2024 Names To Remember (Part 2)
With the start of the 2022-23 regular season underway in the state of Florida, it is time to look at underrated prospects in different classes.
Moving onto the junior class, 2024, this is Part 2 of players that deserve more attention from college programs.
2024 5-10 G Solomon Hughes – Pembroke Pines Charter
Transferring to Pembroke Pines Charter this fall, Solomon Hughes is ready to build off a very impressive sophomore season at Everglades. The 5-foot-10 guard is a speedy athlete, who handles the rock with purpose and gets his teammates involved first and foremost. Hughes averaged 14.6 PPG last season at Everglades and proved that his jumper from 3-point land and the mid-range are nothing to be taken lightly. He should fit right in for an always competitive Jaguars team.
2024 6-0 G Derajah Hardy – Lakeland
Lakeland football is sitting at 11-0 and Derajah Hardy is suiting up at wide receiver for the Dreadnaughts as they head into a region final tilt on Friday. Whenever the football season ends, Hardy will be back on the basketball floor and that will surely help the cause. Alongside his older brother, 2023 6-1 guard Rolijah Hardy, Derajah is equally as tough. He averaged 13.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG and 2.5 SPG as a sophomore and will have an even bigger role this season as a lay-in artist and scorer.
2024 6-3 G Tahir Bond – Coral Glades
A consistent threat on both ends of the floor, Coral Glades has a true gamer in Tahir Bond. Transferring in from Ft. Lauderdale (he averaged 9.6 PPG in 2021-22), the 6-foot-3 guard is instinctive, strong when driving and kicking and a talented finisher. Bond has a nice jumper to his repertoire but is at his best when he gets inside as a passer or attacker. Expect a very good junior season for him for the Jaguars.
2024 6-2 G Lavar Jamison – Boca Raton
With its top scoring senior graduating, Boca Raton will look to Lavar Jamison to fill the alpha role this season. A 6-foot-2 guard, Jamison is a quick release shooter, crafty ballhandler and a very sound finisher at the rim. He uses his burst and strength well when driving inside and he’s active in transition. Averaging just under 10.0 PPG as a sophomore, I like Jamison’s chances to breakout in a major way during his junior campaign.
2024 6-4 G Vopchy Prophete – Wekiva
An emerging prospect in the Orlando area, Vopchy Prophete averaged 13.2 PPG as a sophomore for Wekiva. Fresh off of a nice summer with Team Judah Nation, he played in the 17U division often. At 6-foot-4, Prophete has very good length and he is an explosive finisher when pushing the tempo. He is not afraid of contact and he is elusive enough to get past defenders often. Prophete is a name to monitor closely this season.
Jake Perper has covered sports as a writer since 2010 and a basketball scout since 2015. He was the Southeast Scouting Director for the Prep Hoops Circuit and the lead scout for Prep Hoops’ Florida site for seven years. You can follow him on Twitter @thehoopvibe.