Best of the Best Florida filled with talent

Best of the Best Florida filled with talent

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

APOPKA, FL – Florida is quickly becoming a destination for college basketball coaches looking to recruit players to fill their rosters. The voyage to the Sunshine State will only continue with years to come.

The annual Best of the Best Showcase brought out some of the best middle schoolers from across the state. Some players who came in with some notoriety to others who emerged as new names to follow.

Here are the players who made an impression.

2024 Solomon Williams (Slightly Middle School)  was easily one of the first players who stood out. At 6-foot-2, this young man looked like a space-eater in the paint. He held off defenders by using his body at various angles. The use of his body was complimented by soft hands and light feet. He caught the ball in just about any place it was thrown. His touch around the rim was soft.

2023 Michael Zhang (Home School) was clearly one of the biggest surprises at the showcase. He did not look imposing in any way. However, once that ball was thrown to him, Zhang went to work. The 5-foot-10 point guard first showed off his ability to knock down three-pointers. His release was fluid. He never hesitate unless it was to deliver a mean ball fake. Once he did that Zhang made the next best basketball play. Several times it was to cutting teammates for easy baskets. He played with poise. Defensively, he just locked in keeping many offensive players in front of him. He will not remain an unknown talent if he continues to make plays as he did during the showcase.

2023 Osmar Garcia (Riviera Prep) was by far the most talented player during the showcase. The 6-foot-5 Venezuelian had a body fit for a senior in high school. You can see he spends time doing some form of lifting. His physic gave him a large advantage over every opponent. He dominated the interior because of his soft hands and frame. There were a number of times he showed strong guard skills on the break. He delivered precise passes to open teammates. On either ends of the floor, he snatched rebounds from outside of his area with ease. His development will make him a catalyst for any program moving forward.

2023 Sean Stewart (Lake Highland Prep) is always fun to watch. The 6-foot-3 athlete is more than just that because of the basketball IQ. He sees the floor from every angle. His ability to make the correct play is that of a player several years older. He hits the mid-range whenever he touches the ball. His defense shouldn’t be overlooked as he is a decent rim protector.

2023 Justin Johnson (True Prep) is a long rangy player with a strong skill set around the rim, along with about 13-feet from the rim. He makes sure to be a problem on defense.

2023 Tristan Gross (Skycrest Christian) continues to develop and polish his game. He is so poised at ha doing the ball changing pace at every chance he gets. His jumper continues to increase with his confidence.

2023 Christopher Rios (Parkway Middle) is picking up steam with his play. He is playing with a swag and poise deemed necessary for any players development. His ability to change speed constantly keeps players off balance. He can finish at the rim with the best in this class.

2023 Eberson Charles (Ocoee Middle) is a lefty who dictated what the defense would do based on the pressure he applied to them. The lefty could get to the basket with ease and knock down shots with minimal space.

2024 Julian Granville (Montverde Academy) is a long and rangy point guard. This youngster brings his Northeast ball handling skills to the Sunshine State with plenty of security. He does not lose it easily or under pressure. The stoic look on his face never looks rattled. He is capable of just finishing with contact as well.

2025 Jalen Reece (Lockhart Middle) has been impressive over the last few months. He is much improved from a month ago. His ability to handle the ball under pressure is what stands out the most. He makes passes in some of the tightest spaces. His jumper is improved. The part which separated him from his peers is him diving for a loose ball on defense.

2026 Antwain Tennell Jr. (Bushnell Elementary/pictured) plays well beyond his age. This youngster made passes many players older than him would have trouble seeing. He shifts his way to the rim with no fear. The smile on his face isn’t just about having fun, he is excited to see teammates succeed.

2025 Justin Smith (Ocoee Middle) is a scrappy youngster. His desire to make the correct play is evident any time he has the ball in his hand. For such a young player he also has a decent mid-range jumper. Players at this age will develop over time. His basketball skills will grow as he does.

2025 Donevon Kelly (Monroe Middle) does not waste any movement for a young player his size. He has hands like a wide receiver where anything in his area will be caught and finished at the rim.