Hoops with a Heart Notebook (Part 1)

This Saturday I made the trip out to Oviedo High School for the Hoops With a Heart basketball tournament. I stayed for all of the games through 11 hours taking a few breaks here and there. Game 1 Trinity Prep 79 Lake Brantley 54  PG Javon BennettJavonBennett5'11" | CGTrinity Prep | 2022StateFL 5-8 Trinity Prep 2022 Missing his first few games of the season PG Javon BennettJavonBennett5'11" | CGTrinity Prep | 2022StateFL is back in full force. The quick shifty point guard’s play was too much for Lake Brantley on both sides of the ball as he scored 29 points and finished the game with eight steals. While Bennett lacks ideal size for a point guard he makes up for it with insane quickness, a great feel for the game and the ability to knock down 3 point shot at a high clip (5/5 on the day). Bennett is easily one of my favorite players to watch and is absolutely a scholarship level player as he already received his first offer from Stetson this spring. G Laziz TalipovLazizTalipov6'0" | CGTrinity Prep | 2021StateFL 6-0 Trinity Prep 2021  With Bennett dominating the second half Talipov made his mark on the first half scoring 16 of his 21 points including five 3-pointers. The guard has a beautiful stroke from deep and can knock them down off of the catch and shoot or running off of screens. G/F Krishen AtwalKrishenAtwal6'4" | PFTrinity Prep | 2022StateFL 6-5 Trinity Prep 2022  Standing at 6-5 in high school usually lands you playing in the post, and while Atwal defended and played a lot underneath he also displayed some perimeter skills. An above average athlete with the fluidity to play on the perimeter he looked comfortable handling the ball, knocked down three 3 pointers and made some nice reads finding his teammates for scoring opportunities. Atwal finished the game with 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and has the looks of a college basketball player at some level. C Jack KlingerJackKlinger6'7" | CLake Brantley | 2021FL 6-8 Lake Brantley 2022  When Jack KlingerJackKlinger6'7" | CLake Brantley | 2021FL got the ball near the basket two things were likely to occur, he was either going to score or get sent to the free throw line. The big man showed off some skill in the post finishing inside with either hand often through contact and had a handful of offensive rebounds for put backs. On one play a guard drove the lane drawing the help defense and dished it to Klinger for a big two handed slam. On the game Klinger finished with 21 points and likely had in the neighborhood of 10 rebounds. Having great positional size, some skill and big time grades with a 4.4 GPA and 1340 SAT the big man’s development is certainly worth tracking for college coaches……… Teammate 6-3 Declan MacFadyenDeclanMacFadyen6'1" | CGLake Brantley | 2021StateFL (2021) also impressed scoring 14 points as a knock down catch and shoot guy connecting on four three pointers. Game 2 The First Academy 61 Lake Mary 42  G/F Jayden BattleJaydenBattle6'3" | CGFirst Academy | 2021StateFL 6-3 The First Academy 2021  Battle was a problem all game long for Lake Mary using his quickness and creative handles to slash to the basket. Finishing the game with 21 points, Battle got to the free throw line at will sinking seven of his attempts. On two separate occasions he was fouled making strong drives to the hoop attempting to put defenders in posters, while he missed the dunks the fact that he tried to was impressive. ……..Teammate 6-2 Sean JohnsonSeanJohnson6'2" | CGFirst Academy | 2021StateFL (2021) was another player who left his mark on the game. An extremely intelligent player Johnson controlled the flow of the game and showed off some athleticism with some creative finishes at the basket. The senior finished the game with 16 points. PG Braeden MarshallBraedenMarshall5'10" | PGLake Mary | 2023StateFL 5-11 Lake Mary (2023)  With little practice time since his football season ended, Marshall showed some flashes of great potential on the hardwood. The lead guard is a well conditioned athlete and showed off some of his defensive back skills on the basketball court anticipating passes to get steals and transition points. The sophomore finished the game with 11 points and should only improve as he gets adjusted from football. Game 3 Mt. Dora Christian 59 Hagerty 49  PG Rodney BryantRodneyBryant6'0" | CGMount Dora Christian | 2021StateFL 6-0 Mt. Dora Christian Academy 2021  After scoring his 1000th career point last week, the senior guard was electric for the Bulldogs Saturday leading his team to a 10-point victory. Bryant scored from all over the court sinking three 3-pointers, slicing his way to the basket and scoring on runners. The lead guard finished with a game high 27 points and was complemented by non other than little brother 5-9 Isaiah BryantIsaiahBryant5'9" | PGMount Dora Christian | 2023StateFL (2023) who finished with 16. F Jason Miller 6-4 Hagerty 2021  Miller was a bright spot for a Hagerty team that struggled putting the ball in the basket. At a sturdy 6-4 with long arms Miller was able to post up, or over power smaller defenders when he attacked the basket. The senior was the leading scorer for Hagerty with 16 points………Teammate 6-3 Caleb Barber (2023) made some solid reads and flashed potential finishing the game with 12 points. He has the looks of a player who will stand out for Hagerty for years to come.