Top Shelf Passers: Florida
Andrew Nembhard, Montverde
It would be difficult to compile any list of the nation’s best passers without putting the dish-first Nembhard atop. At 6-foot-3, the Florida signee has a purity of vision that only a select few can replicate at this level. Adept at triggering the transition game and kicking in timely passes while facilitating Monteverde’s high low game, Nembhard had seven or more assists in countless big performances this past season. He was particularly proficient on the national stages, doling out a staggering 13 assists in Montverde’s 76-58 throttling of University School in the GEICO National High School Invitational.
Flanked by perilous scoring threats such as Duke-signee R.J. Barrett, Georgia Tech signee Mike Devoe, and 7-foot-1 high major prospect Balsa Koprivica, Nembhard had a wealth of options to work with.
He sacrificed his own scoring to make his teammates beneficiaries of his pinpoint passes. Nembhard is a highly effective interior passer who can dish inside traffic or on the run in cerebral style. Nembhard, a spot up 3-point shooter and all around scorer, spent the Jordan Brand Classic dispelling the notion he wasn’t as athletic as others at his position. The Class of 2018 guard scored nine points, dished six assists and grabbed nine boards in the showcase style event, soaring for a one-handed dunk in the second half.
Dudley Blackwell, Westminster
An uber athletic 6-foot-6 prospect with a versatile set of scoring tools, Blackwell is a better passer than people think. When he’s focused on being sound in all facets of his game, he’s got the potential to churn out a triple double.
During several games this season, Blackwell put his superior passing on full display. His timing and IQ play a pivotal role with his ability to make the right pass. Of course, with the program’s all time leading scorer in Zach Scott graduating in June, Blackwell will inherit some ownership of the program alongside veteran sharpshooter Chase Johnston. The onus is on Blackwell to ramp up his work ethic. If he buys in and plays to his potential, he’s got the ability to be a 20+PPG scorer.
Maxime Demeus, Boca High
Like the others before him, Demeus certainly had the luxury of playing alongside some prolific scorers. That includes Rollins-signee Cade Long, a 1000+ point scorer who concluded his career as the program’s all time leading scorer.
Demeus has natural leadership instincts out there, ability to deliver smooth passes and fireballs. He’s got the vocal leader concept and team concept ingrained in his brain. Because of this, Boca tends to go as Demeus goes.
The Class of 2019 guard averaged 16.2 points, a team-best 6.1 assists, and 4.3 boards. Florida Atlantic, along with UMass, have put scholarship offers on the table. With newly minted FAU coach Dusty May inheriting the program, making Demeus a priority would be a pivotal first step in aggressively recruiting homegrown local talent.
Ben Lubarsky, Benjamin
The big 6-foot-7, 215-pound lefty is known as a scorer. A smooth stroke from outside and a crafty around the rim game cemented Lubarsky as one of the state’s elite scorers as a junior this past season. Yet he’s also a creative and heady passer.
This aspect of his game allowed him to be multi-positional on a smaller Benjamin lineup that did not feature a true big. Lubarsky showed natural ability in putting the ball on the floor and whizzing interior passes as he became more of a facilitator throughout the season.
David Perez-Miralles, Riviera Prep
The 6-foot Class of 2020 guard is certainly score first in his mentality. His craftiness and ability to get into the teeth and finish are most notable about his game.
Yet his motor, ability to get up and down the court in controlled fashion and beat defenders off the dribble enable him to make heads up passes. He’s also shown an ability to carve through defenses and find a defender for an astonishingly open look around the rim.
Diego Rivera, Miami Christian Prep
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard has long been groomed to take over the quarterback reins following the graduation of Neftali Alvarez. Alvarez, a surgical passer who tallied numerous double digit assists performances these past few seasons, has big shoes to fill for any guard at the high school level. Rivera has a smooth handle and a knack for reads.
He’s also shown to be a plenty capable scorer when he needs to call his own number. Miami Christian’s affinity for the team concept has reared its head, as they love to kick in that extra pass and are selfless in sacrificing their own shots for a better look.
Drue Drinnon, University School
One year after being the table setter for one of country’s best scorers in now one and done prospect Collin Sexton, Drinnon was a calming influence with the basketball for a national power.
The University School senior and New Mexico signee was able to orchestrate an uptempo and hellfire offensive featuring the top-ranked Class of 2019 prospect in Vernon Carey and one of the country’s premiere 2020 prospects in Scottie Barnes.
Drinnon’s tight handle and cross overs were essential ingredients in spearheading Adrian Sosa’s team, which went from relative obscurity to a GEICO National High School Invitational berth in one year.