Oglethorpe, Inc. Tournament of Champions (Boys)Nov 27, 2016 by Brett Regan
FloHoops' 2016 Oglethorpe, Inc. ToC All-Tournament Team
FloHoops' 2016 Oglethorpe, Inc. ToC All-Tournament Team
The top stars took center stage to make the FloHoops' 2016 Oglethorpe, Inc. Tournament Of Champions All-Tournament Team
by Evan Thomas
WASHINGTON, Illinois -- The fourth and final day of the 11th annual Oglethorpe, Inc. Tournament of Champions is officially in the books, and this year's group of prospects will be one to remember. From high-flying dunks to deep three's to record-breaking performances, so many stood out, but only five could make the FloHoops All-Tournament Team.
The best will not be saved for last here because the show Co-MVPs Zion Williamson and Kezie Okpala put on at Washington Community High School were epic.
Williamson, the Spartanburg Day (SC) star and nation's No. 2 prospect for 2018, set the tournament's single-game scoring record with 50 points and 16 rebounds on Wednesday, and finished out the event by posting 27 points and 14 rebounds. This was an easy choice.
Perhaps one even easier was Okpala. The 6-foot-8 Stanford signee averaged 33 points per game this week, which set the record for most points scored in a single tournament. He also Anaheim Esperanza to the Washington Invitational finals and scored 24 points before falling to Chicago Uplift, 69-54.
Parker Stewart (Union City, TN): This week, the Ole Miss signee displayed why he was one of the most highly touted players out of Tennessee for the 2017 class. At 6-foot-4, Stewart made his own push for the tournament record for points while averaging 25 per game over four games, including 32 in his final game against Williamson.
Javonte Perkins (St. Louis, MO): Perkins is undoubtedly the heart and soul of the Miller Academy. This week, he led the Phoenix in scoring (22 ppg.) and rebounds (11 rpg.) on their way to a 2-1 mark. The 6-foot-7 forward for 2017 is still uncommitted and will be an interesting prospect to watch as the season progresses.
Chris Duarte (Troy, NY): Duarte didn't have the stellar numbers some of the others on this elite team did, but the kid literally does it all. He averaged 16 points for a very talented Redemption Christian Academy squad. Duarte can fill it up but is also a defensive stopper and proved so with averaging nearly three steals per game. He will no doubt be a contributor at the Division I level and will surely garner some mid-major offered throughout the year.
The Best of the Rest
Taylor Bruninga (Illini Bluffs (IL)): Bruninga only played one game in the ToC, but boy did he leave his mark. On Tuesday, the 6-foot-8 power forward lit up the stat sheet with 37 points and 17 rebounds while shooting 14-for-25 from the field. He currently only holds Division II offers, but as the season heats up, will become one of the hottest prospects in the state for 2017. Through five games, Bruninga is averaging nearly 38 points and nearly 17 rebounds.
Luis Mora (Redemption Christian (NY)): Mora was one of the favorites to watch this weekend. Listed at 6-foot-2, the headband-wearing, gum-chomping guard oozes confidence and is an in-your-face defender. He hung 17 points on a quality Sunrise Christian team and is a prospect who could develop nicely over the next couple of years.
Brendan Harrick (Anaheim, CA): Harrick was lights out this week, including at 28 point game going 6-for-11 from behind the arc. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter for Esperanza is only a junior and possesses a very high hoops IQ. He is on the verge of a breakout junior year after averaging nearly 17 ppg. last season.
Marek Nelson (Sunrise Christian (KS)): The 2018 shooting guard currently holds a handful of low-major offers but is making a case to be considered by some higher level programs. At 6-foot-5, Nelson is a high-level defender and possesses a solid shot from beyond the arc. Where Nelson is head and shoulders about most at the high school level is with his athleticism. Nelson has a crazy vertical that he displayed with a couple of nice dunks and show-stopping blocked shots.
Jerry Iliya (Redemption Christian (NY)): Now it sounds cliché to say a kid gives 110 percent on every play but Iliya is a living example of that. Iliya already has the height and body that most college coaches look for in a guard at 6-foot-5. The crazy thing is he is part of the 2020 class. The super-athletic Iliya had a couple impressive blocks this week and has a solid mid-range jump shot that is a work in progress. At times, Iliya's 110 percent mentality was too much, as he was often in foul trouble. It sounds crazy to say, but if Iliya would turn it down a notch, he will be a very scary matchup for opponents for years to come.
WASHINGTON, Illinois -- The fourth and final day of the 11th annual Oglethorpe, Inc. Tournament of Champions is officially in the books, and this year's group of prospects will be one to remember. From high-flying dunks to deep three's to record-breaking performances, so many stood out, but only five could make the FloHoops All-Tournament Team.
The best will not be saved for last here because the show Co-MVPs Zion Williamson and Kezie Okpala put on at Washington Community High School were epic.
Williamson, the Spartanburg Day (SC) star and nation's No. 2 prospect for 2018, set the tournament's single-game scoring record with 50 points and 16 rebounds on Wednesday, and finished out the event by posting 27 points and 14 rebounds. This was an easy choice.
Perhaps one even easier was Okpala. The 6-foot-8 Stanford signee averaged 33 points per game this week, which set the record for most points scored in a single tournament. He also Anaheim Esperanza to the Washington Invitational finals and scored 24 points before falling to Chicago Uplift, 69-54.
Other members of the All-Tournament Team include:
Parker Stewart (Union City, TN): This week, the Ole Miss signee displayed why he was one of the most highly touted players out of Tennessee for the 2017 class. At 6-foot-4, Stewart made his own push for the tournament record for points while averaging 25 per game over four games, including 32 in his final game against Williamson.
Javonte Perkins (St. Louis, MO): Perkins is undoubtedly the heart and soul of the Miller Academy. This week, he led the Phoenix in scoring (22 ppg.) and rebounds (11 rpg.) on their way to a 2-1 mark. The 6-foot-7 forward for 2017 is still uncommitted and will be an interesting prospect to watch as the season progresses.
Chris Duarte (Troy, NY): Duarte didn't have the stellar numbers some of the others on this elite team did, but the kid literally does it all. He averaged 16 points for a very talented Redemption Christian Academy squad. Duarte can fill it up but is also a defensive stopper and proved so with averaging nearly three steals per game. He will no doubt be a contributor at the Division I level and will surely garner some mid-major offered throughout the year.
The Best of the Rest
Taylor Bruninga (Illini Bluffs (IL)): Bruninga only played one game in the ToC, but boy did he leave his mark. On Tuesday, the 6-foot-8 power forward lit up the stat sheet with 37 points and 17 rebounds while shooting 14-for-25 from the field. He currently only holds Division II offers, but as the season heats up, will become one of the hottest prospects in the state for 2017. Through five games, Bruninga is averaging nearly 38 points and nearly 17 rebounds.
Luis Mora (Redemption Christian (NY)): Mora was one of the favorites to watch this weekend. Listed at 6-foot-2, the headband-wearing, gum-chomping guard oozes confidence and is an in-your-face defender. He hung 17 points on a quality Sunrise Christian team and is a prospect who could develop nicely over the next couple of years.
Brendan Harrick (Anaheim, CA): Harrick was lights out this week, including at 28 point game going 6-for-11 from behind the arc. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter for Esperanza is only a junior and possesses a very high hoops IQ. He is on the verge of a breakout junior year after averaging nearly 17 ppg. last season.
Marek Nelson (Sunrise Christian (KS)): The 2018 shooting guard currently holds a handful of low-major offers but is making a case to be considered by some higher level programs. At 6-foot-5, Nelson is a high-level defender and possesses a solid shot from beyond the arc. Where Nelson is head and shoulders about most at the high school level is with his athleticism. Nelson has a crazy vertical that he displayed with a couple of nice dunks and show-stopping blocked shots.
Jerry Iliya (Redemption Christian (NY)): Now it sounds cliché to say a kid gives 110 percent on every play but Iliya is a living example of that. Iliya already has the height and body that most college coaches look for in a guard at 6-foot-5. The crazy thing is he is part of the 2020 class. The super-athletic Iliya had a couple impressive blocks this week and has a solid mid-range jump shot that is a work in progress. At times, Iliya's 110 percent mentality was too much, as he was often in foul trouble. It sounds crazy to say, but if Iliya would turn it down a notch, he will be a very scary matchup for opponents for years to come.