FLORIDA PREP  REPORT 
by Rick Staudt, Florida Editor of the HOOP SCOOP
Published February 12, 2004

Editor's Note:  Staudt's list of the top four 5th year players, top 171 seniors, 100 juniors, 85 sophomores, 39 freshmen, 10 8th graders, one 7th grader, and one 6th grader can be found by clicking below on Staudt Ranks Em: The Top Players in Florida.

CONTROVERSY COULD ONCE AGAIN BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY IN SUNSHINE STATE
by Clark Francis, Editor & Publisher of the HOOP SCOOP

                    In terms of what he's accomplished during his high school career, there a few players in history from the Sunshine State who have accomplished as much as  6'0 Darius Washington from Orlando (Edgewater) FL, who is tied for #10 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP.  Earlier this season he led his team to the championship in the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC and the McDonald's Classic in Erie, PA and he took home tournament MVP honors from both places.  He also has led his team to 18 consecutive wins, an impressive 21-2 record, and a #9-ranking in the latest USA Today poll.  Washington also didn't disappoint a national television audience in December when his team traveled to NewYork City and faced 6'0 Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY in a head-to-head battle that was televised by EPSN2.  And earlier in his career Washington led his team to a runner-up finish in Class 6-A of the Florida State High School Tournament last March, the championship of the Hooters' Holiday Shootout in St. Petersburg, FL in December of 2002, a runner-up finish in the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas in July 2002, a 5th Place finish in the 17-Under National AAU Tournament in Orlando, FL in July 2002, and the championship of the Great Florida Shootout in Kissimmee, FL in December of 2001.  Washington's team also is the heavy favorite to win the Class 6-A Florida State Championship a month from now, but by no means is he a lock to win the state's coveted Mr. Basketball Award.  As a matter of fact, 6'3 Jason Rich from Orlando (Dr. Phillips) FL has already been named the district's coaches choice as the area player-of-the-year.  And while there is no doubt that Rich, who is ranked #33 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, is a terrific player, in our opinion, he's not even in the same class with Washington.  However, Rich has signed with Florida State, is a great student, and a terrific kid.  In contrast, Washington, who is considered to be a near lock to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, which will be held on Wednesday, March 31st, in Oklahoma City, OK, signed early with the University of Memphis and has too much of a flare for the spectacular.
                    And Washington is not the only likely future McDonald's All-American in the state, as 6'8 Jr Keith Brumbaugh from Deland (H.S.) FL is currently ranked #6 nationally in the junior class by the HOOP SCOOP, 6'1 Frosh Edwin Rios from Miami (Senior) FL will be ranked among our top five freshmen nationally when update these rankings later this month, 6'6 Michael Beasley from Bradenton (Pendleton School) FL was the #2-ranked 8th Grader in the nation when we updated our list of the top players nationally in the Class of 2008 on February 3rd, and 5'11 Kearis Pinkney from Orlando, FL is ranked as the #1 6th Grader in the nation by the HOOP SCOOP.  Brumbaugh is an incredible athlete, prolific scorer, and versatile enough to play both inside and outside, which is why he is a top recruiting priority for schools like Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Auburn, Georgia, North Carolina, and N.C. State.  However, we think the Seminoles will be tough to beat, because the already have signed Rich, who is a close friend, as well as the AAU teammate of Brumbaugh.  Ranking Rios and Beasley so high so early (see our All-State Teams above) obviously will be controversial, but I saw how good they both were first hand at the City of Palms Classic, which is the premier holiday tournament in the nation the week before Christmas, in Ft. Myers, FL.  Rios finished ranked #4 in scoring with 21.8 ppg, #14 in rebounding with 6.3 rpg, #6 in 3-point shooting percentage with 16-38 treys (42.1%), and second in free throw percentage with 17-19 free throws (89.5%).  Beasley not only averaged 17.3 ppg and 13.0 rpg, which made him the 14th leading rebounder and second leading rebounder at the City of Palms Classic, but he also impressed us last summer when we saw him at the adidas ABCD Camp last summer prior to when he was reclassifed as an 8th Grader.  We've never seen Pinkney, but he's already a legend in his age group on the AAU circuit.
                    Also noteworthy is fact that we've included 5th Year Players with our All-State Teams, which includes the top 30 players in the state regardless of class and position, but rank them separately on our list of the top players in each class, which ranges from 5th Year Players all the way down to the 6th Grade.  Right now the senior class appears to be the best class in the state, but all that could change depending upon how much development occurs in the younger age groups and how many more Hispanic players migrate to the state from places like Puerto Rico and South America.  As a matter of fact, there already is a plethora of imported players in the state, including 6'3 Ramel Bradley from Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL (originally from New York City), 6'2 Danny Morrissey from Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL (originally from Ohio), 6'10 Abdul Herrera from Miami (South Miami) FL (originally from Panama), 6'0 Clifford Clicksdale from Ocala (Christian Shores) FL (originally from New York City), 6'11 Alexander Kaun from Melbourne (Florida Air Academy) FL (originally from Russia), 6'2 Jorge Lebrun from Lake Suzy (Florida Prep Academy) FL (originally from Puerto Rico), 6'4 Jr David Huertas from Jacksonville (Arlington Country Day) FL (originally from Puerto Rico), and 6'6 8th Grader Michael Beasley from Bradenton (Pendleton School) FL (originally from Maryland). 
                    I appreciate the efforts of Rick Staudt in Orlando, who we feel is one of the more impartial and knowledgeable basketball observers in Florida.