Top Performers: Week 7
Somehow we are here into Week 7 of the FHSAA boys basketball season. There were a lot of good matchups here in the first week of 2023.
Here is a look at some of the top performances I saw between live and streamed games.
Wednesday, Jan. 4
Windermere 83, Edgewater 75
Windermere – A seasoned group, the Wolverines have found success with a core of four scoring threats. 2024 5-foot-7 guard Ta’Veon Jones (25 points) doesn’t care if he is smaller, he is creative, tough and a dang good scorer. That was on full display against Edgewater. 2024 6-foot-4 guard Chalier Torres (19 points) fought through foul trouble to knock down key jumpers when it mattered the most. 2023 6-foot-2 guard Jalen Debose (14 points) and 2023 6-foot-1 guard Isaiah Dorceus (13 points) both shot well and got to the cup. 2025 6-foot-2 Korvontae Hatter is a name to keep a close eye on as a bigger bodied guard.
Edgewater – The youth for the Eagles is quite impressive. 2025 6-foot-4 guard Darius Washington III (21 points) is a versatile, lengthy and very talented athlete. He put in the work and rarely came out of the game in a true battle at Windermere. 2023 5-foot-10 guard TJ Jefferson (21 points) caught fire from deep while 2024 6-foot-1 guard Erik Taylor (15 points) is a speedy and gifted ballhandler in full control of his offense. 2025 6-foot-7 forward Myles Mayfield is an intriguing long bodied inside presence for Edgewater.
Thursday, Jan. 5
Bell Creek 64, Northside Christian 60
Bell Creek – Sitting at 13-1, the Panthers are making a case for being one of the best teams in Tampa up in Riverview. Most impressively, they’ve been doing it without 2026 6-foot-2 guard Jermal Jones, who has been out for the last few weeks due to injury. 2023 6-foot guard Ben Walker (17 points) flashed his quick twitch jumper and has been steady all season long. Down low, it was a true pick your poison for the defense with 2024 6-foot-6 forward Elijah Payne and 2024 6-foot-5 forward Tahir Bibbs each scoring 14 points. 2025 6-foot-5 guard Caleb Sanders (9 points) continues to improve as a physical two-way player. Bell Creek has skilled jump shooters, big bodies and athletes all over the floor.
Northside Christian – The host Mustangs rallied back from a 10-point deficit with just over four minutes left in the game. 2023 5-foot-11 Skyler Scull (18 points) was on fire down the stretch, finishing with pull-up jumpers and with lay-ins. 2023 6-foot-4 guard/forward Tobias Gunter (17 points) had a tough task against the Bell Creek bigs, but he leaped for boards and finishes. Gunter had a very good look from the top of the circle to tie it under the minute, but it didn’t fall. Northside Christian plays fast and together. They’ll be just fine.
Friday, Jan. 6
Providence 60, Ponte Vedra 45
Note: This game was played with a shot clock.
Providence – There is so much unselfish team ball here for the Stallions who sit at 13-1. 2023 6-foot-6 guard Mason Lee (13 points) led the way as an aggressive finisher. He was active. 2024 6-foot-6 guard Chris Arias (10 points) did more of the same as a driver. 2024 6-foot-4 guard David Fonville (12 points) impressed with his strength and outside shooting touch. 2024 6-foot-6 forward Jaylen Robinson (11 points) had an incredible sequence before the halftime break. Robinson had a reverse two-handed slam under the basket, a block on the other end and a lay-in all in the last 30 seconds. It really got his team going heading into the locker room.
Ponte Vedra – Leading 30-26 at the break, the Sharks were simply getting their shots to fall in front of a raucous sold-out Providence crowd. That didn’t happen in the second half, but there was a lot of grit on display. 2023 6-foot-4 guard/forward (12 points) has a good size and muscle and switched hands to finish at the cup plenty in this one. 2023 6-foot-1 guard Nathan Bunkosky (7 points) proved that he is a high IQ point guard who makes good reads.
Calvary Christian 69, Gateway Charter 60
Calvary Christian – Currently on a six-game winning streak, Calvary Christian is a very in-sync group. 2024 6-foot-1 guard Daniel MacGregor (34 points) put up buckets in both halves and simply couldn’t be slowed down when headed to the rack. 2024 6-foot-6 guard Ace Taylor (18 points) had 11 first half points and took advantage of open space in transition to finish down low. This duo paired with the unselfish guard play will help the Warriors make a serious postseason run.
Gateway Charter – Making the trip up to Clearwater, Gateway Charter were winners of 11 straight games which included a 3-0 record at Sun Bash Tampa Bay and a local win over Golden Gate. It didn’t go the Griffins way, but 2023 6-foot-4 guard Jahmari Johnson (21 points) continues to play endlessly hard. His attacking ability is impressive and his mid-range pull-up works at a high clip. 2023 6-foot guard Jaden Arzola (18 points) connected on six 3’s and is a clear-cut threat from deep. This is a really talented unit out of Southwest Florida.
Bay 67, Rutherford 46
Bay – The Tornadoes are 10-2 currently and one of the best teams in the panhandle out of Panama City. 2023 6-foot-7 guard Deondrian Washington (25 points) is a speedy and lengthy athlete who was hard to contain in this win. He can hurt you at the point of attack and still has a ton of untapped potential. 2025 6-foot guard Tramello Carter (14 points) impressed me with his shiftiness, jumper and finishing touch. He made things happen.
Rutherford – A pair of 2023 guards were the best players on the floor for the Rams in Friday night’s loss. 6-foot-2 guard Ryan Spearman (14 points) was in control of the offense and had a nice-looking outside jumper. 5-foot-9 guard Damarius Laster (8 points) proved that he is a speedster. He also created for others and had some nice lay-ins.
Jake Perper has been a sports 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.
