HOLLYWOOD -- The COMIN FOR THAT #1 SPOT SHOWCASE provided high school and middle school players from around the state a unique opportunity to work and compete against with some of the states better players. For the first time in three years, the COMIN FOR THAT #1 SPOT SHOWCASE was held in Hollywood, Florida on the campus of Chaminade-Madonna Prep instead of its original home in Coral Springs. Although small in numbers (about 50 players), the one day camp was full of young and unknown talent.
In addition to the two guards who arrived in Hollywood with pre-established national reputations, there were a handful of floor generals who announced themselves to the scouts in attendance. Darius Perkins and Zach Johnson were a few of the guards whom were already fixtures on the national scene, but guys like Abed Abu-Khadier from Fort Myers, George Obidiegwu from Naples, and Dakota Elugardo from Port Orange, FL made some serious noise of their own.
Although the guard play was top notch, there were some standout eight graders as well. Alex Smith and 8th grader from Pompano Beach was dominating at times and capped off a solid showcase with an impressive performance against several of Florida’s top prospects.
Here is a look at the best passers/ball handlers, scorers and defenders at the camp.
TOP HIGH SCHOOL PASSERS/BALLHANDLERS
Abed Abu-Khadier (Fort Myers, FL/Lehigh HS)
2016, PG, 5-foot-10, 150 pounds
Abed has a good vision and feel for the game. He plays with his head and eyes up at all times. Abed was terrific at finding the open man, while attacking his defender and creating help. His passes were on the money and usually lead to an easy basket on the break or in the half-court set. In pressure situations Abed was good when the clock was winding down, and often made a good play out of nothing.
2016, PG, 5-foot-10, 150 pounds
Abed has a good vision and feel for the game. He plays with his head and eyes up at all times. Abed was terrific at finding the open man, while attacking his defender and creating help. His passes were on the money and usually lead to an easy basket on the break or in the half-court set. In pressure situations Abed was good when the clock was winding down, and often made a good play out of nothing.
Charles Stewart (Sunrise, FL/Chaminade-Madonna)
2012, PG, 6-0, 180 pounds
2012, PG, 6-0, 180 pounds
College: Undecided
Stewart played with a feel for the game that allowed him to see the play before it happens at times. He was terrific at the penetrate-and-kick-out pass to open shooters on the weak or strong side of the floor. He has good size and delivers the ball with either hand. Stewart is a pass-first point guard who is unselfish almost to a fault at times, but his basketball IQ and decision-making make him out of the ordinary.
Stewart played with a feel for the game that allowed him to see the play before it happens at times. He was terrific at the penetrate-and-kick-out pass to open shooters on the weak or strong side of the floor. He has good size and delivers the ball with either hand. Stewart is a pass-first point guard who is unselfish almost to a fault at times, but his basketball IQ and decision-making make him out of the ordinary.
TOP HIGH SCHOOL SCORERS
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| Darius Perkins (Impact Basketball Academy, 2012) |
Darius Perkins (Ft. Myers, FL/Impact Basketball Academy)
Post-Grad, PG, 6-2, 195 pounds
Post-Grad, PG, 6-2, 195 pounds
College: Undecided
Perkins is a lead guard that the defense must keep track of at all times. He is a good point guard with the ability to score, and was deadly at times from beyond the arc. When he plays off the ball, he can spot up on the break, in the half-court set and off screens. He does a great job of spacing on the side of dribble penetration, and is ready to shoot from a post feed kick out. He can flat-out knock down open jumpers and can get on a roll very quickly. He does not hesitate to shoot and simply makes the defense pay.
Perkins is a lead guard that the defense must keep track of at all times. He is a good point guard with the ability to score, and was deadly at times from beyond the arc. When he plays off the ball, he can spot up on the break, in the half-court set and off screens. He does a great job of spacing on the side of dribble penetration, and is ready to shoot from a post feed kick out. He can flat-out knock down open jumpers and can get on a roll very quickly. He does not hesitate to shoot and simply makes the defense pay.
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| Zach Johnson (Miramar High School, 2014) |
Zach Johnson (Miramar, FL/Miramar HS)
2014, SG, 6-3, 180 pounds
Johnson is a gifted scorer with many physical tools who is a threat on and off the ball. Johnson has a very quick first step to the basket, with acceleration and elevation once he gets into the lane. He is a capable standstill 3-point shooter, and can score in the mid-post over smaller defenders. However, he must become a better shooter off the dribble.
2014, SG, 6-3, 180 pounds
Johnson is a gifted scorer with many physical tools who is a threat on and off the ball. Johnson has a very quick first step to the basket, with acceleration and elevation once he gets into the lane. He is a capable standstill 3-point shooter, and can score in the mid-post over smaller defenders. However, he must become a better shooter off the dribble.
Champe Barton (Hollywood, FL/University School)
2014, SG/SF, 6-5, 175 pounds
Barton is a hybrid scoring guard with an impressive all around game. Barton is always a threat to score because he can stop and drain it from behind the arc. He reads his defender well in pick-and-roll action, and makes the correct decision. Barton high basketball IQ also him to shoot the ball when his man goes under the ball screens, or attacks the hedge defender with his dribble if chased over the screen. He was also accurate from midrange as he elevates well into his shot. Champe must continue improving his ability to get to the basket and upper body strength.
2014, SG/SF, 6-5, 175 pounds
Barton is a hybrid scoring guard with an impressive all around game. Barton is always a threat to score because he can stop and drain it from behind the arc. He reads his defender well in pick-and-roll action, and makes the correct decision. Barton high basketball IQ also him to shoot the ball when his man goes under the ball screens, or attacks the hedge defender with his dribble if chased over the screen. He was also accurate from midrange as he elevates well into his shot. Champe must continue improving his ability to get to the basket and upper body strength.
Irving Lewis (Miami, FL/Palmetto HS)
2012 SF, 6-4, 200
Lewis is a very power wing who has power forward tendencies inside. Lewis is a good rebounder and is best inside 15 feet. He has wing forward skills, but is also effective on the perimeter. He is a streaky shooter to 19 feet and is a solid slasher to the basket. Strength and athletic ability are featured greatly in his game.
2012 SF, 6-4, 200
Lewis is a very power wing who has power forward tendencies inside. Lewis is a good rebounder and is best inside 15 feet. He has wing forward skills, but is also effective on the perimeter. He is a streaky shooter to 19 feet and is a solid slasher to the basket. Strength and athletic ability are featured greatly in his game.
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| Randie Acevedo (Everglades High School, 2015) |
2015, SG, 6-4, 165 pounds
There aren't many wasted possessions with this efficient shooting guard. There's a purposeful way about his game. Acevedo must continue improving his stroke and shot selection however, he played in attack mode and finished with toughness. On drives, he was strong with the ball all the way to the rim and his game translates to a potential high major South Florida prospect.
TOP HIGH SCHOOL DEFENDERS
Gino Brown (Hollywood, FL/Chaminade-Madonna Prep)
2014, SG/SF, 6-4, 175 pounds
Brown is a sneaky athletic player who can play either wing position. Brown is very athletic, but shows it in spurts and has solid skill on the perimeter. Brown is a nice slasher and a good shooter to 18 feet. He has a nice upside and could one day be a high major prospect.
2014, SG/SF, 6-4, 175 pounds
Brown is a sneaky athletic player who can play either wing position. Brown is very athletic, but shows it in spurts and has solid skill on the perimeter. Brown is a nice slasher and a good shooter to 18 feet. He has a nice upside and could one day be a high major prospect.
Dakota Elugardo (Port Orange, FL/Spruce Creek HS)
2012, SG/PG, 6-3, 190 pounds
2012, SG/PG, 6-3, 190 pounds
College: Undecided
Elugardo can score the ball, but we also thought he was very impressive on the defensive end. He is a terrific athlete who put forth great effort on occasion defending the ball. He is long with active hands and good lateral foot speed. Calhoun was also very good away from the ball. He was alert and anticipated passing lanes well. Overall, Dakota is a rock-solid perimeter player on both ends, but his defensive presence really stood out at times.
Elugardo can score the ball, but we also thought he was very impressive on the defensive end. He is a terrific athlete who put forth great effort on occasion defending the ball. He is long with active hands and good lateral foot speed. Calhoun was also very good away from the ball. He was alert and anticipated passing lanes well. Overall, Dakota is a rock-solid perimeter player on both ends, but his defensive presence really stood out at times.
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| George Obidieqwu (St. John Neuman, 2013) |
2013, SG, 6-5, 170 pounds
Obidiegwu is a super-long wing who can excel at small forward or shooting guard. He runs the floor well and attacks the basket. His length allows him to shoot over smaller defenders with ease using his equally smooth midrange pull-up jumper. Obidiegwu is a player with tons of upside who could be a tough assignment for smaller wing players, although he needs to add strength.
San Jay Solomon (Lauderhill, FL/Pompano Beach HS)
2012, PG, 5-10, 160 pounds
Solomon is a very good defender who guarded the ball with good distance while simultaneously applying solid ball pressure. He was alert on the weak side when his man went away from the ball and also did a good job in help-and-recover situations. Solomon can score the ball, but his advanced defensive IQ, effort and urgency will get him on the floor.
2012, PG, 5-10, 160 pounds
Solomon is a very good defender who guarded the ball with good distance while simultaneously applying solid ball pressure. He was alert on the weak side when his man went away from the ball and also did a good job in help-and-recover situations. Solomon can score the ball, but his advanced defensive IQ, effort and urgency will get him on the floor.
HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE NOTES
• We were impressed with SG Jaiwon Martin (Coral Spring, FL/Coral Glades HS). He displayed quickness, got to the rim well and hit open jumpers with range to the arc. He also attacked defenders and played with a lot of heart.
• Nicholas Armbrister (Miami Shore, FL/Chaminade-Madonna) displayed tremendous elevation when he attacked the rim on the break and with short slashes from the wing and baseline. Armbrister also was very productive in the wing and rebounding because of his ability to simply elevate over defenders.
TOP MIDDLE SCHOOL PASSERS/BALLHANDLERS
David Sills Jr. (Lauderhill, FL/Millennium MS)
2016, PG, 5-foot-8, 150 pounds
Sills has a complete feel for his position. He keeps his dribble alive while his head is up, and he's constantly reading the floor. The future high school star is an adept passer but has to learn how to use him dribble in pick-and-roll situations. He also has the ability to beat his defender with his quick burst of speed, and the ability to change pace while staying under control.
2016, PG, 5-foot-8, 150 pounds
Sills has a complete feel for his position. He keeps his dribble alive while his head is up, and he's constantly reading the floor. The future high school star is an adept passer but has to learn how to use him dribble in pick-and-roll situations. He also has the ability to beat his defender with his quick burst of speed, and the ability to change pace while staying under control.
Kyle Feit (Boca Raton, FL/Don Estridge MS)
2017, PG, 5-3, 120 pounds
Feit was without a doubt the smallest player at the Showcase, however plays with a feel for the game that allowed him to see the play before it happens at times. He was terrific at the penetrate-and-kick-out pass to open shooters on the weak or strong side of the floor. He has good size and delivers the ball with either hand.
2017, PG, 5-3, 120 pounds
Feit was without a doubt the smallest player at the Showcase, however plays with a feel for the game that allowed him to see the play before it happens at times. He was terrific at the penetrate-and-kick-out pass to open shooters on the weak or strong side of the floor. He has good size and delivers the ball with either hand.
TOP MIDDLE SCHOOL DEFENDERS
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| Alex Smith (Crystal Lake Middle School, 2016) |
2016, SF/PF, 6-3, 180 pounds
Smith is a strong and physical forward who is a short-distance slasher and finisher through contact, but he got our attention with his work on defense and the glass. He rebounds with power in and out of his area on both ends. He is aggressive and quick to the ball. His desire, as well as his physical gifts, makes him a terrific rebounder. He is also a very capable multiple-position defender with the proper coaching on distance and angles. Smith brought toughness and a great motor to floor every time we have seen him and the blue-collar forward is a guy you want in your corner. Smith is loaded with potential, and when his skills catch up, watch out.
Preston Liger (Miramar, FL/Nativity School)
2016, G, 5-10, 150 pounds
Liger is one of the best defense guards in the class. He defends his position with his strong body and low, wide stance. Liger understands how much room to give his man and closes out under control, allowing him to take away the jumper or anticipate the drive. He also levels dribble penetration by moving his feet and using his body as a barrier. He is alert on the weak side to help, and is always ready to rotate. Must improve his offensive skill set.
2016, G, 5-10, 150 pounds
Liger is one of the best defense guards in the class. He defends his position with his strong body and low, wide stance. Liger understands how much room to give his man and closes out under control, allowing him to take away the jumper or anticipate the drive. He also levels dribble penetration by moving his feet and using his body as a barrier. He is alert on the weak side to help, and is always ready to rotate. Must improve his offensive skill set.
Luis Escobar (Homestead, FL/Campbell Drive MS)
2016, G, 5-10, 165 pounds
Escobar is a strong and physical young guard who attacks the rim from the wing and in transition, where he is a true finisher as he scores through contact with ease. He had an all-business approach in the stations and competed throughout the showcase.
2016, G, 5-10, 165 pounds
Escobar is a strong and physical young guard who attacks the rim from the wing and in transition, where he is a true finisher as he scores through contact with ease. He had an all-business approach in the stations and competed throughout the showcase.
Austin Zelenak (Fort Myers, FL/ Bonita MS)
2016, F, 6-2, 170 pounds
Zelenak is a very good low-post defender. He did a good job of holding his position and making the offensive player shoot over his outstretched hands. He is a good straight-line runner and is alert away from the ball. Zelenak is a traditional Blue Collar player.
2016, F, 6-2, 170 pounds
Zelenak is a very good low-post defender. He did a good job of holding his position and making the offensive player shoot over his outstretched hands. He is a good straight-line runner and is alert away from the ball. Zelenak is a traditional Blue Collar player.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOWCASE NOTES
• Class of 2016 wing Wicliff Fleurizard (Tamarac, FL/Coral Springs MS) is a promising young athlete with matching athletic ability. He is a good rebounder that also excels in transition. He must improve his on-ball defense but has tremendous upside.
