Tag: Montverde Academy

Matas Buzelis leads comeback as Sunrise Christian upsets Montverde in GEICOs

Matas Buzelis had a four-point play in the final minute to help Sunrise Christian upset Montverde Academy in the GEICO Nationals. See highlights here.

The No. 1 team in the GEICO Nationals has been taken out by No. 8. Sunrise Christian pulled off a six-point comeback in the final minute of the game to upset Montverde, ranked in the Super 25 as the No. 2 team in the country, and advance to the second round.

Matas Buzelis, a five-star, 6-foot-9 small forward, led Sunrise Christian with 17 points in the 46-45 win. His biggest basket came when the team was about to see their chance slip away. With 53 seconds to play, Buzelis got a four-point play after being fouled on a 3-point show to close the gap from 45-39 to just a two-point game.

Four-star forward Scotty Middleton hit a 3-pointer with about 23 seconds remaining to give Sunrise Christian the lead.

Five-star Montverde center Derik Queen got a final attempt, driving the ball to the rim, but his tightly contested layup was off. Montverde missed the putback at the final second and Sunrise Christian escaped.

See the ending here:

Sunrise Christian had a solid but unspectacular regular season, with a 20-7 record entering the GEICO Nationals. The Buffaloes had lost to Montverde twice already during the season, and were at risk of losing all three when matched against the Eagles in the tournament.

But Buzelis, a five-star, 6-foot-9 small forward, led the way for the Buffaloes, helping them stay in the game long enough that they could clinch a spot in the semifinals.

The Buffaloes will take on Link Academy on Friday. Link Academy, ranked No. 4 in the tournament and No. 7 in the Super 25, beat Sunrise Christian in the regular season — but as was proven on Thursday, that doesn’t mean anything to the Buffaloes.

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Ohio State basketball signee has opportunity for Geico Nationals title

Good luck Scotty! #GoBucks

Typically, high school basketball teams’ seasons end when their run through the state tournament is done, but that isn’t the case for Ohio State signee Scotty Middleton.

The 6-foot, 6-inch, and 180-pound small forward will lead his Sunrise Christian Academy team against Montverde Academy, the top overall seed in the Geico Nationals Tournament.

Sunrise, which is located in Kansas, plays a national schedule, one that has it traveling to multiple different states this season like Maryland, Colorado, Utah, and Texas.

Middleton helped his team 20-7 record and a top ranking in the state. He and his team will look to extend their season this afternoon as tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET Thursday and will be broadcasted on ESPNU.

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WATCH: Texas commit Dillon Mitchell throws down monster putback dunk

The future Longhorn threw up a crazy dunk against IMG!

While Texas’ basketball team is still trying to figure out their identity, the future of the program is making waves on the high school basketball scene.

Five-star commit Dillon Mitchell, who plays at basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy, made a highlight reel play during Montverde’s recent game.

Mitchell led Montverde against IMG, and had what many are considering the play of the game when he grabbed the rebound off his own miss and slammed it in for the putback dunk.

Mitchell is a very versatile player that currently ranks as the No. 27 overall player in the 2022 class according to 247Sports composite rankings. Here is 247Sports’ director of basketball scouting Jerry Meyer’s evaluation of the future Longhorn:

At 6-7 has a long and thin build. Does need to build strength but has electric athleticism. Bouncy and runs like a gazelle. One of the top athletes in the 2022 class. A lefty with a sidewinder shot. His long distance shot is his main weakness, but it is improving and solid in the midrange. Excels at attacking the rim and finishing with authority. Is a high level rebounder who can initiate the break. Handles the ball well and sees the court and has a feel for passing. Can also run the lanes at an elite level. Defense is perhaps his best attribute. Can be a shut down defender. Versatile as well. Tough to find a player he can’t guard.

Mitchell is joined by fellow five-star Arterio Morris and four-star Rowan Brumbaugh as Longhorns pledges. The three of them currently have Texas’ 2022 class ranked No. 13 class in the nation.

Chris Beard and Longhorns fans continue to have reasons to be excited for the future with players with Mitchell’s skillset only helping the future of the program.

Five-star PG Skyy Clark returns from ACL tear in time for Hoophall

Six months after tearing his ACL, Skyy Clark made his season debut on Jan. 6. In Montverde’s first game of the 2022 Hoophall Classic, Clark had 11 points in the fist half.

Just six months after suffering a partially torn ACL and getting surgery,  Kentucky-bound Skyy Clark returned to the court.

On Jan. 6, the five-star guard stepped on the court for Montverde Academy (Fla.) for his first action since the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in July, where he suffered the injury on a non-contact play during practice.

In that debut days into 2022, Clark recorded three points, seven assists and four rebounds in 22 minutes of play. He has slowly continued to build himself up in game action since, playing three more games over the next week.

His fifth game of the season was Montverde’s debut in the 2022 Hoophall Classic on Saturday. Clark went off in the first half.

The guard scored 11 points, breaking his season-high tally in just one half of play. He did so efficiently, going 4-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from 3 in 14 minutes.

Clark played nine minutes in the second half and took just one shot in that time, finishing his game with 11 points, three rebounds, a pair of assists and four turnovers in Montverde’s 86-65 win over DeMatha Catholic.

As Clark works off the rust and gets his conditioning back to the level viewers are accustomed to, Kentucky will have its eye on the 6-foot-3 guard. Ranked as the 16th-best prospect in the 2022 class, Clark is part of a three-headed Wildcats class that also consists of No. 5-ranked player Chris Livingston and No. 6-ranked Cason Wallace.

If Clark returns to form in time — and it’s a remarkable feat in itself that he’s even back on the court this quickly after suffering the injury — Kentucky will once again be in excellent position to compete.

Montverde will get a day off before taking on IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) on Monday, the final day of Hoophall Classic. It will be broadcast on ESPNU.

5-star Baylor commit Keyonte George hits game-winner to lead No. 2 IMG over No. 1 Montverde

IMG Academy. Montverde. The battle between the two top-ranked boys basketball teams did not disappoint.

The matchup between two programs widely regarded as the best high school boys basketball teams in the country came down to the closing seconds on Friday.

No. 2 IMG Academy took down No. 1 Montverde on a second-chance layup from Baylor commit Keyonte George that came with less than 10 seconds remaining in the game. The IMG Academy Ascenders took down the Montverde Eagles 65-64 in an early-season battle between the two juggernauts loaded with collegiate talent.

But despite IMG being ranked lower, don’t tell George that this result was unexpected. After the game, he had a message for Sports Illustrated’s Jason Jordan:

“It’s not an upset.”

George finished with 14 points and five rebounds. His final score, the biggest of the night, can be found around the 1:33:40 mark of the game recording:

That wasn’t George’s only big shot. He ended the first quarter with an impressive drive and finish.

Highly ranked players around the five-star shooting guard also showed out in this battle. Five-star power forward Jarace Walker, a Houston commit, lead IMG with 20 points and added seven rebounds and five blocks.

Five-star small forward Dariq Whitehead, who is committed to Duke, led Montverde with 31 points 10-for-19 shooting and five 3-pointers.

That was just one of the highly anticipated games in the NIBC series. On Saturday, IMG Academy plays Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) while Montverde will play Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)

Montverde’s match will be another big test — after all, Sunrise Christian defeated IMG Academy on Thursday.

All games in this series are broadcast on ESPN+ or ESPNU. Find the full schedule here.

Texas receives crystal ball prediction for elite five-star forward Dillon Mitchell

Chris Beard and the Texas Longhorns are in the mix for another top level talent in Dillon Mitchell.

Chris Beard is still at the beginning stages of his tenure as Texas men’s basketball head coach, and even without a single game played, he’s managing to attract top talent to the Forty Acres.

After many thought that five-star forward Dillon Mitchell out of powerhouse Montverde Academy was bound to commit to Florida State, Beard and his staff convinced the top-30 prospect to take a visit to Texas.

The official visit on Oct. 15 visit seemingly went well for the Longhorns, as Mitchell has now had two 247sports crystal ball predictions inserted in favor of Texas.

Mitchell offers good size at 6-foot-7, and also has the ability to score from inside or outside while also looking like a solid defender at the high school level.

Gaining a commitment from Mitchell would be huge for Texas who currently has another five-star in Arterio Morris as their lone commit in the 2022 recruiting class.

Based off the team that the Longhorns have assembled for this season with transfers such as Marcus Carr and Tre Mitchell, it is safe to say that Beard will be attracting high level talent that he did not get at Texas Tech, nor did Shaka Smart consistently land throughout his tenure at Texas.

Jalen Duren announcing decision on Friday

Montverde Academy star Jalen Duren is closing in on a decision.

Montverde Academy star Jalen Duren is closing in on a decision.

The 6-foot-10 center and No. 1 player in the class of 2022 according to 247Sports is slated to announce his decision on Friday. Duren will pick between Kentucky, Miami and Memphis, as well as professional opportunities in the NBA G League and NBL.

Should Duren opt to play college basketball, Miami and Memphis are thought to be the two programs in the best position to secure his commitment.

Duren made waves throughout his junior season, leading Montverde Academy to a national championship. He continued that domination onto the Nike EYBL circuit during the spring and summer, claiming the top spot in the class of 2022 rankings following a dominant performance against Emoni Bates.

RELATED: Jalen Duren passes Emoni Bates for top spot in 2022 rankings

Duren recently help lead Team Final to a Nike EYBL Peach Jam championship with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 64-61 title game win over Brad Beal Elite.

“A cut-up physical specimen with an NBA-ready frame, Duren is one of the best prospects in high school basketball,” 247Sports’ Brandon Jenkins wrote in his scouting report of Duren. “He is a total monster in the low post who commands a double team and always knows where it is coming from. He is more physical, athletic, and bigger than his peers which sums up to him being a pro in the making. He runs the floor, can explode off it where he shows value as a conscientious rebounder. His touch around the basket, passing instincts and ability to leap multiple times is noteworthy. He is a motored up workhorse who has an affinity for playing hard. Defensively, Duren is alert while in helpside and alters or blocks shots with great elevation and timing. He has a high ceiling that gives many scouts the reason to believe he can achieve all-pro status someday and have a long career at the highest levels of the sport.”

Montverde Academy basketball reloading with transfers

Montverde Academy is one of the few high school basketball programs in the country that reloads every offseason

Montverde Academy is one of the few high school basketball programs in the country that reloads every offseason instead of going through a rebuild when hit by heavy graduation losses.

That has once again been the case this offseason, as Montverde Academy has recently welcomed some top-end talent into its program after watching the likes of DaRon Homes (Houston), Caleb Houstan (Michigan), Langston Love (Baylor) and Ryan Nembhard (Creighton) graduate.

Forwards Omaha Biliew and Kwame Evans Jr. and guard Skyy Clark have all left their respective high school programs to join legendary head coach Kevin Boyle at Montverde. Clark, a Kentucky commit, is the No. 11 recruit in the class of 2022, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Biliew and Evans Jr. are both class of 2023 recruits. The 6-foot-8, 190-pound Evans Jr. is the No. 5 recruit in the class, while Biliew checks in at No. 6 in the rankings. Biliew transferred to Montverde after spending last year at Waukee High School in Iowa. Evans Jr. played last season at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Maryland.

Montverde could lose one of its best players in Jalen Duren, the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2022, if he chooses to reclassify into 2021, but the cupboard is most definitely full for Boyle and company. With Biliew, Clark and Evans Jr. joining a roster that already features Jalen Hood-Schifino, Malik Reneau and Dariq Whitehead, Montverde is in a good position to defend its national title next season.

RELATED: Evaluating Jalen Duren’s options if he reclassifies into 2021

Montverde Academy beats Sunrise Christian for fifth GEICO Nationals title

Montverde notched its fifth GEICO Nationals title Saturday with a 62-52 win over Sunrise Christian Academy.

Montverde Academy and Sunrise Christian Academy were widely considered the two best high school basketball teams in the country throughout this season.

The debate over who the top dog was settled Saturday when the two met again in the GEICO Nationals on Saturday, as Montverde came out on top. Powered by a third quarter in which it drained its first nine field goal attempts, Montverde Academy notched a 62-52 win over Sunrise Christian for its fifth GEICO Nationals championship.

RELATED: Top four seeds advance to GEICO Nationals semifinals

Montverde led by just two points at the end of the first half, but grew its lead to as large as 20 points in the third. Sunrise Christian refused to go away and cut Montverde’s lead to single-digits with two and a half minutes remaining, but 3-pointers by Creighton signee Ryan Nembhard and Michigan signee Caleb Houstan with under two minutes left were the daggers. Nembhard finished with 12 points on three 3-pointers and seven assists, earning Player of the Game recognition.

Montverde nearly missed out on the chance to play for a GEICO Nationals title, but survived AZ Compass Prep in the final seconds on Friday thanks to a tip-in with 17 seconds remaining.

Montverde Academy extends winning streak to 40 at St. James NBIC Invitational

Montverde Academy won three games at the St. James NBIC Invitational over the weekend, extending its winning streak to 40

Montverde Academy is no stranger to taking down top competition, and it continued to do so at the St. James NBIC Invitational over the weekend.

With wins over Oak Hill Academy, IMG Academy and Wasatch Academy, Montverde extended its winning streak to a whopping 40 games. The Eagles manhandled Oak Hill on Friday night, narrowly defeated IMG in a nationally televised affair on Sunday and had their way with Wasatch on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Montverde led Oak Hill 34-27 at halftime before putting the game away with a dominant 28-9 third quarter. Montverde continued to dominate in the fourth as well, posting 31 points en route to a dominant victory.

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will choose a college

Montverde’s primetime matchup with IMG Academy lived up to its lofty expectations, going down to the wire in a back and forth affair. Five-star power forward and Michigan signee led the Eagles with 16 points, while five-star center Jalen Duren, the No. 2 player in the class of 2022, stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.

Duren picked up where he left off against IMG when Montverde played Wasatch Academy on Monday, registering 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in a 70-59 win.

Montverde will look to push its winning streak to 41 at home against Lake Placid on Jan. 23.