Back To The Future: 2020 and 2019 Prospects
Elijah Lubin, Miami Central
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound guard plays with a poise and a swagger.
A pesky defender who has shown he can be very shifty and pioneer the downhill game at times, Lubin had a breakout sophomore campaign this past season. The Class of 2020 prospect has developed a dependable outside shot and tactical scoring presence as well.
Lubin has grown into a facilitator, scorer, and a reliable on-ball defender. If he can continue to be aggressive in creating his own shot, expect him to ascend the food chain of the top 2020 prospects in Miami next season.
He will surely inherit some leadership of the program and embrace the onus of leading by action.
Markhi Strickland, Florida Christian
The 6-foot-6 guard/forward is long, athletic, and is reliable in all of the little things. He can guard multiple positions on the floor and really carve his way into the rim. If he can develop a consistent mid-range game and stretch out defenders, he will inevitably add value to his stock.
He’s got all of the intangibles as far as a glue guy who can block and alter the trajectory of shots. How well he develops ball skills and grows with both his handle and shot creation will ultimately determine the role he takes on next year.
Lee Flenor, South Miami
The quintessential hustle guy and stabilizing force on the boards, Flenor has been instrumental in the hot start from Team Autonation this spring.
He’s got the build and athleticism, flying all over the court and providing timely rebounds and put-backs. Flenor has been primarily a supplemental piece on a star-spangled lineup headlined by his cousin, All-State point guard Toru Dean.
Flenor was one of the city’s leaders in double doubles last year as an athletic four-man. He’s got a knack for scoring inside and throwing fakes, which defenders at this level routinely bite on. Expect much of the same in 2018-19.
John Square, Florida Christian
Expect the bullish and athletic 6-foot-5 Class of 2020 prospect to be on constant double double watch next season.
Square was Florida Christian’s featured scorer throughout this past season, a constant threat to knife into defenders and score at or above the rim. He also was a mainstay on the glass, where he overpowers the interior with supreme physicality and instinctive play.
RJ Duhart, Atlantic Delray Beach
The 6-foot-8 forward is a skilled interior finisher with an array of post moves and an advanced face up game.
He’s improved incrementally at not only beating slower defenders to the rim but popping that 18-20 footer. Duhart bought into the leadership role as a junior this past season, sparking game-altering scoring surges and piecing together 20+ point performances when necessary.
The Class of 2019 prospect will be a key core returner next season. He’s earned an offer from Florida Gulf Coast and would be an ideal target for a mid-major program.
He’s in the process of establishing a fluid 3-point shot and diversifying his all around skill set.
Ben Smith, Palm Glades
The 6-foot-3 Class of 2019 guard is thrust into an important role as Palm Glades looks to fill the leadership void at guard.
Smith is an all around scoring threat who has developed a wide-ranging game, complete with an improved stroke from beyond the arc. He’s adept at getting into the lane and scoring with either hand. A guard/forward by trade, he’s been an active presence on the glass and will provide consistency in that department.
He sees the floor well and can create plays for others. A vital aspect of his development is how well he develops a killer instinct and utilizes it in big games.
Dashaun Joseph, Dr. Krop
The high-flying 6-foot-6 Class of 2020 prospect is a high riser who has registered his presence as a real double duty threat. As adroit as he’s been at finding his way to the rim and turning in explosive finishes, he puts the same amount of emphasis on his defensive game. While he’s got an athletic tool-set, an increase in polish and a multi-positional skill set would drive his recruiting stock up a few notches.
Luis Pacheco, SLAM MIAMI
Don’t let that 5-foot-8 size fool you. The diminutive little guard is constantly in attack mode and is a pesky defender who really gets into the opponent’s grill. He possesses speed, shiftiness, and boundless energy on the defensive side. He’s improved dramatically as a 3-point threat, adding some range and consistency this past season. Pacheco averaged 10 points, six assists and shot a sublime 52 percent from the floor this past season.
Raymond Dieng, Inspire Academy
With a vastly improved build and aggressive nature at barreling to the rim, the Class of 2020 prospect made significant strides with the first year program this winter. He’s become an active ingredient on the glass and a guy who can score inside with relative ease. He’s adjusted to being a well-built forward with a wing’s skill-set, similar to Villanova’s Eric Paschall.
As he continues to develop his all-around game and become more of a wide-ranging threat offensively, he’ll assume some ownership of Larry Simmons’ program this ensuing season.