When looking back at the past couple of classes to come through Florida high school basketball, the class of 2021 certainly stands out. A group that displayed four five-star recruits, many of these players have gone on to have success in their first season at the collegiate level, some of which are even in the conversation for their conference’s player of the year, as well as likely first round picks in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Here is a look back at the top 10 basketball recruits from the class of 2021 in Florida high school basketball, as well as how each has fared so far during their freshman college basketball season.
Jalen Duren
After reclassifying to the class of 2021, the former Montverde Academy star has started in all 15 games this season at Memphis, where Duren leads the Tigers with 7.3 rebounds per game (RPG), 2.5 blocks per game (BPG), as well as averaging 10.7 points per game (PPG) offensively.
Caleb Houstan
Another former Montverde Academy star, Houstan has also started in all 15 games this season at Michigan, ranking third for the Wolverines with 9.7 PPG, as well as 4.5 RPG.
Moussa Diabate
The highest rated of multiple IMG Academy players from the class of 2021, Diabate ranks right behind the previously mentioned Houstan in scoring with 9.1 PPG for Michigan, while also ranking second with 6.1 RPG across 14 games, eight of which were starts.
Efton Reid
The final five-star in the class of 2021 from Florida high school basketball was Reid, a former IMG Academy product who is averaging 7.5 PPG and 4.9 RPG as LSU’s starting center.
Tamar Bates
The former IMG Academy guard has come off the bench for Indiana in 17 games as a freshman, where Bates has averaged 4.3 PPG across 15.5 minutes per game (MPG).
Benny Williams
The former IMG Academy forward has averaged 12.4 MPG at Syracuse in 18 games off the bench, averaging 1.9 PPG.
Charles Bediako
The fifth and final IMG Academy product ranked in the state’s top 10 for the Class of 2021, Bediako has started 18-of-19 games this season for Alabama, averaging 6.4 PPG and 4.1 RPG on 63.2% shooting, while also leading the Crimson Tide with 1.6 BPG.
Langston Love
The former Montverde Academy guard suffered an injury prior to the season beginning, and will miss all of the 2021-22 season for Baylor.
Josh Minott
A former star forward at St. Andrew’s School, Minott has averaged 6.2 PPG and 3.8 RPG coming primarily off the bench for Memphis on an impressive 51.2% shooting from the field, while also having started five games.
DaRon Holmes
The final former Montverde Academy product on this list, Holmes has had one of the biggest impacts of any top 10 recruit from Florida high school basketball a year ago, leading Dayton with 11.2 PPG on 65.9% shooting, while also averaging 5.6 RPG across 19 games (all starts).
