It’s the best time of year for a college basketball fan, and with the Sweet 16 taking place later this week, a number of former Florida high school basketball greats will take the court. As we did a year ago, we offer up a few key players to watch for as March Madness continues.
Marcus Carr – Texas Longhorns
One of the big-name players with Florida ties in March Madness is Carr, a three-star prospect in the 2017 class out of Montverde Academy. The First Team All-Big 12 selection has started in all 36 games for Texas this season, averaging 15.8 PPG, 3 RPG, 4 APG, and 1.7 SPG, and shooting 36.3 percent from 3-point range.
Jarace Walker – Houston Cougars
A five-star prospect in IMG Academy’s 2022 class, Walker is one of the biggest impact players on this list of March Madness players with Florida ties. Starting in 34 of 35 games as a freshman, Walker is averaging 11.1 PPG on 47.5 percent shooting from the field, plus 6.7 RPG, and he has received honors that include AAC Freshman of the Year, Second Team All-AAC, and AAC All-Freshman.
Ryan Nembhard – Creighton Bluejays
Nembhard, a four-star prospect in the 2021 class from Montverde Academy, has started all 34 games in which he has played and been a major factor toward Creighton’s success this season. Nembhard is averaging 11.9 PPG, 4 RPG, and 4.9 APG while shooting 36 percent from three-point range and 86.1 percent from the free throw line.
Alex Karaban – UConn Huskies
Karaban, a former four-star prospect from the 2021 class out of IMG Academy, has been one of UConn’s top players after redshirting a year ago. Starting in 32 of 33 games, Karaban, a Big East All-Freshman selection, is averaging 9.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG, while also shooting 40.8 percent from three-point range and 82.5 percent from the free throw line.
Michael Forrest – Florida Atlantic Owls
One of the more experienced collegiate players on this March Madness list is Forrest, who spent his high school days at Blanche Ely. Forrest is averaging 8.7 PPG and 2.4 RPG in 33 games off Florida Atlantic’s bench this season.
Charles Bediako – Alabama Crimson Tide
Bediako, a native of Canada, came out of IMG Academy as a highly rated four-star prospect in the 2021 class, and he has shined for Alabama since, starting in all 36 games this season. An SEC All-Defense selection, Bediako, who also made the 2023 SEC All-Tournament team, is averaging 6.3 PPG, 6 RPG, and 1.9 BPG while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.
Bryan Greenlee – Florida Atlantic Owls
Greenlee, a former three-star prospect in the 2019 class from The Rock, has started in 30 of 35 games for Florida Atlantic this season. Greenlee is averaging 7.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 2.2 APG, while also shooting 38.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Jaden Bradley – Alabama Crimson Tide
Bradley, a 2022 five-star prospect from IMG Academy, has been a key piece for No. 1 overall seed Alabama throughout the 2022-23 season, starting in 22 of 36 games as a freshman. An SEC All-Freshman selection, Bradley is averaging 6.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 3.1 APG.
Giancarlo Rosado – Florida Atlantic Owls
A valuable reserve off Florida Atlantic’s bench, Rosado, who attended Palm Beach Lakes, has appeared in 35 games this season. He is averaging 5.9 PPG on 62.9 percent shooting from the field, and pulling down 3.6 rebounds per game.
Emanuel Sharp – Houston Cougars
Sharp, a four-star prospect in the 2021 class out of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic, has appeared in 32 games off the Houston bench after redshirting a year ago. He is averaging 5.9 PPG and 2.3 RPG, while also shooting 88.1 percent from the free throw line.
Dillon Mitchell – Texas Longhorns
Mitchell, a five-star prospect and top-five player nationally in the 2022 class out of Montverde Academy, has started in all 36 games for Texas as a freshman. Mitchell is averaging 4.5 PPG and 4 RPG, while also shooting 62.9 percent from the field.
Ja’Vier Francis – Houston Cougars
Francis, a three-star prospect in the 2021 class from Montverde Academy, has been a primary reserve off the Houston bench this season. Starting in only one of 34 games, Francis is averaging 4.4 PPG and 3.6 RPG, while also shooting 71.3 percent from the field.
Others to Watch For
Also keep an eye on these Florida products whose teams are still alive in March Madness:
- Harlond Beverley (Miami, Montverde Academy)
- Tre Carroll (Florida Atlantic, Charlotte)
- Efton Reid (Gonzaga, IMG Academy)
- Carson Cooper (Michigan State, IMG Academy)
- Isaiah Gaines (Florida Atlantic, Pensacola)
- Brenen Lorient (Florida Atlantic, Forest)
