junior, Bell proved he was one of the best players on the floor vs. NCT. The 6’4” guard earned 17 points, including going 3-of-3 from the line. He has range from beyond the arc, and can stop & pop for the midrange J. On the drive, he absorbs contact well for and-ones. One defense, Bell can made his presence felt by denying a couple shots at the rim.
5. Joe Stubbs is DYNAMIC.
Another junior guard that is a problem for defenses, Joe Stubbs has a motor that doesn’t quit. Stubbs snagged a team-high 19 points in the game, did it in a variety of ways. Whether by a vicious dunk, from behind the three-point line, the elbow jumper, an and-one, or at the free-throw line, Stubbs can really make defenses frustrated by how active he plays at all times. Looking forward to seeing where he ends up.