Montverde Academy Retools for 2021 Season
In the national high school basketball landscape, dominance has a name: Montverde Academy. During the 2018-2019 season, the Eagles went a perfect 25-0 and defeated powerhouse IMG Academy thrice. Despite losing stars like Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, and Moses Moody, the Eagles ran through their schedule again in 2020, going 25-1 (and only losing to Sunrise Christian). Now, with the 2021 season on the horizon, Montverde Academy is once again ready to take the high school basketball landscape by storm.
The backcourt features an abundance of experience, as seniors Dariq Whitehead (Duke commit), Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana commit), and Skyy Clark (Kentucky commit) will likely be trusted to carry the brunt of scoring opportunities. Clark transferred in from Ensworth (TN), where he became a basketball sensation after averaging over 26 points a game last season. Whitehead has been around Montverde for a few years now, and his impact was felt greatly even during his sophomore season, when he led the team in points against a strong DeMatha (MD) team. The Eagles will put up a lot of points on the scoreboard this season despite their tough schedule, that’s certain.
The options in the frontcourt are plentiful. USC commit Vincent Iwuchukwu will be one of the biggest pieces on the boards for the Eagles, and his 7 foot frame will surely help in shot-blocking near the rim. Malik Reneau (Florida commit) will be counted on for his basketball IQ, making him a valuable asset beside Iwuchukwu. Reneau starred on the 25-win Eagles team from last season, and he’ll be more than comfortable racking up wins once again this season. Kwame Evans and Texas commit Dillon Mitchell will also see major playing time on a star-studded roster that includes numerous five star prospects (like Evans himself). With the additions of Derik Queen, Noah Sun, and Sam Walters, Montverde’s frontcourt likely becomes the most talented in the nation and one of the most promising in school history.
The Eagles will be thrown into the fire early this season at the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta. There, they’ll have to face Real Salt Lake (UT) and the defending Georgia 6A state champion Wheeler. The road after won’t be much easier either, as Montverde will have to play Oak Hill (VA), IMG Academy (FL), and Sunrise Christian (KS) on consecutive days. The remainder of the season features rematches against IMG Academy and Sunrise Christian and two meetings with former top-ranked La Lumiere (IN). Expect to see Montverde exit this rigorous schedule with one or two losses at the most and enter the GEICO Nationals Basketball Tournament, a common occurrence for the Eagles.
On par with previous years, Montverde Academy is sure to be an immovable force in national high school basketball. Returning players will be key in setting the tone early in the season, and new transfers will be counted on to add to the overall team dynamic as the season progresses. This season brings a new generation of stars to the forefront, and only time will tell how successful they turn out to be.
Written by: Dhruv Mohan
