Scotland Campus' Prep White/Black Thrive During Southern Florida Swing
Heading all the way from Franklin County down to Central Florida, the southern road swing went smoothly for the Scotland Campus Sports prep basketball teams. The traditionally powerful prep basketball program performed admirably during a pair of games against Central Point Christian Academy in Orlando.
Smooth is one word synonymous with 5-foot-11 guard David Coit, an under-recruited Class of 2020 prospect with a wealth of scoring tools. The New Jersey native, who scored 1,000+ points during an illustrious career at Princeton Day, piled up 65 points in two games against Central Point Christian Academy's two post grad teams.
Coit was fearless in his forays to the rim, getting to the basket and finishing through contact. He displayed an inside/outside presence as well, knocking down 3-pointers and also barreling his way to the rim and finishing in crafty fashion. Coit's ambidextrous scoring aptitude is one of the more notable, bedrock assets of his high scoring trade.
He was able to ply that trade consistently against coach Evan Boucher's White Tigers, scoring 32 points while propelling the Prep Black to a 104-94 win over Central Point Post Grad White.
"David has an absolute bull dog mentality," explained Sullivan Brown, the director of player development and an assistant to head coach/program director Chris Chaney on Scotland's nationally ranked Prep Red team.
"He's a gritty defender and he's willing to pickup at full court. He's a big shot taker, big shot-maker. He still needs improvements but he's fully capable at playing high level basketball as a low Divison-I or high Division-II type of player.
Beyond Coit's ability to handle the changing of the speeds and turn in timely buckets, Scotland was bolstered by the above the rim play of 6-foot-6 Chaz Owens. Owens scored 20 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, and added three steals to take home Co-Player of the Game Honors along with Coit.
Owens' motor and ability to get above the rim with ease was one of the more noticeable aspects during the second half. Several times, he finished lob passes that soared well above the rim. This type of vertically explosive athleticism is what separates Owens, the son of legendary PA prep talent (and former Syracuse and NBA star) Billy Owens.
The White Tigers were led by Baltimore-bred 6-foot-4 guard Ian Hagan, who scored 20 points in arguably his best showing of the season. Nursing an injury which kept him sidelined early on, Hagan was able to bucket a pair of momentum-bolstering 3-pointers and score workmanlike points around the rim.
The Knights were buoyed by strength in numbers, which included a fleet of sharpshooters who scored during opportune times. Among them was 6-foot-4 Jack Ramsey, a skilled lefty who brings a size advantage over smaller guards and can take bigger defenders away from the rim with his 3-point shooting. Brenden Kelly, who, like Coit is from New Jersey originally, was effective in operating the offensive flow and scoring via the stepback. One of the more appealing attributes of Kelly is the quickness with which he plays as a shifty guard with tight handle. Beyond this, he knows how to get his shot off quickly and create space for his fluid mid-range jumper off the dribble.
"Going down to Florida was a great experience not only because of the fact that we played top-notch competition, but it allowed our team to really bond and gel together," explained Kelly.
"Down in Florida, a lot of people started coming out of their shells and playing way harder and this helped the team immediately."'
Kelly, a hyper competitive guard, has reaped the rewards of playing alongside Coit. Both players recently turned in wowing scoring performances--Kelly with 23 points and Coit with 44--during a loss to Hamilton Hall.
"David and I are always in the gym at Scotland together, so we trust each other to do what is needed to help the team," Kelly explained. "The respect we have for one another and appreciation for each other's games allow us to get on each other, and push each other to another level of playing. He's a fantastic teammate and player."
Eye-openers
Scotland Campus Prep White got plenty of production out of its guards. Here's a look at some of the best performances throughout the trip
-Devin Rivera, a 5-foot-9 guard in the Class of 2021 scored 21 points and doled out five assists agianst 4A Sports Academy in Orlando.
-Kedrick Stockman, a deadeye 3-point shooter from Japan, shot it at 4-for-5 clip from beyond the arc in the second half of a win against CPCA.
-Dillon Hod, one of the most vastly improved players in the program, scored 15 points and turned in a pair of traditional 3-point plays during a loss to CPCA Prep Blue. Hod's workmanlike game, swift passing, motor, and IQ were on display throughout the trip.
-Jahmar White is beginning to evolve as that breakout performer, the type of kid who can fill up a stat sheet in a hurry. The guard from Guam had 29 points in a single half this season and has become a deadly shooter with a quick first step. White scored 20 points in the team's win over CPCA at Polytechnic University in Orlando.