FABC/USSSA FUTURES SHOOTOUT

After completing a very successful All-Star game in April, the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches turned their  efforts toward creating  a showcase event for all classes in the state.  Partnering with the USSSA in identifying talented players from around the state in the Classes of 2011 thru 2014, the FABC/USSSA Futures Shootout was created.  Two games, one featuring rising freshmen and sophomores and the other featuring rising juniors and seniors, took place this past Friday at Vanguard High School in Ocala.  This report will focus on the Freshman/Sophomore Game.

The game was played with standard high school rules and the Navy team jumped out to a 6-3 lead with just under five minutes to play.  Each team seemed to have a different strategy.  Navy chose to attack the rim on the dribble while the White team opted for shots behind the three point line.  Navy got into the bonus at the 2:30 mark in the first quarter but couldn’t convert.  This allowed the White team to tie the score at ten with two minutes left in the quarter.  White was able to keep Navy off the line and turn missed shots into opportunities on their end.  At the end of the first quarter, White held a 16-13 lead.  Leading them for the quarter was 6’3 rising sophomore Raheem Freeman of Vanguard with five points, two rebounds and a block.  The Navy squad was led in scoring by 6’2 rising sophomore Colby Bortles of Oviedo with four points and three rebounds.

The second quarter continued with each team trading blows and the lead.  With 5:30 left in the half, the score was knotted at twenty.  At the four minute mark the subs came in and White used their extra length to build a four point lead, 29-25, with 1:40 remaining and it looked like they might blow it open.  However, Navy toughened up on the defensive end and finished out the half strong.  When the horn sounded for halftime, White held a small 31-29 advantage.  Trey Wilson, a 6’5 rising sophomore from Williston, led the way for the White team with four points and three rebounds.  For Navy, 6’1 rising sophomore D.J. White of Boca Ciega accounted for seven points and three rebounds.

The game continued to be a tight affair in the third quarter.   Navy quickly tied the game on an inside basket by 6’5 rising sophomore Darien Williston from South Sumter.  The teams continued to trade leads back and forth for the entire third quarter.  Navy looked to have taken a lead heading into the fourth but a bucket by 6’2 rising sophomore Undre Mitchum from Leesburg tied the score at 44 at the buzzer.  Navy was led by 6’0 rising sophomore Josh Heath of Tampa Prep with nine points while the White squad was led by Mitchum with eight points and two rebounds.

With one quarter left it became a matter of pride for each squad.  A basket by Navy was answered by White and vice versa.  With 2:37 remaining in the game, the score was tied at fifty-eight.  Now it was White’s turn to attack the basket and get to the line. With 49 seconds left, White held a 62-61 lead.  In the ensuing 30 seconds, White would hit three free throws and Navy would add a bucket in transition.  With 14 seconds left, White missed the front end of a one and one.  After a mad scramble for the basketball as it went out of bounds, the referees conferred and gave Navy the ball with an opportunity to tie or win the game.  They waited too long to get a quality shot and were forced into an off-balance jumper that didn’t go down.  The White squad walked away with a tough 65-63 victory.  In the fourth quarter, White was led by 5'10 Ray Lewis of Lake Mary Prep with six points and 2 rebounds.  Navy was led in the final period by 6’0 rising sophomore Devin Diggs of Strawberry Crest with six points.

WHITE TEAM

Blake McClain – 5’10 guard – Oviedo 2013 – 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal:  Competitive player that played both guard spots in the game.  He drives well to the rim, has good court vision, and delivers good passes to his teammates.

Marko Smith – 5’11 guard – Lake Mary Prep 2013 – 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists:  Solid mid-range shooter and passer.  He too played both guard spots and was equally effective.

Raheem Freeman – 6’3 wing – Ocala Vanguard 2013 – 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal: Athletic player that runs the floor and finishes at rim.  Knocked down one three but clearly is more comfortable slashing to the basket.

JoeSu Levy – 6’2 wing – West Palm Beach Summit Christian 2013 – 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist:  While he may not have stuffed the stat sheet, Levy is an athletic player that is learning the game at a fast pace and will improve rapidly.

Ray Lewis – 5’10 guard – Lake Mary Prep 2013 – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal: Lewis proved to be quick off the dribble but also a good open shooter with range to the three and he knocks down free throws. 

Undra Mitchum – 6’2 guard – Leesburg 2013 – 12 points, 6 rebounds: Mitchum struggled with his outside jumper this night but he proved to be a multi-skilled ball player with his ability to rebound against bigger players, run the floor and finish, as well as handle the basketball.

John Elliott – 6’6 forward – Vero Beach 2013 – 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block: While his stats may not be eye-popping, Elliott did plenty of good things.  He showed ranged to fifteen feet, defended the post, ran the floor, and kept his opponent off the glass.

Trey Wilson – 6’5 forward – Williston 2013 – 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block: Long-armed and active, Wilson was very aggressive off the bounce at the offensive end.  He had some nice baseline drives and finishes in traffic at the rim.  He is also a very aggressive defender on the perimeter.

Michael Gilmore – 6’6 forward – Jacksonville ACD 2014 – 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks: This kid has grown three inches in the past four months and may not be done.  Given his age and size he moves well up and down the court.  Gilmore’s length caused problems inside and on one possession he had three consecutive blocks.

NAVY TEAM

Jamario Lambert – 6’0 guard – Vero Beach 2013 – 5 points, 1 block: While he didn’t get a lot of opportunities, Lambert proved to be a solid shooter and ball-handler.

Devin Diggs – 6’0 guard – Tampa Strawberry Crest 2013 – 13 points, 3 rebounds:  Diggs is a quick driver, especially along the baseline.  He finishes well at the rim and knocks down free throws.  He can hit the three but is streaky.

Josh Heath – 6’0 guard – Tampa Prep 2013 – 12 points, 1 assist: After a nearly non-existent first half, Heath exploded in the second.  Not the quickest of guards, he’s good enough often enough to make the defense play him honestly.  When the defense backed off, he hit open threes.

Barry Johnson – 6’3 forward – Gainesville Eastside 2014 – 9 points, 9 rebounds: He looks like a football player but has solid hoops skills.  If he gets his hand on it, the ball is his.  He has a soft touch, good footwork, and a nose for the basketball.

Reggie Hart – 6’2 forward – Tampa Chamberlain 2013 – 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block: Hart is strong, athletic, and a tireless worker.  He runs the floor well and is quick to the basket in the half-court.

Colby Bortles – 6’2 forward – Oviedo 2013 – 4 points, 7 rebounds: Bortles has a strong body and uses it well on the glass. 

D.J. White – 6’1 guard – Boca Ciega 2013 – 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block: We knew he was athletic but his skill level has increased tremendously.  White has become a dangerous shooter to go along with his ability to score in transition and on the drive.  He also threw some impressive passes.

Darien Williston – 6’5 forward – South Sumter – 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks: Big body and space eater on the interior.  He moves surprisingly well up and down the floor and makes the most of his opportunities when open.

Isaiah Jackson – 6’5 forward – Gainesville – 0 points, 2 rebounds1 assist, 1 block:  Don’t let the stat line deceive you.  Jackson has as much talent as anyone in the class.  He handles the ball well, sees the floor and makes excellent passes, especially in traffic.  Jackson is also lengthy, quick, and athletic.