Practice Breakdown: Miami Norland
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I made my way over to Miami Gardens to watch the practice of Miami Norland. The Vikings are coming of an 18-10 overall record led by coach Lawton Williams. Norland will be looking to replacing scoring production from Jahvon Smith…
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Continue ReadingI made my way over to Miami Gardens to watch the practice of Miami Norland. The Vikings are coming of an 18-10 overall record led by coach Lawton Williams. Norland will be looking to replacing scoring production from Jahvon Smith (12.6 Ppg) and Ricky Bush Ricky Bush 6'0" | CG Norland | 2020 State FL (8.7 Ppg). Smith, who is now at Florida A&M, also led the Vikings in assists (4.1) and steals (2.0) per game. Miami Norland has a rich basketball tradition and have won six state championships.
The Vikings kickoff the 2020-2021 season with a matchup against Coral Gables on Friday.
Let’s jump into the breakdown…
2024 Marcus Allen Marcus Allen 6'4" | SF West Orange | 2021 State FL has all the physical tools to be one of the top freshman in the region. Allen is a versatile guard/forward with impressive 6-foot-6 size. The young Viking looked strong around the rim and was disruptive in passing lanes. Allen will undoubtedly get stronger and mold out some of his interior moves. Coach Williams’ rigorous practices should toughen him up as well.
2022 Cameron Johnson Cameron Johnson 6'5" | SF Norland | 2022 State FL is probably the Vikings go-to option and best player. The 6-foot-4 wing averaged a team-best 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds last season as a sophomore. Moreover, Johnson reached double-figures in 21 of 27 recorded games. One of those contests was a season-high 30 points on 12-of-19 from the field against state champion Miramar. His athletic length also accounted for 14 games with seven or more rebounds. Johnson looked smooth running the floor in transition while elevating at the basket. He will be counted on as a team leader behind a young Vikings squad.
2022 Lionel Swaby Lionel Swaby 6'7" | PF Norland | 2022 State FL impressed me with his interior play throughout the night. The 6-foot-7 forward was strong on the glass and effective as a rim protector. Therefore, Swaby has the length to alter/block shots that come his way. On the offensive end, his physical capabilities make him a nice option to finish around the rim. I really liked what I saw from him throughout the night.
2021 Malik Siggers Malik Siggers 6'0" | CG Norland | 2021 State FL appears to be the floor general for the Vikings. The 5-foot-8 point guard has a strong handle and looked poised running the offense in drills. Siggers brings an element of toughness to the backcourt that should rub off on the rest of the team. The Vikings have a lot of young players in the backcourt (see below) that Siggers can help develop. However, Siggers is much more than a senior leader as he is capable scorer at the rim. Albany State (GA) offered him over the summer.
2022 Christian Campbell Christian Campbell 6'2" | CG Norland | 2022 State FL looked as physically defined as any player on the practice floor. The 6-foot-4 Campbell has that “big guard” look and showed his toughness on loose ball drills. Campbell has athletic versatility and is capable knocking down shots from the wing.
I thought 2024’s Triston Wilson Triston Wilson 5'11" | PG Dr. Krop | 2023 FL and Clarence Burt Clarence Burt 5'0" | C FL s were two of the Vikings most consistent shot makers during practice. The 6-foot-3 pair looked confident with their stroke as they knocked down shots from the outside. They give the Vikings nice depth at both the two and the three. Wilson also tossed some nice passes to Swaby on the interior and played strong defense. He is the grandson of local rep Frederica Wilson.
2022 Adefemi Akinwole Adefemi Akinwole 6'0" | PG Miami Norland | 2022 State FL brings added depth to the Vikings backcourt. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game last season for Norland. In addition, Akinwole played well last season against some big time competition. Against South Miami, Akinwole scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. 2022 Isiah Joseph is another player to watch that received burn as a freshman. The 6-foot-2 shooting guard scored a season-high 14 points against Hialeah-Miami Lakes. 2023 Carl Parrish Carl Parrish 6'3" | PG Miami Norland Sr | 2023 State FL is a 6-foot-1 guard capable of knocking down outside shots. The roundup of this paragraph really emphasizes the quality of backcourt options the Vikings have.
Overall Breakdown: Miami Norland ran one of the more physical and well-conditioned practices I have seen thus far this season. Players were constantly running and fighting for loose balls throughout practice. The coaching staff was working players during drills and even running the floor themselves. Coach Williams presides over a young roster that will toughen up under his tutelage. He is a championship level coach that knows how to get things done. Look for Allen to really blossom over the course of the year.
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