How Florida's Recruiting Targets Fared in the April Live Period

This past weekend, college basketball head coaches and assistants were permitted to attend travel team events all across the country.

It marked the first and only time college coaches were allowed to watch AAU games this spring. In past years, there were two April Live Periods, giving prospects twice as many opportunities to impress recruiters. Now the next evaluation period won't be until June. College coaches, however, were allowed to attend open gyms and conduct in-home visits with prospects until today.

The primary events last weekend were the Nike EYBL in Atlanta, the Under Armour Association in Kansas City and the Adidas Gauntlet in Dallas.

Below, we share how some of the Gators targets from the 2020 and 2021 classes fared over the weekend.

AOT RUNNING REBELS SG B.J. BOSTON – 16 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 48.4 FG%, 3-13 FROM 3, 25-34 FT, (FOUR EYBL GAMES)

Boston followed up a terrific junior season at Norcross (GA) High School with a great weekend in the first EYBL session. Boston has already taken official visits to UF, Alabama, Auburn and Duke and Kentucky. Mike White went in-home with Boston early last month and is visiting Boston again today at Norcross. A long, lanky, highly skilled, scoring wing, Boston can score at all three levels, plays with plenty of confidence, and is an above average athlete.

TEXAS TITANS G/F CADE CUNNINGHAM – 25.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 2.0 BPG 62.1 FG%, 4-11 FROM 3, 16-25 FT (FOUR EYBL GAMES)

Cunningham finished strong last weekend scoring 32 points Saturday night and again on Sunday. He ranks sixth in the EYBL in scoring, and has made 36.4 percent of his three-point attempts. The EYBL is using the FIBA three-point line this year which is almost the same distance as a NBA three-point attempt. Cunningham has elite level size, athleticism and skill. His point guard/playmaking ability and feel for the game make him difficult to defend. Cunningham scores at all 3 levels and is a capable shot maker.

BABC F MATT CROSS – 22 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 41.0 FG%, 9-32 FROM 3, 15-19 FT (FOUR EYBL GAMES)

Cross first caught our attention in July when he had 20 points and 8 rebounds in the championship game of the AAU Nationals in Orlando. He brings toughness and three-point shooting to every game. Florida offered today and Cross recently from landed offers from Indiana, Miami, and Butler.

N.Y. LIGHTNING C CLIFFORD OMORUYI – 7.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 48.0 FG% 7-20 FT (FOUR EYBL GAMES)

A long – he has a 7-oot-6 wingspan – athletic big man who runs the floor well, is effective on the glass and scores around the basket, Omoruyi. We like how the 6-foot-10 Omoruyi defends ball screens, defends on the perimeter and alters shots in and out of his area. Getting him on campus and introducing him to professors in the Engineering School is key for UF.

UPLAY CANADA SF KEON AMBROSE-HYLTON – 7.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 BPG, 41.7 FG%, 1-7 FROM 3, 1-3 FT (THREE EYBL GAMES)

The Canadian forward spent a year at Hamilton Heights in Chattanooga, Tenn., before transferring to Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, Ohio. Ambrose-Hylton is a versatile defender who can defend one through four on the court. He plays with great energy and typically knocks down open perimeter shots.

UPWARD STARS PF P.J. HALL – 13.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 60.3 FG%, 13-24 FROM 3, 9-16 FT (EIGHT ADIDAS GAUNTLET GAMES)

Hall has long been a UF target and the skilled power forward is exactly what the Gators need to compliment Omar Payne. He got his travel season off to a great start against Team Loaded with 23 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes of playing time. We love how Hall plays without fouling. In eight adidas Gauntlet games he is averaging less than two fouls per game. Clemson head coach Brad Brownell has ramped up his interest level in Hall but appears to be playing catch up to UF, Tennessee and South Carolina. Hall plans to sign in the November early signing period.

PSA CARDINALS SG JAMAL MASHBURN JR. – 16.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 45.6 FG%, 10-22 FROM 3, 5-8 FT (FOUR EYBL GAMES)

Since Mashburn transferred from Gulliver Prep to Brewster Academy we have not been in regular contact with him. Friday night in Atlanta the PSA Cardinals vs. Renaissance was the first game we watched with the intention of interviewing him. Unfortunately for us, Nike did not allow interviews with players on Friday. As an undersized shooting guard, Mashburn is a different player than his dad but what they do have in common is feel for the game and ability to shoot the rock. Mashburn is a true student-athlete so he could go high major or he could commit to an Ivy League school.

NIGHTRYDAS ELITE SF DUDLEY BLACKWELL – 13.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 43.9 FG%, 1-6 FROM 3, 15-25 FT (FOUR EYBL GAMES)

A versatile forward who can defend three positions and has some playmaking skills, Blackwell has fit in on a Nightrydas team that features Isaiah Todd, Scottie Barnes and Moussa Diabate. Blackwell helped Westminster Academy win back-to-back state titles then transferred to Somerset Pines for his junior season. Then midway through the season he transferred to Huntington Prep. He is a long, lean, athletic wing with some offensive skill and playmaking ability but has also been an inconsistent shooter, with a motor that is not always high.

RENAISSANCE PG ETHAN MORTON – 7.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 25.0 FG%, 1-9 FROM 3, 17-19 FT (FOUR EYBL GAMES)

Pulling Morton out of the Big Ten footprint will be difficult -- Ohio State, Marquette, Indiana, Michigan and Purdue went in-home or visited Morton at his school between April 22-24 – Morton will take an unofficial visit to Indiana next month and plans to take official visits to Marquette, Michigan, and Ohio State in August. We would not be surprised if those visits come sooner. Could UF get deeper in the mix with Morton? Possibly, but they need to get him on campus.

ALL OHIO RED PF/C JOHN HUGLEY IV – 10.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 46.4 FG%, 2-6 FROM 3, 15-19 FT (FOUR EYBL GAMES)

A strong big man with size and the ability to score with his back to the basket, Hugley has dropped more than 70 pounds over the past three years. He runs the floor well, can step out and hit open jump shots, to the point where comparisons to Ohio State big man Kaleb Wesson are being made? Florida just jumped into the mix here, we’ll see where things go.