SourceHoops boys basketball analyst Rick Staudt reported that Lake Highland Prep’s R.J. Ingram, a 6-foot-3 rising junior, excelled in front of college scouts in last weekend’s Florida Association of Basketball Coaches live period showcase in Gainesville.
His highlight was a game-winning basket in a 65-63 victory vs. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. The score was tied at 57 at the end of regulation and at 63 after overtime — setting up a first-basket-wins finish.
Edgewater, last season’s Class 6A state runner-up, went 4-0 with Myles Mayfield (6-7) and Darius Washington (6-5) shining.
Windermere went 2-2 against some of the state’s best. The Wolverines lost to 3A champ Miami Riviera Prep by 3 and Boca Raton St. Andrew’s by 1 and topped 6A champ Pembroke Pines Charter by 1 and Tampa Catholic by 12.
Similarly, 3A state runner-up Windermere Prep (1-3) won against 7A power Winter Haven but lost to Riviera Prep, 4A champ St. Petersburg Gibbs and St. Thomas Aquinas — all top 20 teams last season.
Florida basketball gets big boost from NCAA-certified live period events
Proven prospects who performed in the spotlight included the Windermere Prep backcourt tandem of Brandon Bass Jr. (6-3) and Sam Shoptaw (6-2), along with Patrick Olajuwon (6-7) of Downey Christian and Jayden Joseph (6-7) of West Oaks.
The second FABC scholastic showcase in the NCAA’s June live period is Friday through Sunday, also at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center. Area teams signed up are: Altamonte Christian, Apopka, Bishop Moore, CFCA, DeLand, Evans, The First Academy, Foundation Academy, Freedom, Hagerty, Lake Brantley, Lake Howell, Lake Mary, Lake Minneola, Leesburg, Lyman, Ocoee, Olympia, OCP, Oviedo, Pine Ridge, Timber Creek, Orlando University, Wekiva and West Orange.
A number of Florida schools are trekking to Atlanta to play in Georgia’s second boys scholastic showcase. That list includes Dr. Phillips, Edgewater, Lake Highland, Oak Ridge, Olympia, Windermere High, and Windermere Prep.
Volleyball nationals
Orlando high school age teams representing the Top Select volleyball club and Game Point Volleyball made strong showings in the ongoing AAU Junior National championships at the Orange County Convention Center.
Game Point Rox 16, the club’s top team in that age group, went 11-1 over four days to place third in the elite Open Division. With a number of the area’s best rising junior players Rox lost only to Mintonette Sports (12-0) of Ohio in a Monday semifinal.
Kissimmee Osceola All-Area star Cate Palmi and London Adkins, a Lake Brantley 6-foot-1 middle blocker — and basketball player — were two of the nine girls named to the All-American (all-tournament) team.
OTVA O Roberto (8-3) tied for fifth in 16 Open. Sophia Stallworth, a versatile 6-1 Class of 2026 player who played for Boone last fall, earned all-tourney attention.
Game Point Premier 16 went 14-0 without losing a set in best-of-three matches to win the Classic bracket. Valerie Yambao (Timber Creek) was voted MVP. Kennedy Connell (The First Academy) and Olivia Salmon (Dr. Phillips) joined her as all-tourney players.
Florida Momentum of St. Cloud was 11-1 while making the 16 Classic final four and had all-tourney picks Emely Lopez and Kailynn Paulino.
Top Select Elite placed second in the 15 Open division behind Legacy Adidas of Michigan. Orangewood Christian’s twin sisters, Kennedy and Kaleigh Langmo, earned All-American honors along with their club teammate, Jenna Brooks (South Lake). All three will be sophom*ores in the fall.
Game Point was runner-up in 15 Classic with all-tourney picks Sophia Adamchik, Nina Williams, and Francesca Francoforte.
The 51st edition of the AAU nationals continues with girls 17s play, which began Tuesday and crowns champions Friday. The OTVA 17 Felix (3-0) and Game Point 17 Rox (2-1), both loaded with college-bound Orlando area players, won their four-team pools on Tuesday and moved on to the championship rounds, which conclude on Friday afternoon.
AAU boys tournaments tip off Sunday and conclude next Wednesday.
Extra points
- Caleb Pennyfeather, a 6-9 game-changer who flew under the radar for most of his high school career, signed to play DI basketball for Arkansas Little Rock. He averaged 10.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game for a balanced Oviedo team as a senior and boosted his scholarship stock with strong off-season play for Showtime Ballers.
- Scott Leman, who coached the Lake Howell boys volleyball program to a 30-2 state semifinal record in his 19th season on that job, became the Silverhawks athletic director this month. He’ll continue to coach volleyball.
- Lake Mary senior-to-be Ryleigh Knaub, one of 10 girls named to the United States Golf Association National Junior Team, is committed to sign with LSU, which finished with a No. 3 NCAA ranking this spring.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
