Standouts: Sunshine State Classic (Day 1)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – High school basketball is back in the state of Florida. With that, I took in three games at the 6th annual Sunshine State Preseason Classic on the campus of Westminster Academy on Wednesday night.
Results:
- Hallandale 76, Somerset Prep 60
- Park Vista 63, Blanche Ely 47
- Westminster Christian 69, Dillard 58
Here is a look at the top performers overall.
2023 5-10 Anthony Floyd – Hallandale
The passion and intensity that Anthony Floyd plays well are always present. Tonight, he took over time and time again with a 27-point outing in a win over Somerset Prep North Lauderdale. The Hallandale lead guard is the ideal scoring point guard who gets the job done with his quicks and smarts.
…2023 6-4 G Kirkland Sands (16 points) shined as well for Hallandale as he displayed his gamer ability with his jumper and attacking prowess.
2025 5-10 Cooper Whitby – Westminster Christian
Shooting and smart play were both on full display for a re-energized Westminster Christian group on Wednesday night. Cooper Whitby made the most of his looks, tacking on team-high 19 points in a win over Dillard. He connected on a few corner 3’s and proved to be a very instinctive player for his age. Whitby is a pure shooter.
…2023 5-11 G Danny Fernandez (18 points) was just as reliable in this game as he led the offense down the floor often and hit some highly contested 3’s and mid-range looks.
2023 6-3 Taquan Skinner – Dillard
Dillard didn’t get the victory, but it was Taquan Skinner who put together a really nice performance with 15 points. He is a hard-nosed rebounder who leaps and challenges for almost every board. Offensively, he finishes well around the rim and uses his speed to his advantage.
…2024 6-1 G Kevin Moore (13 points) drew a lot of contact in this game and took advantage of his opportunities at the free throw line.
2023 6-2 Tayshaun Jackson – Somerset Prep North Lauderdale
From the jump, guard Tayshaun Jackson found openings for himself and hit some important jumpers to keep Somerset Prep North Lauderdale hanging around against Hallandale. He added a team-best 17 points in the loss. Most impressively, Jackson’s mix of handles, shiftiness and reliable shooting helped his side all game long.
…2023 6-1 F Ricardo Corvil (15 points) is fresh off football season, but that didn’t stop him from showing off his jumper and fiery defensive play.
2023 6-2 G Carlos Perez – Park Vista
There was a lot to like about Park Vista, starting with Carlos Perez. The lengthy guard is super athletic. He creates havoc defensively with turnovers, gets up and down the floor well and finishes downhill with toughness. Perez had 11 points and played hard all game long.
…The first player off the bench for the Cobras was 2023 5-10 G Tony Wade. He recorded 13 points and was a key creator for his side. 2023 6-5 F Kelton Warren (10 points) flashed bright moments as a pest defensively and a very intriguing athlete with upside.
2025 6-0 G Trey George – Blanche Ely
Trey George (16 points) is a gifted point man with serious wheels and has a nice touch around the rim. He found a way to get up and down the floor on the break often. George kept his offense under control and he will certainly continue to do so this season for Blanche Ely.
…2023 6-3 G CJ King (13 points) is a skilled ballhandler who can hurt defenses with his mix of length and burst. He hit some key shots and floaters. King and George are a nice backcourt combo.
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.