The 23rd Annual Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament is one of the premier high school basketball tournaments in the Southeast region. Here is who stood out on the opening day of the event.

Zaire Colbert - The Rock School (Florida) - 2029

Colbert continues to have an impressive season, where the maturity of his game goes beyond his years. His elite speed in the open court continued to be effective on the offensive end, where he was scoring on all three levels. He can score in bunches from the lead guard position, where he led the way with a team-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from behind the arc. His poise on the defensive end continues to stand out where he was active when guarding on the ball as well as utilizing his athleticism around the rim recording a pair of blocks in the win over Riviera Prep.

Quincy Douby Jr - Riviera Prep (Florida) - 2027

Douby proved why he is rated as a four-star prospect, where he can score in bunches as well as defend at a high level. He finished with a game-high 32 points on an electrifying 13-of-21 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from behind the arc. It wasn’t just his scoring that stood out for Douby, as he was facilitating from the lead guard position, playmaking for his teammates off the bounce, where he added four assists and four steals in a tough loss to The Rock School.

Maddox Harden - DME Academy (Florida) - 2027

Harden was a matchup nightmare for opposing wings in the matchup against Bethel Academy (Virginia), where he showed his inside-out attribute on the offensive end. He knocked down jumpers with confidence, as well as being unafraid to shoot from the perimeter. On the defensive end, he was a pest on the glass, using his long reach to limit the opposition from getting second-chance scoring opportunities. Harden finished with a double-double (12 points and 11 rebounds). With his two-way combination skillset, Harden could be a huge factor as the

season rolls on, heading into the spring AAU season, where he could draw interest from several schools.

Maurius Miles - Faith Family Academy (Texas) - 2027

Miles displayed strong tendencies from the lead guard position, where he created from the perimeter as well as on the attack in the win over Dr. Phillips. Miles finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and was lethal from behind the arc, knocking down four triples. His ability to score off the catch as well as the bounce was an eye-opener in this one. With more confidence in his offensive game, Miles could be a difference maker, where he could start receiving interest from mid-major programs.

Jojo Philon - Montverde Academy (Florida) - 2026

Philon remains one of the top unsigned seniors not just in the state of Florida, but arguably in the entire country. He utilized his length, strength, and athleticism in the open court in a wire-to-wire win over Northside Christian. His energy continues to feed off his teammates on both ends of the floor, where he was scoring at will, whether it was at the front of the rim or earning trips to the free-throw line. On the defensive end, he was showcasing his versatility when it came to guarding on and off the ball at a high level, forcing turnovers, as well as being efficient in the passing lanes. Philon finished with 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Gavin Placide - Faith Family Academy (Texas) - 2026

The Wake Forest commit showed his huge upside and versatile scoring in a win over Dr. Phillips (Florida). Placide finished with a double-double (19 points and 11 rebounds) while shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 from behind the arc. With increased touches on the offensive end, Placide showed he can make an impact in a variety of ways, whether it was at the rim or stretching the floor, creating for his teammates. On the defensive end, he was a force in the passing lanes, forcing turnovers, as well as getting to the basket in transition.

Jacob Pleyer - The Rock School (Florida) - 2026

Pleyer continues to be one of the top playmakers in the state, whether it was his ability to create his own shot off the bounce or catch. He has improved his touch around the rim, as well as being an efficient threat from the perimeter. On the defensive end, he played with discipline and a ton of energy that fed off his teammates as he was active on the glass as well as running the floor well in transition. Pleyer finished with 16 points and five rebounds in a win over Riviera Prep.

Ross Van De Griek has been a Southeast region scout & writer for On The Radar Hoops since 2024. He has been involved in basketball scouting with stops at Prep Hoops since 2022. You can follow him on X @RossVDG14 or reach him via email at rossvdg14@gmail.com.