Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Ft. Myers, FL (Future150) -- On the first of what is two back-to-back eight game days that gets us to the final matchup on Monday, there was plenty of action, including an almost major upset. Some of the nation’s brightest stars stepped up and put their teams on their backs while others came to play and put on masterful individual performances:
Alex Owens, 2015 PF, Oak Ridge: Owens was a rebounding machine, pulling down 14 boards in the win. He also added 15 points and played solid defense on Dewan Huell as well. He has good touch around the basket and can score it off a couple of dribbles as well. He is at his best when he works hard like he did on Friday.
Dewan Huell, 2016 PF, Norland: He has as much potential as anyone in the event and is just starting to scratch the surface. He is able to run the floor extremely well and has shown good timing in blocking shots on the defensive end as well. When his teammates get him the ball, he has either set them up for open shots or scored the ball, but he has gotten fairly limited touches.
John Ogwuche, 2016 SG, Greenforest Academy: Ogwuche is a good shooter who is also fairly athletic. He isn’t the biggest player at his position but he understands how to get himself open and that he is a knockdown shooter off the catch. He is definitely one to keep an eye on moving forward.
Vance Jackson, 2016 SF, St. John Bosco: Jackson is a talented scorer who can shoot it from deep and has a deadly step-back jumper. The amount of skill he has shown for a sophomore is unique and he is physical enough that he can play the two, the three, or the four in stretches. While he is already a big name on the West Coast, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the nation comes around and realizes his talent.
Melvin Swift, 2014 PF, Yates: He is a good rebounder with decent touch around the basket. The main question with him is his motor. When he plays hard he is a high major forward. The key for him will be finding a school and fit that will make him be the best player possible.
Chris Lewis, 2016 PF, Milton: Lewis was hampered with foul trouble today but managed to put up 15 points in 16 minutes of play. The big man is incredibly mobile and athletic, allowing him to get out on the break and finish. On the defensive end he blocks and alters shots and works to keep his man in check. He has good conditioning and should be a highly recruited big man.
Troy Holston, 2014 SG, Oldsmar Christian: Holston has the ability to heat up in a hurry and can put up points in bunches as soon as he steps on the floor. He is a bouncy wing who should be able to step in and contribute at USF right away next fall thanks to floor-spacing ability combined with his overall offensive arsenal.
Jared Terrell, 2014 SG, Brewster: Terrell is built like a truck, has good speed, and excels in the open floor. Those things together make him an ideal fit for Oklahoma State next season. He is a decent passer but is best suited playing off the ball. His shooting needs a little work but has shown improvement over the past twelve months.
Josh Reaves, 2015 SG, Paul VI: Reaves is an athletic freak that puts up points in a hurry. His shot is much improved and he is one of the few players that uses his elite athleticism to be a lockdown defender. He has good conditioning and rarely gets tired. He is one of the top sleepers in the northeast right now.
Jerron Love, 2015 PG, Wheeler: Love is a pass first point guard with good speed and great vision. He has a flare to his game and can put the ball on a dime. If defenders sag off him he can punish them with his shooting ability. If Love grows one or two more inches, high-major programs will be all over him.
Lorawls Nairn, 2014 PG, Sunrise Christian: “Tum Tum” is one of the fastest players from end to end in the country and showed as much in his team’s rout of Barking Abbey in the evening session. He uses his speed to either get downhill or finish at the rim or to set his teammates up. He is undersized for a Big Ten PG but don’t be surprised if he has an impact at Michigan State sooner rather than later.
Desi Rodriguez, 2015 SF, Lincoln: Rodriguez has always been considered an athletic wing but recently he has taken his game to another level. In addition he has decided to prep after this year. Make no mistake, Desi is turning into a high-major player and the extra year will only help him to get there. He finished around the rim over the bigger Ben Simmons consistently and was good in the open floor.
Ben Simmons, 2015 SF, Montverde: Simmons is a walking match-up nightmare and was ultimately the difference between Montverde winning and losing Friday night. He can play anywhere from shooting guard to power forward and can be a serious problem thanks to his versatility. LSU might have grabbed a commit from the top player in 2015.
Jalen Hudson, 2014 SG, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s: Hudson is a big time shooter with great size; he will immediately give the Hokies another scorer. He has ideal length for the position and can heat up in a hurry. He is the type of player that can help to rebuild this program.
Miles Reynolds, 2014 SG, Whitney Young: Reynolds plays the point guard a bit for his team out of necessity but make no mistake, he is a scorer. He can shoot it is as well get to the rim and plays with a high IQ. He is a tad undersized for his position but should be a nice player for Jim Crews and St. Louis.
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