FHSAA State Tournament: Day 2 Top Performers
LAKELAND – Six semifinal games were played at RP Funding Center on Friday between 4A-6A. College coaches from UCF, Oklahoma State, FAU, USF, Florida College, Lynn, Warner, St. Leo, FGCU, Barry University and Polk State College all made appearances to…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLAKELAND – Six semifinal games were played at RP Funding Center on Friday between 4A-6A.
College coaches from UCF, Oklahoma State, FAU, USF, Florida College, Lynn, Warner, St. Leo, FGCU, Barry University and Polk State College all made appearances to watch the action.
4A
Stranahan 59, Paxon 54
Tampa Catholic 65, Lake Highland Prep 54
5A
Rickards 59, Sebring 44
Pembroke Pines Charter 81, Naples 71
6A
Dillard 71, Columbia 66 (2 OT)
Bartow 68, East Lake 57
ICYMI: Day 1 Top Performers
Isaiah Adams Isaiah Adams 6'7" | PF Paxon | 2020 State #117 Nation FL (Paxon)
In what turned out to be the final high school game of his career, 2020 6’6″ Paxon guard/forward Isaiah Adams Isaiah Adams 6'7" | PF Paxon | 2020 State #117 Nation FL finished things off with a 29-point, nine rebound and three block performance. The Golden Eagles found themselves in a shooting slump in the fourth quarter and Adams fought until the very last whistle. The UCF signee was playing in front of his future head coach in Johnny Dawkins and a top assistant. Adams will flourish at the next level as he adds more muscle and continues to be a shooting threat and defensive standout.
Dallas Graziani Dallas Graziani 5'7" | CG Pembroke Pines Charter | 2020 State FL & Amarachi Ujagbor Amarachi Ujagbor 6'6" | PF Pembroke Pines | 2020 State FL (Pembroke Pines)
A true gamer, 2020 5’8″ Nova Southeastern commit Dallas Graziani Dallas Graziani 5'7" | CG Pembroke Pines Charter | 2020 State FL led Pembroke Pines with 29 points in a victory over Naples. He shot an impressive 15-of-15 from the free throw line and was a pest defensively on steals and offensively as a smart shooter. Pacing him was 2020 6’6″ forward Amarachi Ujagbor Amarachi Ujagbor 6'6" | PF Pembroke Pines | 2020 State FL who had 20 points and 10 rebounds and shot 9-of-11 from the field. He was working in the paint, simply getting to work.
Walter Clayton Walter Clayton 6'3" | PG Bartow | 2021 State #218 Nation FL & Joshua Simons Joshua Simons 6'3" | SF Bartow | 2020 State FL (Bartow)
Bartow ran away with the final game of the night behind its leaders, 2021 guard Walter Clayton Walter Clayton 6'3" | PG Bartow | 2021 State #218 Nation FL (21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists) and 2020 forward Joshua Simons Joshua Simons 6'3" | SF Bartow | 2020 State FL (16 points and 14 rebounds). Both players were powerful driving and making life hard on the boards for East Lake, scoring and slashing time and time again.
Kenney Gaines & Darrien Jones (Columbia)
Combining for 44 points, 2020 guards Kenney Gaines and Darrien Jones were an absolute joy to watch in a two overtime affair with Dillard. Gaines had 24 points and was the best shooter on the floor. Jones had 20 points on a nice 8-of-13 shooting on the night and was impressive as a speedy and quick twitch point guard keeping Dillard off balance a lot. Both players work well off one another.
Ivan Reynolds Ivan Reynolds 6'4" | SF Dillard | 2020 State FL & Jalen Haynes Jalen Haynes 6'8" | PF Dillard | 2020 State #327 Nation FL (Dillard)
Forcing double overtime, 2020 guard Ivan Reynolds Ivan Reynolds 6'4" | SF Dillard | 2020 State FL hit a buzzer beater that kept his team afloat and Dillard eventually won the game. He finished with 14 points and seven rebounds while fellow 2020 6’8″ forward Jalen Haynes Jalen Haynes 6'8" | PF Dillard | 2020 State #327 Nation FL had 17 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out late. It was a hard nosed effort from the Panthers, who are searching for state title No. 8 on Saturday.
Johni Broome Johni Broome 6'8" | PF Tampa Catholic | 2020 State FL & Marcellus Crutchfield Marcellus Crutchfield 6'0" | CG Tampa Catholic | 2020 State FL (Tampa Catholic)
Starting off a little shy, it was 2020 6’9″ forward Johni Broome Johni Broome 6'8" | PF Tampa Catholic | 2020 State FL with 22 points and 12 rebounds putting it all together midway through the first quarter. He never looked back and shot an efficient 8-of-13 from the field. Broome was too much in the second half for the Lake Highland Prep defense as he simply continued to wear them down. It was also a very effective outing from 2020 6’1″ guard Marcellus Crutchfield Marcellus Crutchfield 6'0" | CG Tampa Catholic | 2020 State FL who had 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field. A football player as well, Crutchfield is very quick with the ball in his hands and he’s able to create for himself and others because of it.
Thaddeus Squire Thaddeus Squire 6'5" | CG Stranahan | 2021 State FL , Inady Legiste Inady Legiste 6'6" | PF Stranahan | 2020 State FL & Chayse Culpepper Chayse Culpepper 6'0" | CG Stranahan | 2020 State FL (Stranahan)
The continuity that Stranahan plays with is impressive. Back after a state title win a season ago, the Mighty Dragons were led by trio 2021 6’3″ guard Thaddeus Squire Thaddeus Squire 6'5" | CG Stranahan | 2021 State FL (14 points and 10 rebounds), 2020 6’6″ forward Inady Legiste Inady Legiste 6'6" | PF Stranahan | 2020 State FL (12 points) and 2020 6’1″ guard Chayse Culpepper Chayse Culpepper 6'0" | CG Stranahan | 2020 State FL (13 points). Squire had a quick start with his team’s first seven points and was a beast on the boards. His long arms and athleticism helped the pace of his team. Legiste was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and he played wise around the rim. Culpepper was key in the closing minutes with big buckets and frequent trips to the free throw line.
Dionte Blanch Dionte Blanch 6'4" | SG East Lake | 2020 State #215 Nation FL (East Lake)
In his final high school game, 2020 Murray State signee Dionte Blanch Dionte Blanch 6'4" | SG East Lake | 2020 State #215 Nation FL did all he could for an East Lake team that was down double digits for much of the second half. He had 22 points and seven rebounds finishing as the leader for the Eagles. It was a great run for East Lake and Blanch grew with every game over the years with his squad. He will flourish as he gets stronger at the next level.
Jared Berry Jared Berry 5'9" | CG Lake Highland Prep | 2022 State FL (Lake Highland Prep)
You have to love the effort from 2022 5’9″ guard Jared Berry Jared Berry 5'9" | CG Lake Highland Prep | 2022 State FL . In a game that Lake Highland Prep led 32-27, Berry was finishing often at the point of attack and weaving past the lengthy Tampa Catholic defense. He keeps his offense moving and in a game where 2020 guard Victor Brown Victor Brown 6'4" | PF Lake Highland Prep | 2020 State FL fouled out in the fourth quarter and 2022 guard Brice Sensabaugh Brice Sensabaugh 6'6" | PF Lake Highland Prep | 2022 State #104 Nation FL (leg) was not in uniform, Berry was tasked with a big outing and he showed up.
Zackary White Zackary White 6'3" | CG Rickards | 2020 State FL & A’Drelin Robinson (Rickards)
The mid-range jumper from 2020 6’2″ guard Zackary White Zackary White 6'3" | CG Rickards | 2020 State FL was falling for him as he totaled 20 points and 11 rebounds leading the way for Rickards. A strong bruiser, he impressed me with his patience and persistence leading the charge. Fellow guard, 2021 5’10” guard A’Drelin Robinson was doing plenty for a fastpaced Raiders team searching for state title No. 5. He had 16 points and his speed and advanced ballhandling ability hurts defenses.
Byntley Theork (Naples)
For Naples, 2021 guard Byntley Theork played fast and hard for a Golden Eagles unit that lost pace late with Pembroke Pines. You have to like the energy and true assertiveness that the true athlete Theork played with. He is a big piece of this squad.
Ryan Brown (Sebring)
2021 5’10” guard Ryan Brown led Sebring with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. He was the top scoring threat for the Blue Streaks. 2021 6’5″ forward Alvin Tumblin Alvin Tumblin 6'6" | SF Santa Fe Catholic | 2021 State FL didn’t shoot too well but ended with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He is very athletic and his potential is clear.