The Quarantine Report: South Florida Hoops Players to Watch
From top dogs to role players coming into their own, these are some players to watch from South Florida. Look out for these hoopers: Emily Jimenez Emily Jimenez 5'10" | CG Cardinal Gibbons | 2021 State FL – 5’10 2021…
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Continue ReadingFrom top dogs to role players coming into their own, these are some players to watch from South Florida.
Look out for these hoopers:
Emily Jimenez Emily Jimenez 5'10" | CG Cardinal Gibbons | 2021 State FL – 5’10 2021 (Cardinal Gibbons) – With her size and activity on the defensive end, it is no surprise I have been told Jimenez is the best defender in the state. At 5’10, she can guard point guards and has the ball skills to score on you after she picks your pockets. It isn’t often that you see on-ball defense that gets the crowd engaged, I don’t assume ball handlers want to see #10 in front of them. Guarding the opposing team’s best player is just another day at the office for her, and it shows on film. She will knock it down when open from 3, but knows to use her pump fake when defenders close out too hard. She has the ability to handle it going left, my favorite part of her game offensively is that she can pass, Jimenez gets in the lane and drops dimes just as fluently as she lets her jumper fly. Coming off averaging 11 ppg. she currently holds a Monmouth offer, and will be a driving force for the Chiefs of Cardinal Gibbons, who made it to Lakeland last season.
Sharale McCormick – 5’10 2021 (Cardinal Gibbons) – The Boyd Anderson transfer is a solid all-around player. She has a very good spot-up jumper and shoots it confidently. Her length allows her to play inside, along with her ability to play Point Guard, which is to me is what makes her ready for the next level. She is dangerous in the mid-post, and also does work in the short corner. I liked her speed when I watched the rising senior, McCormick can push it in the open court and has a soft touch around the rim, sinking floaters and finishing through contact. College coaches will like her motor, with her and Jimenez the Chiefs are in good hands.
Amari Hunter Amari Hunter 5'6" | CG Somerset Silver Palms | 2021 State FL 5’6 2021 (Keysgate Charter) – Hunter can flat out score the ball. She is one of the best I’ve seen at creating for herself from the PG spot. Her cross-over is a blur, and she will stop and pop for a 3 with ease. The best scorer I have seen at her age, Hunter has high-level ball skills, going into her senior stint, any team that doesn’t deny her and send double teams is in for a long night. She has the floater in the lane, crafty finishes, and her confidence is there, she seems like she knows no one can guard her. Defensively she has good anticipation and will expose lazy passes. I think Hunter is a steal if she ends up anywhere that isn’t Division 1.
Kayla Clark Kayla Clark 6'2" | C Miami Central | 2021 State FL 6’2 2021 (Miami Central) – Clark is a paint beast. Somewhat of an old school bully ball game, to me, in the age of deep 3’s and fast-paced play, she was refreshing to see. She works the block and knows what will fill up the stat sheet. A walking double-double, she uses her body extremely well to clear up space, what I like most is that she doesn’t play out of character, Clark gets to her spot and makes you have to stop her. If she starts hitting spot-up mid-post jumpers, the rising senior is a lot to handle.
Andrea Daley Andrea Daley 6'0" | SF Miami Country Day | 2021 State FL – 6’0 2021 – (Miami Country Day) – Daley is a skilled player, besides being 6 feet tall, has something that cannot be taught, energy. If she catches it at the high post and faces up, bad news for defenders. She can finish at the rim with either hand and will spring up and sink a 15-footer like it’s her job. Her anticipation is great, she shoots gaps like a veteran corner and will go finish through contact after a steal. The high energy transfer from Pace will be huge for Country day, after averaging 12.8 a game en route to a 2019 state final four appearance a season ago.
Allie Lallance 5’6 2021 (Monarch) – Lallance plays with a good pace to her game, pushing the rock out in transition. She runs the floor and can finish, but to me, her stroke is what makes her a special player. She will take shots that opposing coaches may say “we can live with it if she makes that” but Lallance can pull from deep, and does so confidently. Her 25 footers don’t seem to surprise her teammates, and it speaks to her abilities. She has a quick first step to go along with a handle that allows her to beat her defender, and create for herself and others. I have zero doubt the rising senior will be on a college court someday, running the offense, as she does for the Knights of Monarch High.
Jordan Provato 5’8 2022 (Western) – Sometimes with young players, their numbers on the season don’t coincide with how talented they truly are. To me, this is the case with Provato. She finished the season Averaging just under 6 ppg. along with 5 boards a night. I have heard she has Division 1 interest, and she is a very high academic student-athlete. She also has a solid handle, which gives her the ability to pull up for a jumper off the dribble. Her work ethic is the reason she will make it at the next level. The rising junior played alongside some good talent in Alana Sharpe Alana Sharpe 6'0" | C Western | 2021 State FL and Taja Stevens, but she can shoot it with the best of them.
Zoe Zeitlin 5’6 2021 (Boca Raton) – Zeitlin is a pure shooter. What I like most is her movement without the ball, she relocates well after passing it and has the IQ to cut to the basket when the defense falls asleep. The arch on her jump shot also stood out to me, it gives her the ability to shoot over outstretched arms of defenders. Her hustle plays and activity on defense also impressed me, somewhat of a pest, she isn’t afraid to pick up her man full court. If defenders close out on her out of control, she will drive hard right and has the ability to get to the free-throw line. Zeitlin is the kind of player that when left open from 3, you just assume she’s knocking it down.