Upcoming Talent on the Circuit: South Florida

With the 2021 AAU season on the horizon, here is some talent to watch in Florida-based programs. Kiara Collazo 5’6 2024 (Colegio Adianez, PR) With a wingspan that she knows how to use and a handle that stood out to me, Kiara Collazo is a name to remember. She accepts the challenge on both ends and is a willing defender picking up full-court or on the perimeter. She has a very good catch and shoot jumper, when she locks in on the rim and gets her feet set, she can really change a game with her 3. With the ability to finish tough lays, she doesn’t only rely on jump shots, the Sophomore will put pressure on the defense going downhill and has the vision to find her teammates for good looks. Collazo does a great job with the triple threat, the way she sizes up defenders and makes her reads as she rips the ball through impressed me. When she is able to show how crafty she really is, the Adianez product is fun to watch and she can play off the ball as well. It’s always special when a player can take something they worked on when training, and translate it into games, work ethic is something coaches won’t have to worry about with her. Top 5 in her class, and a champion back home, Collazo will showcase her talent on the best circuit the states have to offer in the EYBL. Great pick-up for the Suns. [player_tooltip player_id="154908" first="Enjulina" last="Gonzalez"] 5’9 2022 (Miami Christian) Gonzalez played that second option role for Miami Christian and played it well. She put up 13 a night while Bendeck averaged 15, and in Lakeland with Florida A&amp;M surging to come back when the Victors needed it most, she got to her average. My favorite thing about her game is the way she gets low and high with her shoulders, Gonzalez has a great hesitation before she attacks. With an athletic build, and standing at 5’9 I’ve been impressed with her every time I got a chance to see the rising senior. She has the floater in the lane, she can finish at the rim with crafty lays through contact. Hustle doesn’t always show on the stat sheet, but I watched her sprint back to block a shot up by 30 in the second half, plays like that speak to the kind of player she is. I project she will step into a big role for Coach Davila as they look to repeat. [player_tooltip player_id="221843" first="Samantha" last="Vales"] 5’3 2024 (Miami Christian) Vales has this textbook shooting form that really impressed me. The way she sets her feet and holds her form is elite. There is a difference between players who hunt their shot versus letting shots come, she was looking for the slightest bit of room to make someone pay. Vales has great anticipation and she uses her size to her advantage at times to make things happen on defense. The freshman contributed to a Miami Christian team that took home a 2A state title. She played alongside Senior [player_tooltip player_id="91546" first="Gabriela" last="Bendeck"] who is one of the state’s top unsigned seniors. A season learning from and maybe having gone against her in practice every day definitely didn’t hurt Vales, who may be next in line to lead the Victors as a Sophomore. Vales is quick, explosive, has the court vision and she can really shoot it. [player_tooltip player_id="91648" first="Haley" last="Lang"] 6’1 2023 (Dunbar) Lang runs the floor very well, and for a young frontcourt player, she understands that if she fills the lanes she will be rewarded. You would think most coaches would tell her to rim run, but the Dunbar Sophomore can stretch the floor as well. When she gets her feet set she is a more than capable shooter. I was impressed by how aggressive she plays, Lang is always looking to make a play and she can really shoot it. She played a big part in a 23-1 year for the Tigers of Dunbar and won a couple of district titles as a member of Cape Coral alongside her sister Savannah. With a great wingspan and the motor she plays with, after a summer on the circuit with the Suns, I project colleges will come knocking if they haven’t already. [player_tooltip player_id="243926" first="Jordan" last="Race"] 5’11 2023 (King’s Academy) <img class="size-medium wp-image-232734 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/Jordan-Race-221x300.jpeg" alt="" width="221" height="300" /> Race’s size and ability to make plays off the bounce jumps out at you on film. She has a good runner in the lane when attacking, and her being 5’11 makes it a real challenge for shot blockers to alter her shot. A lot of times I watched defenders be in the right position against her, but Race will just raise up over them and score it. She has a very good step-through move when she attacks the rim, I liked the way she knifes through the traffic with long strides for layups and will finish with either hand. She can also hurt you spotting up, a good quick release which will help her at the next level. Race is a very good complimentary player and has the potential to be a star. Jordan Kosoy 5’5 2024 (North Broward Prep) Kosoy gets a good arch on her shot and will knock it down off the catch or the bounce. She can put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim and has some flare to her game with euros and floaters when attacking. She can finish with her left hand which is always good to see. What I like most is the way she holds her follow-through. An aggressive defender, Kosoy will look to force turnovers, she has good anticipation getting into passing lanes and swiping at opposing ball handlers. [player_tooltip player_id="243964" first="Catalina" last="Ion"] 6’1 2022 (IMG) With her size and the way she shoots it, the IMG product has a lot of basketball in front of her. She has great mechanics on her shot, high arching, and holds the follow-through like all the great shooters. She is a threat with her back to the basket as well which I like, and she will shoot the mid-range. College coaches will be drawn towards the way she can play inside and out. Ion is a prospect, in every sense of the word and maybe even high major. Zoe Lester 5’6 2024 (Park Vista) The confidence and energy Lester plays with are fun to watch. Sometimes you can detect a player’s potential by the things they attempt, as an 8th grader I watched Lester spin on a Fastbreak, and as she was falling throw a bounce pass to a cutting teammate, and I was sold. She poses well on her follow-through once she gets it into her shooting pocket, letting her feel comfortable from 3 is ill-advised. She has the touch to knock down floaters and the euro-step in traffic. What I liked most is she understands the concept of absorbing the contact and finishing for a trip to the line. Lester also has a great jab step before she attacks, she really understands how to score and the court vision as a passer is there. When she starts to consistently play her game at the Varsity level, South Florida is in trouble. [player_tooltip player_id="221697" first="Peyton" last="Looky"] 5’9 2024 (Cypress Bay) The kids of coaches are always at an advantage, and it shows with the players who soak up the knowledge. Looky has a good frame for a guard and the handle to create for herself and others. The Cypress Bay product has good court vision when pushing the ball, she will get into the lane to draw the defense and drop off passes to cutting a teammate for finishes at the rim. What impressed me the most is how well she shoots it, and she doesn’t need much of a window of space to knock down shots. Defensively she is quick and has good anticipation in the passing lanes. She was the offensive catalyst putting up 12 a night for the Lightning as a Freshman.