Top Performers: Miami-Dade Spring League
I traveled down to Miami-Dade this week to take in some spring league action.
Wednesday night, the Rebels — made up of players from Coral Park High — looked outstanding in taking down the Wolves (TERRA), 80-35, at Miami Dade College. Here are some of this week’s top performers.
2020 Jason Don (Coral Park)
The 6-foot-5 Don (pictured) provides the height in the middle. Active player, who gets to the rim. Plays hard and his outside shot is developing. “Definitely could be like a good D-3, NAIA kid for sure,” Coral Park coach Alejandro Ordoqui said. “His recruitment has started. A couple of D-3 schools have reached out about him. We expect a lot from him. Him and Ga’khari [Lacount] are the captains of the team.”
2020 Ga’Khari Lacount (Coral Park)
The 6-1 guard is one of the top 2020 prospects in Miami-Dade. Lacount dominated on Wednesday night. There was one stretch where he came down on offense and drilled a 3-pointer. On the ensuing possession, Lacount & Co. forced a turnover off the press and he had a beautiful no-look pass to a driving teammate. Piles up points in a hurry.
2020 Nicolas Louis-Jacques (Miami Killian)
Gang Green (Killian) whipped the Explorers (Miami Columbus), 54-27. Coach Austin Perez said he loses four of his five starters, but he is very high on Louis-Jacques. The 6-3 shooting guard had a big postseason as a junior and will be one of the top seniors in Miami-Dade in 2019-2020. Andrew Moran, by the way, is in his first year as head coach at Columbus.
2020 Devin Carter (Doral Academy)
The 2018-19 Class 7A Player of the Year is primed to have a huge spring and summer. Carter — who has already picked up scholarship offers from College of Charleston, FAU, FIU, Northern Arizona, Richmond and VCU — did what he wanted vs. Ferguson this week. “He is stronger, he is faster, he is shooting with ease,” said Oscar Gonzalez, who was coaching the Firebirds on Wednesday night. “His range is anywhere in the gym. He’s ready to make an even bigger impact than what he did last year.” Carter is playing with Team Knight on the travel circuit.
2020 Ricky Mercado (Doral Academy)
Doral Academy was knocked off one game short of making state in 2018-19. If the 2017-18 state state champions are to get back to Lakeland this coming winter, they will need Mercado and 2021 guard Matthew Warren to jump into more prominent roles. The 5-10 Mercado looked good in a 39-36 W over the Knights (Miami Sunset). Sunset starts three juniors and a sophomore.
2021 David Pazo (Coral Park)
The 6-3 junior-to-be scores at the rim. He showed excellent driving skills, often earning the and-one Wednesday. “Defensively has improved tremendously,” coach Ordoqui said. “His shot has gotten a lot better. He’s another kid like Khari — they are probably two of our hardest workers and it shows everyday.”
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com