This season has seen a lot of teams not being very successful, and others that have been very up and down. The story with Southwest Florida is that besides a few teams around the top, anyone can beat anyone on any given night.
Well within all of the parody, there have been some players to emerge as consistent contributors for the good, average, and some bad teams that usually do not get a lot of credit for what they do. SWFL Hoops does our best to rank each class according to potential, skill, size, and numbers but with each class we have found that it isn't just the guys in the Top 10 that have game. This may be no more evident than when we're trying to round out the top 30, top 25, and so on for each class. We come to realize that even the guys towards the bottom do good things for their high school teams, and sometimes put up big numbers, and although a couple limitations may keep them behind the next guy, that doesn't mean they should not be recognized more at some point.
Therefore, we wanted to take the opportunity to point out some seniors that have done very good things this season, whether it be statistically on teams that have struggled, led their teams to solid but up and down seasons, or just been a key factor on a successful team where they get lost at times behind the play of the "star."
The players listed below are in no particular order and we would love to point out everyone but these are the guys that stuck out in our minds, and we'll add that all of them are currently unsigned to play in college so any coaches looking for some talented but under recruited talent be sure and contact us at SWFLHoops@gmail.com.
Also, we will be posting this as a three part piece, with more seniors coming in Part 2, and then some standout under the radar juniors in part 3.
Derick Yepes, 6'2, SG, 2010 (East Lee HS)
- Yepes is putting up tremendous scoring numbers this year, and based on maxpreps.com's list is the leading scorer in SWFL at 24 points per game . The list includes guys who are missing some stats but even if they were added he should be the leading scorer as we see it. He had a career-high 43 points in a loss to a 15-5 Golden Gate squad, and has scored 20 or more points in 16 of East Lee's 22 games this season. Yepes is a crafty quard with no conscience when it comes to shooting the ball. He has done a great job of leading the Jaguars to their first winning season and is hoping to lead them to a spot in the District Championship in 4A-12 next week, which would mean the Jaguars would reach the Regional Playoffs for the first time in school history as well.
Denzel Hagan, 6'0, PG, 2010 (Riverdale HS)
- Hagan has been a truly consistent force for Riverdale this year. Although his team has struggled at times, he has been able to keep them in games without any real inside presence with his play on the perimeter. With multiple games recently where he scored 30 points or more he continues to show his ability to ball in the basket, however he also gets his teammates involved averaging around 5 assists per game to go along with 20 points per game. Hagan is a good ballhandler who uses change of pace to gain advantage on defenses. Able shooter from deep, but his strength is penetrating and creating scores for himself or teammates. Definitely one of the top point guards in the SWFL class of 2010.
Burt Boileau, 5'10, G, 2010 (Golden Gate HS)
- Boileau is a quick and bouncy lefty scoring guard that makes up for his lack of heighth with length and athleticism. Decent shooter, Boileau is at his best in the open court and has been one of the offensive leaders for the uptempo and high scoring Titans this season. It is very usual to look at the boxscores and see him with 20 or more points, and although we do not have his official average, the best guess would put it somewhere around the 18-20 points per game range. If your looking for a guy to plug into your uptempo offense Burt is a guy to look at.
Jordan Leach, 6'0, G, 2010 (Naples HS)
- Leach is best described as a very talented utility man. We say that because he just seems to do a bit of everything on a nightly basis. He regularly scores 20 or more points, averages around 6-8 rebounds a night, dishes out 4-6 assists, snags a couple or more steals nightly, all while leading the offense from the point guard spot and most the time taking on the duty of guarding the opposing team's best wing player. Leach has done all of this for one of the hottest teams in Collier County in 2010, and without a big time supporting cast. He often gets overlooked but anyone who has seen him play or had to go against him will tell you he is a player. Leach may not standout during the "look test" but toughness comes in all shapes and sizes.
Ahmed Abu-khadier, 6'4, F, 2010 (Gateway Charter HS)
- Abu-khadier has been in a tough spot this season, with his team struggling to win games due to the lack of overall talent, but he has continued to put up huge numbers while playing all 5 positions. Ahmed is not a big time athlete or super rare talent but when you're averaging 23 points, nearly 15 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.1 blocks per game thats pretty darn impressive. He just knows how to be in the right spot at the right time. He has even had to bring the ball up the court with the team lacking a true point guard. On a team lacking much talent elsewhere, he has done a solid job even when defenses are able to key on him
Danny Fleming, 6'5, F, 2010 (Community School of Naples)
- Fleming is having an outstanding season for the Seahawks and is one of the main reasons they have a real chance to advance to atleast the Regional Finals. The hardworking forward has improved his ability to finish inside in traffic and still excels as a rebounder, as evident by his most recent performance where he put up 14 points and 19 rebounds (a school record), as well as the 23 points and 12 rebounds in the game before that. Another key is that he has played his best during the most important times, having scored in double figures for the last 12 games heading into district tourney play this coming week. He has a solid build and uses it to outmuscle some opponents but for the most part just outworks them.
Terran "Buddy" McClendon, 6'1, G, 2010 (Fort Myers HS)
- McClendon has quietly been the Green Wave's most important x-factor this year. He was the best player in terms of consistency for the Wave throughout their City of Palms success, and is currently the team's second leading scorer at 10 per game, leader in steals at 3 per game, fourth leading rebounder at 4 per game, and second leading assist man with 3.3 per game for a squad that is very balanced and looks to be a legit contender for the Class 4A state title this season. McClendon is a super athletic and quick guard who has never had a full year to completely concentrate on hoops due to being a standout for the school's football team, where he was the quarterback this season, so his upside is very high. He is a capable shooter but can improve still, but he is best at penetrating and finishing or getting out in the open court. A potential lock down type of defender on the ball, his quick hands and quick feet also put him in position to pick off a bunch of passes off the ball as well.
Kyle Kincaid, 6'5, F, 2010 (Estero HS)
- Kincaid is another guy asked to pretty much carry a team that has struggled to get wins, but in the process has put up big time numbers. He is currently averaging 14.5 rebounds, 20.4 points, 3.2 blocks, and 2.3 assists per game. His biggest asset is that he isn't relegated to just being a back to the basket or post guy, as he can step away from the basket and show off a good all-around skill set. Able to put the ball on the floor for a bigger player, and moves his feet very well. Definitely one the more underrated and talented forwards in the SWFL class of 2010.
Joel Hill, 6'3, WG, 2010 (Cape Coral HS)
- Point blank, Hill can flat out stroke the rock. This lefty has proven over time that if you give him space from beyond the arc, the chances are the shots are going to fall. His numbers shooting the ball are down this year though, as he has been asked to do more of the work as a penetrator and facilitator of the offense a lot of the time, meaning his opportunities to catch and shoot have been limited severely. However, he is not just a spot up shooter. He can put the ball on the floor and is crafty as a finisher inside, and usually guards bigger players on the defensive end as well. Does not have the quickest foot speed, but his length allows him to also guard quicker players on the wing also. Hill is currently averaging just over 20 points per game as well as just under 5 rebounds a game for a young team that has had its struggles at times this year.
Javaris Jackson, 5'8, PG, 2010 (Bayshore HS)
- Jackson is a small but dynamic scoring guard that can hurt you offensively in a variety of ways that makes you forget he is only 5'8 or so. He loves to create a little bit of space and then rise up over the defender for the jumpshot, but will also widdle his way into the paint and find a crafty way to get the bucket. He had to sit out last season due to a torn ACL, and that just makes it more remarkable that he has come back and averaged more than 20 points a game this season. His quickness, which is continuously still improving as he keeps getting more comfortable on the knee, allows him to get into passing lanes or stay in front of guys on the defensive end. He is definitely one of the best scorers in the area as far as degree of difficulty goes, as he doesn't get to many "gimme" buckets due to his stature.
Zach Christian, 6'0, PG, 2010 (Venice HS)
- Christian has worked himself into a very solid high school senior that can do a lot of good things on the basketball court. He excels at finishing in traffic with crafty moves or getting into the defenders body and using his strength to finish the play. A good shooter as well, but he will more than likely not settle a ton for the outside shot and will instead try and get into the teeth of the defense when possible. Defensively he understands where to be, and is a very good off-ball defensive presence. He is currently averaging nearly 14 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and right at 2 assists per game.
Chad Lawrence, 6'2, F, 2010 (Port Charlotte HS)
- Lawrence is hands down one of the hardest working forwards in the area. What he lacks in heighth, he makes up for and then some in energy and relentless pursuit of the basketball. With those qualities he is one of the best rebounders in the area, as evident by the two games with 18 or more rebounds this season, including his 27 point and 21 rebound outburst in a senior night dominant 56-42 win over a talented North Port squad. He has become a better finisher inside as well as the season has worn on, and his best offense is usually following up his missed shots and putting them back in. If you play the Pirates, it is safe to say you might think about putting atleast two bodies on him when the shots go up.
Local Senior Standouts Flying Under the Radar -Part 1
February 4, 2010
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