Fernando Caballero, KEBA Prep: The 6-foot-3 guard has prospered as a playmaker these past several weeks, averaging a whopping 10.3 assists. With a college-ready body, the Puerto Rico native has orchestrated the souped up attack and hit astonishingly open teammates for easy buckets in transition and in the half court set.
Caballero, who shot 55 percent from beyond the arc as a high school senior in Puerto Rico, has proven he can pile up points when he sticks shots from deep. Never was this more evident during a 39-point, 12-assist eruption against Miami Prep at the IMG Beach Blast last month.
The Class of 2020 guard is intriguing for his strength and ability to keep guards in front of him as an on-ball defender.
With his off the dribble scoring, stepbacks and ability to finish at the rim in crafty fashion, Caballero has been a noteworthy stock riser. His purity of vision on the floor makes everyone around him better. With his social maturity and strength as a big guard, Caballero possesses the attributes which should translate to the NCAA level. It certainly helps that he can get above the rim and play at a breakneck pace.
Jaeden Zackery, Scotland Campus: Another guard with a Joe Dumars/Chauncey Billups type of build, “JZ” is a hard-driving guard who has proven he can score it at all three levels. He’s adept at attacking, creating space for his shot, and knifing into the teeth of the defense and finishing.
Zackery, who is from Wisconsin originally, scored 13 first half points as Scotland throttled The Patrick School (NJ) in a 101-69 pummeling in the championship of the GAC post season tournament. He picked up offers from Wagner and Central Connecticut State University at the prestigious Prep National Showcase, scoring 19 points during the 40-4 Knights’ 89-85 loss to Hargrave Military Academy (Va.).
Sam Benton–Central Pointe Christian Academy (FL): Don’t let the small physical stature fool you one single iota.
The shifty 5-foot-9 was a consistent scorer during his prep year, beating defenders off the dribble and scoring via stepbacks and through his patented floater.
Benton, who averaged 29PPG as a high school senior in North Carolina, took game-altering matters into his own hands many times this season. Beyond a 30-point performance against nearby DME Academy, Benton erupted for 35 points during a win over Rocktop Academy (Pa.).
Benton’s blur quickness enables him to get into the nooks and crannies of the defense and finish in crafty fashion. He manufactured points in a variety of ways, also showing an outside touch for a team which erupted for the occasional 3-point barrage. A cerebral guard who knows how to engineer that lungs burning attack and get from rim to rim, Benton is a smooth passer who finds guys in transition and also creates scoring with the hockey assist. He recently earned an offer from Missouri Baptist (NAIA), and has generated an uptick in interest this week.
Stanley Poliniere, Scotland Campus: A traditional point guard who put together several games of double digit assists, Poliniere received an offer from Alabama A and M this week. With his tight handle and ability to trigger the high-low game and the drive and kick game, Poliniere was the quintessential dish-first 6-foot-1 point guard to orchestrate the Knights’ deep, high scoring offense.
