City of Palms: Evans' Wednesday Takeaways

FORT MYERS, Fl. – The second round of bracket play kicked off on Wednesday in Fort Myers as it was the battle between the nationally ranked Hudson Catholic and McEachern programs that was the talk of the day, though the battle between a duo of five-stars and Ivy League bound prospects did enough to suffice. We assess our takeaways from the City of Palms Classic where Sharife Cooper stole the show with his 42-point barrage, Scottie Barnes cemented his case as the most unique prospect in the 2020 class and four programs have emerged defensive savant wing Isaac Okoro.

Is there a more unique prospect in the 2020 class than Scottie Barnes? I think not. The 6-foot-7 wunderkind from West Palm Beach turned things up to the next level and then some during his team’s second half, leading to a ferocious comeback win in overtime over the highly lauded Mater Dei High program. Finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, the improvements within the five-star’s game is no laughing matter but what makes things even more daunting is just how much better Barnes can become.

Running the point guard position, Barnes, who boasts a 7-foot-2, has an impeccable feel as a playmaker and facilitator. He does have to become a better shooter but even that has improved where he converted two perimeter jumpers. Barnes’ instincts, tenacity, two-way abilities and box score touching abilities are some of the best that there is in America. The recruitment of the five-star sophomore is just beginning to take off, though Florida, Florida State, Kansas, Syracuse, Miami and Oregon, the latter being Barnes’ dream school, have begun to emerge as suitors.

He may not be the most daunting of prospects from the looks test alone but watch closely and Sharife Cooper will likely have a say in who wins and who loses. A 5-foot-11 lead guard and the leader of the nationally ranked McEachern High program, Cooper was sensational during his team’s second half on Wednesday, though it was his heroics to end things that stole the show.

Tied up with seconds running off the clock, Cooper calmly dribbled towards the high elbow before then calling game, literally, swishing a game winning 3-point jumper at the buzzer to send his team to the semifinals in Fort Myers. The 2020 guard finished with 42 points in all, four coming from beyond the arc, but for someone who does not boast the elite strength of others, the fact that he was able to get to the line 20 times reflects just how tough and unrelenting he is. Cooper cited Auburn, Alabama, Florida State, Rutgers, NC State and South Carolina, the latter the program where his sister suits up at, as the schools most involved to date as the recruitment of the super sophomore is due to bleed into a priority one for the southern programs.

Despite going down in defeat, Jahvon Quinerly is the type of basketball player that is worth the price of admission. He may lack for the one-and-done potential as some of his other five-star brethren due to his size and so-so athleticism, yet Quinerly’s feel, pace and overall skillset makes him a candidate to produce as a freshman next season.

Whether it was nifty slash and scores at the basket, Charmin soft floaters in the lane, or pull-up 3’s off of the high ball screen, Quinerly did not struggle to display his entire arsenal of scoring moves. Finishing with 28 points, six assists and six rebounds, the elite playmaker has remained hush on his college recruitment but it should be noted that both Rutgers and Villanova were each in attendance for both of his contests thus far in the Sunshine State. The one-time Arizona pledge is slated to be one of the most productive college guards from the 2018 class over long haul and the type of player that adds more than his fair share of entertaining flavor to any given game.

Facing off with arguably a top-five defender in the 2018 class, Luther Muhammad, the future Ohio State Buckeye was held in check by another defensive maestro, 2019 wing Isaac Okoro. A solid as granite small forward prospect that can guard both wing positions along with some small ball power forward, Okoro was no slouch in defending, and in some way, shutting down, Hudson Catholic’s best offensive weapon, regardless of how much bigger, quicker or more athletic his opposing counterpart was.

Okoro’s value is becoming clearer by the day, an identity can be clearly defined as an elite winnter. Yes, he does have to become a better shooter but at this point, we are just pulling hairs. Okoro sits as the 33rd best junior recruit in America but at this point in time, it would be difficult to select 32 others better as college prospects, and better yet, 32 others that win more. Okoro’s game has continued to ascend this winter as he is nearing five-star status where Auburn, Florida State, NC State and Rutgers have emerged as contenders for his commitment.

Pat Connaughton ended his Notre Dame playing career having played in every game that he suited up in. Robby Carmody could do just the same and while he will have to make some strides in the coming years if he ever wants to be rightfully compared to the former Irish standout, the 2018 Notre Dame signee displayed some awfully impressive comparable traits to the now Portland Trail Blazers' product.

Having shed close to 20 pounds since the summer, Carmody is much lighter of foot and because of it, capable of expending the amount of energy that he wants on both sides of the floor. He exploded for 25 first half points before having to sit portions of the second half due to foul trouble but no one is going tell Carmody to not play aggressive. A deceptive athlete with an improving perimeter jumper, the Irish will face a need in the backcourt next season upon the graduation of Matt Farrell but by the time conference season rolls around, Mike Brey may have his deepest team in years thanks to the enrollments of Carmody and his fellow 2018 commits in Prentiss Hubb, Nate Laszewski, Dane Goodwin and Chris Doherty.

Currently a member of the Rivals150, Spencer Freedman has continued to carry the baton for the rather undermanned but hard playing Mater Dei High program this winter. Headed to Harvard next year, the Crimson has had no issues enrolling upper echelon point guard prospects and for the next four years, Tommy Amaker should feel safe entrusting the ball in crunch time scenarios with Freedman on his roster. He finished with 18 points and four assists on Wednesday, showing an impressive feel, shot making acumen and toughness at the basket.

Alongside the Rivals150 senior is Michael Wang, a multi-dimensional power forward that can shoot, dribble and rebound. A polished half-court weapon that didn’t miss a shot during his team’s 44-point first half outburst, Wang should thrive within the Ivy League. Imagining the Mater Dei product alongside all-league member AJ Brodeur should only bolster the Penn’s chances of moving up within the conference’s pecking order under Steve Donahue’s watch.

The future of Bob Huggins’ backcourt was on full display on Wednesday as Trey Doomes, a 6-foot-3 playmaking guard, kicked off the day with an impressive blend of finishes, passes and defense, before Jordan McCabe finished things showcasing the moxy and offensive firepower that should make him a fan favorite in Morgantown.

Doomes, an ambidextrous guard from Georgia, finished with an efficient stat line of 17 points off of 10 shots, while also tallying a handful of assists and rebounds. His greatest value comes on the defensive side where he should thrive within Huggins’ pressing style defense. The University School product is one of the top quick twitch athletes around, the type of guard that has come to overperform in recent years for the Mountaineers.

McCabe could be the perfect complement in the backcourt next to fellow 2018 signee Doomes as his offensive acumen is as polished as you’re going to find at the high school level. He is the definition of a high risk, high reward type but when placed around the appropriate pieces, McCabe should deliver. He is an elite playmaker that should have no issues notching more than his fair share of assists whenever the proper minutes are allotted.