Week 3 Scouting: Top Performers
Week Three of the FHSAA season is officially in the books. COVID-19 has caused cancellations all over the state but there were still plenty of games to watch. I went out to three games prior to Saturday’s second annual Sun…
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Continue ReadingWeek Three of the FHSAA season is officially in the books.
COVID-19 has caused cancellations all over the state but there were still plenty of games to watch. I went out to three games prior to Saturday’s second annual Sun Bash Miami at Westminster Christian which featured five matchups. Recaps from that to follow.
Tuesday
Central Florida Christian 68, Seffner Christian 48
Wednesday
Durant 66, Alonso 57
Thursday
Calvary Christian 85, Lakewood Ranch 68
Here is a look at the standouts from the three games in the week.
Jonathan Caicedo Jonathan Caicedo 6'7" | CG Hoover | 2023 AL & Tristan Gross Tristan Gross 6'4" | CG St. Pete | 2023 State #194 Nation FL Ι Calvary Christian
On Thursday night, Calvary Christian scored in bunches. 2023 6-5 forward Jonathan Caicedo Jonathan Caicedo 6'7" | CG Hoover | 2023 AL was in a groove all game long, scoring a game-best 28 points. He had a trio of knock down 3’s in the first half and then attacked over and over in the second half with success. Caicedo is a fine talent who is just getting going.
…Alongside Caicedo is fellow 2023 guard Tristan Gross Tristan Gross 6'4" | CG St. Pete | 2023 State #194 Nation FL , a 6-4 guard who is a gifted shooter. Earning an SMU offer a few months back, he is really developing a knack for his driving ability which pairs with his advanced handles. Gross is shifty and at his best when he is aggressive. He had 18 points this one and some big attacks in the fourth quarter.
Jaylen Wharton Jaylen Wharton 6'8" | PF Durant | 2021 State FL Ι 6-9 Ι Durant
I was flat out impressed by Jaylen Wharton Jaylen Wharton 6'8" | PF Durant | 2021 State FL on Wednesday night in front of his home crowd. The 2021 big man had a quiet opening half but he was lethal in the third and fourth quarter when Durant moved ahead and battled. He scored 12 of his game-high 23 points in the win over Alonso in the fourth quarter. He didn’t miss from the mid-range spot in the second half and he was routinely using his length to hit and play with energy and poise. Wharton is a long-bodied senior prospect to keep a close eye on.
Nicholas Rodriguez Nicholas Rodriguez 6'0" | CG Central Florida Christian | 2022 State FL & Tae Jones Ι Central Florida Christian
Central Florida Christian is always a contender in Class 2A and this year is no different with some special guard play and long athletes in place. 2022 6-0 guard Nicholas Rodriguez Nicholas Rodriguez 6'0" | CG Central Florida Christian | 2022 State FL had 16 points and a slew of assists as he controlled the tempo and set up his teammates time and time again versus Seffner Christian. He threw down a pair of alley-oops to Jamar Houston Jamar Houston 6'2" | CG Central Florida Christian Academy | 2022 State FL and Imanuel Zorgvol Imanuel Zorgvol 6'10" | C Central Florida Christian | 2021 State FL in the second half (more on them below).
…Perhaps the biggest breakout performer was 2024 5-9 guard Tae Jones. I thought the entire game he was a senior simply by the way he played. He has endless confidence, burst and can hurt you in the blink of an eye. He scored 17 points and pairs so well with Rodriguez’s high IQ point guard play.
…Houston and Zorgvol each added 10 points. Houston, a 2022 6-2 guard is one of the top athletes you’ll see in the state and he proved it with a variety of finishes. Zorgvol, a 2021 forward was a standout defensively with a sequence in the second quarter with back to back blocks and his offensive game is coming together at his 7-0 frame.
Andres Junge Andres Junge 6'4" | CG Lakewood Ranch | 2022 State FL & Ian Rodriguez Ian Rodriguez 5'11" | PG Lakewood Ranch | 2023 FL Ι Lakewood Ranch
This is a young Lakewood Ranch program but things will pick up quickly from the always steady Sarasota area program. Andres Junge Andres Junge 6'4" | CG Lakewood Ranch | 2022 State FL and Ian Rodriguez Ian Rodriguez 5'11" | PG Lakewood Ranch | 2023 FL each posted 25 point nights against Calvary Christian. It was Rodriguez, a 2023 5-8 guard who was red hot in the opening half and hit some important shots and floaters. Junge, a 2022 6-4 guard (holds an Eastern Washington offer) got going in the second half and kept his side right in the game with his aggressive play and jumpers.
…2022 6-2 guard Jay’Den Clarke-Jones Jay’Den Clarke-Jones 6'2" | PG Lakewood Ranch | 2022 State FL had 10 points and has so much breakout potential. He’s a mature and quick-twitch ballhandler who holds this offense down.
Tripp Burdgess Tripp Burdgess 6'7" | PF Alonso | 2021 State FL & Trent Scott Trent Scott 6'4" | CG Alonso | 2022 State FL Ι Alonso
Alonso was right in it against Durant because of the steady play of Tripp Burdgess Tripp Burdgess 6'7" | PF Alonso | 2021 State FL and Trent Scott Trent Scott 6'4" | CG Alonso | 2022 State FL . Burdgess, a 2021 6-8 big man is an absolute load inside and actually has a smooth jumper, hitting a 3-pointer from the top of the key in the second quarter. He led his side with 17 points and continues to play good basketball. Scott, a 2022 6-3 guard is flourishing and very comfortable as the lead man. Scoring 15 points, he is a no non-sense point man who never gets rattled and is locked in at all times. His attacking ability is a true separator.
Terrence Northcutt Ι 6-3 Ι Seffner Christian
A long football season brought back the two-sport athletes on Tuesday night and Seffner Christian is still sorting out its rotations. 2021 6-3 guard Terrence Northcutt was the best thing rolling for his side with 13 points. He is a talented spot-up shooter who loves the corner spots to shoot. 2021 6-6 guard/forward Willie Jones Willie Jones 6'6" | SG Seffner Christian | 2021 State FL had to work for all eight of his points against a long and quick Central Florida Christian defense.
ICYMI
Week 1 Scouting: Top Performers
Week 2 Scouting: Top Performers
2021 Durant forward Jaylen Wharton Jaylen Wharton 6'8" | PF Durant | 2021 State FL (@Virginiamadejay) was flat out lethal from the mid-range, netting 12 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter alone. He didn’t miss a single attempt over the final eight minutes. @DurantBoysBball @coachhayes15 @ShowtimeBoyzz pic.twitter.com/PIfLRaaNzg
— ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) December 10, 2020