Boys Basketball: Notes from SEBA Thanksgiving Classic

Posted Nov 28, 2009 by Nick Williams

Updated Nov 28, 2009 at 11:40 PM

Here are some highlights from the SEBA Thanksgiving Classic held at Berkeley Prep this past Friday and Saturday:

1. Rashawn Rembert can score. Sickles’ 6-foot-2 junior guard scored a combined 64 points in two days, leading the Gryphons with 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 78-48 win over Ridgewood Friday and dropping 39 points in a 68-36 win over Wiregrass Ranch on Saturday. Senior point guard Jordan Davis, the most-recruited senior in Hillsborough County, finished with 18 points, four rebounds and seven assists against Ridgewood.

2. Berkeley Prep is young. Over the past four years, Berkeley Prep has been loaded with talent. Austin Suarez, Zak Kazanski, Archie Barnes and Johnathan Gray were all good players, but they’ve all graduated. The Buccaneers returned just one starter from last year’s team in sophomore guard Nelson Agholor, and only two returning players saw significant time off the bench. Nevertheless, Berkeley Prep is 3-0. They defeated King, which reached the 5A Final Four in 2008, on Friday and Brandon on Saturday, led by Agholor’s 21 points. “We knew we were going to be different,” Berkeley coach Bobby Reinhart said. “We’re guard heavy and small forward heavy. That’s a challenge we like.”

3. Wharton has the talent to do damage. The Wildcats went 2-0 in the classic, defeating Orlando Evans on Friday and Ridgewood, 62-43, on Saturday. Senior guard Damion Dixon led Wharton with 20 points on Saturday. A.J. Astroth is a 6-5 junior with a smooth jump shot, can score from the perimeter and around the basket. Junior Xavier Owens is a double-double waiting to happen and freshman point guard C.J. McGill, the Most Outstanding Player at the 2009 Rookie Sensation Camp in Ocala, is lightning quick, savvy and runs the offense like an upperclassman.