Majors Watch: South Florida
It has been a great week for South Florida basketball. Players from across the region have picked up major scholarship offers from schools around the country. The hard work and commitment these athletes have put into their craft deserves immense praise.
Additionally, many of the area’s next biggest stars have been gaining steam on their individual recruitment’s. In this next piece, I would like to highlight some of the players receiving an uptick in communication.
Aidan Abell Aidan Abell 6'6" | SG Westminster Academy | 2022 State FL – Westminster Academy
6-foot-5 Aidan Abell Aidan Abell 6'6" | SG Westminster Academy | 2022 State FL has flown up the recruitment trajectory over the past couple of months. The 2022 combo guard averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals per game for the Lions last season. Moreover, his shooting splits make him a coveted prospect for college programs. Abell shot 50% from the field, 44% from 3-point range and 85% from the free-throw line. His natural size and 6-foot-8 wingspan makes him a tough match-up for opposing guards on both ends of the floor. Furthermore, his quickness allows him to get to his spot and finish at the rim. If you leave him too much space, Abell has a quick release that allows him to accelerate his shooting motion. The rising junior has a high basketball IQ and a equally impressive 3.6 GPA in the classroom. Abell is in a great spot at Westminster Academy and will continue to grow with the talent around him. As you see below, I expect more Power 5 schools to come calling.
Recent Interests: College of Charleston, Miami (OH), Kent State, Loyola-Chicago, Mercer, UC-San Diego, Davidson, Northeastern, Florida Atlantic, Eastern Kentucky and Clemson.
Andrew Akuchie Andrew Akuchie 6'8" | PF St. Thomas Aquinas | 2022 State FL – St. Thomas Aquinas
Over the past year, I have spoken highly of Akuchie as a player who showed tremendous improvement from the beginning of the high school season to the end. With the recent departures of 2021 Logan Lord and 2021 Tristan Goldstein Tristan Goldstein 6'6" | PF Cypress Bay | 2021 State FL , Akuchie should embrace the challenge of becoming the Raiders go to factor. The 6-foot-8 Akuchie has natural athleticism that is unique for his size. Specifically, the 2022 forward plays very quick coming off either side of the wing. With an edge on the perimeter, Akuchie can blossom with continuous work on his footwork and post moves in the paint. Naturally, a lot of these areas will improve as he puts on more weight in the gym. It also doesn’t hurt that Akuchie has strong athletic bloodlines with Matthew and Micheal running through the Aquinas system. With all of those things considered, Akuchie can be a major problem over his final two seasons of high school.
Recent Interests: Yale, DePaul, Florida Gulf Coast, Utah State and Wofford.
Rickey Ballard Rickey Ballard 6'6" | CG Westminster | 2022 State FL – Sagemont
The first thing that jumps off the page about Ballard is his size. The 2022 has the natural measurements you look for at 6-foot-6 for the guard position. Quite frankly, finding a player bigger in this region will be few and far between. Ballard helped Sagemont to a 19-9 record and played well against elite competition. Against Westminster Academy, Ballard scored a season-high 16 points. The rising junior shoots the ball extremely well and has a strong finish at the rim. Additionally, Ballard is active on the glass thanks to his length. On the defensive end, Ballard can disrupt passing lanes and moves quickly from sideline to sideline. Off the court, he holds a solid 3.2 GPA.
Recent Interests: Florida Atlantic, Loyola-Chicago, Marshall, Liberty, Appalachian State and Mercer.
Sergey Grishaev Sergey Grishaev 6'10" | C Sagemont | 2021 State FL – Sagemont
Keeping it in the family, Grishaev is another locomotive for head coach David Roe. The 6-foot-9 forward moves well for a player of his size and has a good handle when he attacks the basket for a lay-up. Moreover, the 2021 has the ability to stretch the floor and hit from outside. Additionally, Grishaev can be highly lethal off ball screens from around the arc. The rising senior plays with good leverage on defense and is a strong rim protector in face to face situations and off weak side help. Check out some of his highlights by clicking here.
Recent Interests: Loyola-Chicago, Toledo and Lipscomb.
For any South Florida Prep Hoops news or information…please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 on Instagram or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23.