Practice Report: Academy of Central Florida

ORLANDO, FL — High school basketball season is upon us.

On Tuesday, I made the trip over to the Academy of Central Florida to check out the new talent in place for head coach Marcus Wilson’s SIAA program.

There was a lot of pure energy and effort in the gym. Here are my notes.

2027 6-3 G Martay Barnes

Martay Barnes has always been a natural athlete and pure scorer. The 2027 6-foot-3 has settled in as the bona fide leader for this Academy of Central Florida group and it was clear from the opening seconds of practice. Barnes was vocal and confident throughout as he flashed his speed on the defensive end as a pesty defender and as an in-and-out guard who hit jumpers, lays and smart passes. It seemed like he was always on the move defensively. Barnes holds his whole team responsible and is full of energy. His gamer-like ability, mixed with IQ and vocal leadership skills, makes him a highly coveted prospect in the junior class. Barnes is locked in now more than ever.

2027 6-6 G/F Marlon Martinez

Marlon Martinez was perhaps the most versatile and dynamic ball handler in the gym on the day. The 2027 6-foot-6 guard was finishing strong through traffic with both hands. Martinez is a gifted jump shooter who can hurt you with pull-ups and set 3’s. He didn’t take any shots on the day in full practice work that were bad, as he got to his spots and used his IQ and athleticism to make things happen. Martinez has two more years to develop his game, which is a scary thought. He is a special talent.

2026 7-3 C Symon Ghai

Symon Ghai is athletic as can be. The 2026 7-foot-3 center is always on the move on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he was looking for lobs and creating space for himself to grab boards, pin back blocks and slash. Ghai didn’t have the best day on the offensive end, but he was battling and as he adds more weight and takes on contact with his strength rather than his size, he will only get better. He has good patience defensively and his side-to-side speed lets him hang with most players. Ghai will be high major no doubt and is likely to develop into a pro if he puts in the work needed to do so at his size.

2027 6-10 F Fallilou Mbengue

Fallilou Mbengue was probably the most intriguing prospect in the gym. The 2027 6-foot-10 forward plays with all of his size, especially on offense, as he can mix it up as a slasher and jump shooter. Mbengue flashed good instincts as a jump shooter and took timely shots to score. A very active and gritty defender, he uses his foot speed to stay with opposing quick guards. Mbegnue might have been the most vocal player in the gym outside of Barnes and it was fun to see his leadership and true energy.

2026 6-7 G/F Felipe Minzer

Felipe Minzer is working his way back to full health, but even now, he flashed how truly good he can be. The 2026 6-foot-7 is one of the top anticipating vision passers I’ve seen this fall. Minzer gets very good arc on his jump shot which makes it hard to defend. With a nice attacking floater, he has a nice bag when it comes to scoring inside and out. Minzer is a very active on-ball defender and uses his long arms to contain you. An unselfish high IQ pass first guard, he can score in a variety of ways when open and tasked to do so. He’s a high level point forward.

2026 6-7 G/F Ethan Hillsman

Ethan Hillsman flashed his athleticism throughout practice as he drove in for lays, dunks and got to the mid-range for stop-pop jumpers. The 2026 6-foot-7 guard/forward thrives in the open floor and seems to create space for himself when headed out in transition. Hillsman is a gritty defender who can swat away shot attempts and get in your face to challenge you. He’s a well-rounded two-way prospect.

2027 6-5 G Adrian Cordoba

Adrian Cordoba was the strongest prospect in the gym. With a college-ready body, the 2027 6-foot-5 guard is a truly gifted jump shooter, a hard-nosed defender and a heads-up ballhandler. Cordoba is intriguing as he is a versatile threat who can play inside and out as a shooter and slasher. He impressed me with his willingness to battle and take on contact on defense and grab boards. Cordoba is going to be a major factor for this squad.

2028 6-4 G John Michael Arroyo

The lone sophomore on the national team, John Michael Arroyo has a major chance to be special. The 6-foot-4 Puerto Rican native showed poise against older talent and didn’t shy away from grabbing rebounds and fighting for put-backs. Arroyo plays with great energy and tenacity down low and has a smooth looking jump shot. At one point in practice, he hit a reverse lay through traffic in 3-on-3 work that was quite impressive. Arroyo is packed with upside.

Jake Perper has been a sports writer since 2010 and a basketball scout since 2015. Before launching The Hoop Vibe in August 2022, he was the Southeast Scouting Director for the Prep Hoops Circuit and the lead scout for Prep Hoops’ Florida site. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @thehoopvibe