BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Event organizer Matt Ramker's first edition of the adidas Superstar Showcase was a well-organized event displaying some of the top talent in the Sunshine State. Held on the campus of Lynn University, the event showcased juniors and seniors on Saturday while Sunday featured the top freshman and sophomores. The Showcase was a huge success that is sure to become one of the top Florida fall events.
Standout players
Ismaila Dauda (6-10, 225, C)
2012, Boca Raton, Fla./Grandview Prep, committed to Miami
The Miami commit, who hails from Nigeria, showed why he will be one of the top players in his class nationally with consistent high-level play throughout the day. He is a tenacious rebounder who pursues balls out of his area. He has the rare skill of going after balls with two hands off the rim. Dauda is a fierce competitor who runs the floor every possession while challenging every shot in the paint. He showed his athleticism several times while tip-dunking balls out of transition. His skill level will continue to improve to catch up with the rest of his game. He has very good hands for a post player of his size, and he can catch in transition and finish above the rim. He does an excellent job of posting hard and asking for the ball at all times. Once he finds his go-to move in the post, he will be very hard to deal with. Frank Haith and the Hurricanes have landed a future gem.
Cady Lalanne (6-8, 210, SF)
2010, Orlando, Fla./Oak Ridge HS
Lalanne is a long, athletic SF who has a tremendous amount of potential. He is a solid midrange jump shooter with the ability to stretch the defense with extended range. He possesses a very soft touch for a big guy. Lalanne has very good ball skills, and sees the floor well. He is an adept passer off the dribble as well as from the post. He is very patient in the post with his back to the basket, finding the open man while not forcing shots. His length allows him to block and alter shots around the rim, while making it tough to shoot over him from the perimeter. He has good feet which allow him to guard on the perimeter. Lalanne needs to improve his tenacity for rebounding the ball. He sometimes floats on the floor, which keeps him from getting to balls he should be able to get. He is up and down at times, but there is no doubt the talent is there he just has to put it all together all the time.
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Malik Martin (6-8, 195, SF)
2013, Miami Gardens, Fla./Pace
Martin was the man to watch on Sunday at Lynn University. He has a long, lean frame with at least a 7-foot wingspan. He uses that length to block and alter shots while doing a good job rebounding the ball. He is a better offensive rebounder at this point of his career, but that will surely change when he adds some muscle to his frame. He has long arms and a versatile skill set, which includes knocking down a 15-foot jumper with a feathery touch and good ballhandling, remind us of former LSU standout Anthony Randolph. Martin has good feet for someone his size, and an excellent demeanor on the floor. He does a great job chasing down balls in transition for offensive rebounds, and no one should ever feel comfortable with breakaway layups with his ability to block shots from behind. He is an excellent runner and takes long strides. The sky is the limit for this 14-year-old, who will have high-major schools beating down his door over the next couple of years.
Stephon Blair (6-8, 210, PF)
2012, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard
After a slow start, Blair consistently showed his ability to own the glass and alter shots at the rim. He does an excellent job rebounding on the defensive end with two hands, looking for an outlet. On the offensive glass, Blair keeps balls alive with active play, and finishes with strength around the rim when he tracks down balls. He is very long and bouncy, which he shows with his ability to run the floor. He showed flashes of offensive production throughout the day with face-up jump shots and back-to-the-basket jump hooks. However, his skill level must continue to improve for him to be a consistent scorer in the post. He plays the game with passion and intensity which can sometimes spill over into a negative. As he matures, Blair will need to harness this passion to make it a positive for his game. No question, he is a defensive specialist who has a chance to become a well-rounded post in the future. Look for his recruitment to heat up over the next couple of months.
Paul Jones (6-6, 215, PF)
2012, Boca Raton, Fla./West Boca
Jones is your typical undersized post player who does all the dirty work. He is an excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor. He has big, soft hands, which allow him to snatch balls both in and out of his area. Those huge mitts allow him to catch anything in his way. He consistently caught tough passes in the half court or running in transition for easy finishes at the rim. His strong frame and long arms allow him to battle in the post with taller, heavier players. His relentless play often makes up for any size difference he might be facing. Jones consistently ran the floor on both ends of the court, which spelled many easy putbacks for him. This young PF will continue to climb the rankings in his class, and remind us of some of the past undersized PFs who have been extremely productive.
Surprise player
Kristan Rolle (6-5, 215, PF)
2011, Bahamas/Monsignor Pace
Rolle is a powerful PF who consistently showed his strengths throughout the day. He has a good body with long arms, which allows him to dominate on the glass. He is a relentless rebounder who goes and gets balls out of his area on the offensive and defensive glass. He finishes everything around the rim with strength and has a knack for getting to the foul line. He possesses great hands, catching balls in transition and snatching balls out of the air on the backboard. Rolle does an excellent job playing his position, not trying to do things he can't do. He has a good feel for the game and a true passion for the game. He is someone who, with work and time, could develop his perimeter skills that would allow him to play the SF position. Rolle will be on many schools' radars as the season unfolds.
One to watch
Jordan Montgomery (6-3, 180, SF)
2012, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep
Montgomery initially caught my eye with his defensive abilities, but soon showed his offensive skills matched. He is a long, athletic wing player who showed great lateral foot quickness and strength, which allowed him to shut down opposing guards. His length makes it difficult to shoot over him while his toughness on the defensive glass gives him the ability to rebound his position very well. Offensively, Montgomery had no letdown. He showed a deft jump shot from 22 feet and in, with the ability to get by you for midrange pull-up jumpers. His athleticism allows him to slash to the basket in transition and finish at the rim. He is a good ball handler who can get by you to the basket and finish with contact. Montgomery will be an elite guard in the Class of 2012 in the Sunshine State.
Notes
• Cady Lalanne's (Oak Ridge, Fla.) versatility makes him a hot commodity for some high-level schools. When he was good, he was really good. The 2010 standout has a scheduled visit to Ole Miss in the near future, with UMass, VCU, and Georgia also in the race for the SF.
• 2011 prospect Rod Days (Sagemont, Fla.) showed signs of living up to his ranking, but could not put it all together consistently. His size and skill set make him very intriguing. Once he learns how to put the total package together, he can be an outstanding wing.
• With the talent displayed over the two days from Monsignor Pace High School, look for coach Mark Lieberman to battle for another state championship. He has a great nucleus of young guys, led by Malik Martin, Kristan Rolle and Samad Hinds, that will keep him stockpiled for the next few years.
• Orlando Christian Prep has a nice group of guards in Jordan Montgomery, Isaac Cohen, Terral Merritt and Adonis Burbage. Look for these studs to make a lot of noise the next couple of years in Orlando.
• In this basketball family they may have saved the best for last. 2013 prospect Quentin Payne (Bishop Verot, Fla.) is the younger brother of Cully Payne, who is a freshman guard at the University of Iowa. Quentin displayed a high skill level necessary to attract high major attention over the next four years.
Joel Van Meter contributed to this report.