Tampa, FL – Part II of the Inaugural BCP All-Tournament Team from the 2011 Edition of the Boys Basketball State Finals in Lakeland is complete. This time it’s the “big” boys that get a turn as we break down the 4A-6A Classifications and their individual performances.
For starters, there wasn’t a single Center on the 1st Team, and only one TRUE Center to make it on the 2nd Team. This year was devoid of any “Baby Shaqs” that can dominate in the low-post and the teams reflect as much. Speed and transition are the buzzwords that run deep within this class of players. So let’s “get into it” as a good friend of mine always says.
First Team:
G Victor Adams, 6-3, Senior, (Dwyer): Between Adams and his back court teammate Jacoby Brissett, it was poignantly obvious halfway through their 1st game against Fort Walton Beach as to why the Panthers came to Lakeland sporting a 30-1 Record and National Ranking. Coming into the Semifinals, Dwyer had won 26 consecutive games and Adams is one of two main reasons why. (The other momentarily.) For now, it was Adams who controlled the point of attack scoring above his season average of 15 points with 17 and 18 on back-to-back nights. Adams is a fiery competitor that was consistently chirping in his opponents ears, but for good reason. He had his way with both Fort Walton Beach and Lake Wales when it came to a first step off the dribble. Created many open shots for his teammates with his ability to penetrate with said first step.
G Jacoby Brissett, 6-4, Senior, (Dwyer): All this gridiron king did was average 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in 2 games en route to the most dominating performance by a team during the State Series. Brissett is according to Billy Donovan welcome “anytime” he wants to the Gator Basketball Program, but has his sights zeroed-in on unseating the already growing legend of Jeff Driskel in Gainesville under Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis. Next to Austin Rivers, Brissett displayed the best body control out of any guard in all the classifications. His Basketball IQ, as well as his demeanor are indicative of a person who is mature beyond his years. Took over the 5A Final against Lake Wales with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. He may be listed at 6’4″, but he plays closer to a 6’7″-6’8″ Power Forward using his upper body strength to bang on people significantly larger than him down low.
G Austin Rivers, 6-5, Senior, (Winter Park): There’s not a whole lot to be said about this young man so I’ll channel another famous analyst who will bring you these three words over-and-over-and-over again. Especially during a Duke Broadcast. “Super, sensational, scintillating.” Sound like someone you know? Things are looking up for you when you average 26 & 10 and you didn’t even hit your average for the season. (Although I think he’ll take the back-to-back 6A State Championship Rings.) I mentioned earlier that I thought Brissett had brilliant body control. Well this young man is the DaVinci of contortionism. I bet he can also dribble from baseline to baseline in less than 6 dribbles. That’s how quick in transition he is and with defenders on his hip nonetheless. Rivers is also an absolute cold-blooded assassin when it comes to pressure moments. I guess there’s a reason why Coach K is drooling in anticipation for next Fall.
F/G D’Mauri Jones, 6-4, Junior (Leesburg): Also a Wide Receiver/ Safety standout and soon-to-be holder of multiple D1 offers in that sport, this young man shows much promise on the hardwood as well. Although he’s not the physical specimen that Brissett is, Jones is a poor man’s version somewhere between Adams and Austin Rivers in terms of what he contributes on both ends of the court. Jones was able to use favorable match-ups in their half court sets against Blake and Cardinal Gibbons in their march to a 4A Title. Works well within the framework of what Head Coach Marcel Thomas asks of his Yellow Jacket team. Averaged 18 points in 2 games well above his average of 10 points during the Regular Season.
F/C Darius Andrews, 6-7, Senior, (Dr. Phillips): You know things are little different when a 6’7″ player makes the 1st Team over another player at 6-10 with a ring on his finger. Well, this pick felt almost too easy in my opinion as Andrews clearly surpassed his Regular Season output in his best effort to unseat the reigning State Champs in what came down to a rematch of the previous year. He averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds after only averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds during the season. Andrews was doing everything he could to kick-start his Panthers when DePaul Commit and PG Shane Larkin was nowhere near his best for either contest. A dangerous swing man that is best used in the 3 or 4, but CAN get down into the post and use his footwork to draw bodies away from the basket.
Second Team:
G Austin Keel, 6-2, Senior, (Winter Park): Averaged 18 & 7 for the Wildcats and was virtually unstoppable with Rivers in the back court on both nights. Was the only other scorer in double-figures on both nights as well. Had 26 in the 1st game against Columbus and was able to drive at-will to the bucket when the Explorers had gone to a Box-in-1 on Rivers. Streaky shooter with great pace when the ball is in his hands. Tough competitor that you would love to have on your squad.
G Brandon Bradley, 6-2, Junior, (Cardinal Gibbons): Got the Chiefs to the edge of a 4A Title averaging 22 points on a team that doesn’t score often over 50 for an entire game. In the 1st game, Bradley used his quickness to drive to the bucket against Palatka mixing in high percentage lay-ups with several trips to the Free-Throw stripe. He also helped stave off a furious comeback by Palatka in the Semifinal. In the second game it was all about his mid-range jumper pouring 23 points through the nets based on his ability to dribble-drive and create space for his jumper. Unfortunately he was the only offense for Gibbons.
F Marcel White, 6-4, Junior, (Lake Wales): The hometown team couldn’t get it done in the 5A Finals, but that didn’t stop this young man from doing his best to give them a chance at that ring. Head Coach Billy Dee Washington clearly pointed to White as one of the physical and emotional leaders of this Highlanders Team. Averaged 16 points during the tournament.
F Eddie Odio, 6-7, Senior, (Columbus): Unfortunately for Christopher Columbus Catholic it was their student section that provided the vast majority of the highlights for the Explorers. However Odio (whose name loosely translates into ‘hate’ in Spanish) was causing all kinds of foul thoughts and ideas to emanate from Winter Park Head Coach David Bailey. Although Columbus was one-and-done, it was Eddie’s 21 points and 10 rebounds that nearly stole the show right out from underneath Rivers and Keel’s performances for Winter Park. Odio is a Kyle Singler-esque player in stature and in terms of court characteristics. Worked really well in a secondary fastbreak situation as well when Columbus would set high pick-and-rolls allowing him to get open looks on the perimeter.
C, Joell James, 6-10, Junior, (Dwyer): Huge in size, but still a long way to go in terms of becoming the dominant player he should be once he figures out how to use that size. Showed some real flashes of brilliance in the Final against Lake Wales when he was able to get the ball in the low-post, put a body on his man and drop step for the 2-3′ high percentage jumpshot . Also became a factor on the defensive end redirecting many shots from Lake Wales shooters and was the brick wall in the paint he appeared to be in stature. Will be very interested to see him operate in the coming season when the Panthers truly lean on him.
Honorable Mentions:
G Andre Smith, 5-10, Senior, (Blake): 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists against the eventual State Champs Leesburg is not a bad way to finish your High School Career. Unfortunately, the Winthrop Commit could not help his Blake team (who had the backing of all of Hillsborough County) continue their magical run through the playoffs. Draws many comparison to Tyus Edney of UCLA-fame. The unequivocal heartbeat of that team.
G Teron Wallace, 6-2, Senior, (Leesburg): The other main threat for the Yellow Jackets in securing a 4A State Title. Paired with D’Mauri Jones for much of the 2nd Half against Blake he helped keep a 3-point lead that felt unsurmountable. Every time Blake made a run it was his defense that would shine bright, and then in the Final against Cardinal Gibbons it was his clutch shooting with teammate Joe Tooli that helped break the Chiefs 2-3 Zone.
G Brandon Channer, 6-3, Senior, (Blake): 20 points, 14 rebounds and he only made Honorable Mention?! That’s right. If you look to the right one column further under TO, you’ll see that Channer had an uncharacteristic 6 turnovers and even a very costly 5-second call while trying to dribble around in the half court. Tough to put him there, but one-and-done combined with just as many negatives as positives and it’s tough to get him any more love than this. Although when he’s hot, Channer is one of the purest shooters in all of Hillsborough.
F Oshey Washington, 6-6, Senior, (Lake Wales): Was the dominant force in their blowout of Durant on the way to Lakeland and was just as big a reason for their blowout against Gibbs in the Semis. Only averaged 11 and 9, but was constantly active on the boards and had Washington made half of the point-blank tip-in’s he encountered it’s quite possible he would have averaged over 20. Missed opportunities were the mantra for the Highlanders, but they certainly didn’t lack for effort and that was due in large part to Washington.
F Quincy Ford, 6-7, Senior, (Gibbs): 13 and 11 for the Gladiators against Lake Wales was not nearly enough to advance, but was more than enough to solidify a spot amongst those deserving of accolades. Gibbs’ main problem was not a lack of talent against Lake Wales, it was more mental. Gibbs lost to Lake Wales by 14 earlier in the season and the psychological advantage was glaring. Can’t point the finger at Ford though, and along with Gary Simon he kept them from getting run out of the George Jenkins Arena in front of the largest crowd to watch any of the 16 games.