Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Ft. Myers, FL (Future150) -- On the final day of the City of Palms the action was fierce. Teams where looking to finish out their week on a high note while Montverde and Paul VI went head-to-head for a shot at the title. Here’s who stood out on the final day of the tournament.
JaQuan Newton, 2014 CG, Neumannn-Goretti: When his shot is falling he is nearly unguardable. He got to the rim at will and either finished or found his teammates. He also rebounded the ball well. In Miami’s system he should flourish as he thrives in up-tempo settings. His size and speed will make him a handful.
Josh Williams, 2015 SG, St. Vincent-St. Mary: The Akron commit played well again on Monday, scoring off slashing to the rim. He is a long and lanky wing with good athleticism and is a good defender as well. He will be a nice fit in the MAC, where he will able to use his athleticism to overwhelm opponents.
Antonio Blakeney, 2015 SG, Oak Ridge: Blakeney is a natural scorer who can get buckets from all three levels. He was the main reason that Oak Ridge was able to stick with St. John Bosco for so long. He is capable of creating his own shot and is an underrated passer as well.
Daniel Hamilton, 2014 SG, St. John Bosco: Hamilton had his best game of the week, pouring in 34 while pulling down 6 boards and handing out 8 assists. He has great size for his position and is an incredibly versatile athlete. He will be able to play multiple positions for the UConn Huskies next season.
Justin Gray, 2014 SG, Berkeley Prep: Gray is a long and athletic wing that excels at slashing to the rim. He can also knock down the long range shot when he is open. He is a bouncy player that is able to guard players bigger than him thanks to his athletic ability.
Isaiah Whitehead, 2014 CG, Lincoln: Whitehead has a reputation as a big time scorer, which he is, scoring 10 points in one quarter and 7 in another. He is also a vastly underrated play maker who can run the point as well. He will be an absolute game changer for Seton Hall and should help to turn the program around. His performance throughout the week was so impressive that they had little choice but to name him Co-MVP. He also should be credited with the assist on helping Seton Hall land Desi Rodriguez.
Avery Patterson, 2014, CG, Wheeler: Patterson looks like he will be a quality addition at Western Kentucky. He can play either guard position and is a lockdown defender. He has a grown man game and a grown man frame. He should step in and have an immediate impact.
Jahlil Okafor, 2014 C, Whitney Young: Okafor was a monster the entire game, finishing with 22 points and 23 rebounds. He also had 5 blocks in the contest, effectively rendering Providence’s big men useless. When he plays hard he is unstoppable at the HS level. It’s clear that he will be a pro one day thanks to his skillset and athletic abilities.
Christian Terrell, 2014 SG, Providence: Terrell may have had the best week of anyone in the entire tournament. He is a bouncy guard who has a knack for scoring the ball and is a sneaky good athlete. He is quickly looking like an absolute steal for FGCU.
Joel Berry, 2014 PG, Lake Highland: The future Tar Heel lead guard did a little bit of everything. He rebounded it well, was effective from the field, and slowed down Tadric Jackson to boot. He will bring a toughness and leadership to a UNC squad that sorely needs it.
Tadric Jackson, 2014 SG, Tift County: Jackson is a scoring guard who can also be the primary ball handler at times as well. He has good vision and can create shots for both himself and others. While it remains to be seen what position he will play for the Yellow Jackets, he should help to rebuild the program back up sooner rather than later.
Marcus Derrickson, 2015 CF, Paul VI: Derrickson had a tough assignment in having to be the go-to guy offensively while trying to slow down Ben Simmons on defense. While he had some mental lapses he did a respectable job and showcased his versatility. The big man has the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack or score down low. He also is able to step out and hit shots as well. He has already verbally committed to Georgetown and appears to be a great fit for their program.
Ben Simmons, 2015 CF, Montverde: Simmons is a load to guard thanks to his face up skills and versatility as a whole. He is more skilled than 90%of the big men his age and is tough to boot. He has the kind of skill set that makes him a potential NBA lottery pick down the road if he continues to develop and is a major reason that Montverde took home the title, winning Co-MVP honors.
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