Those Miami High teams were great. With guys like Portillo, Gimel Martinez, Jose Ramos, Doug Edwards, etc. they formed quite a squad. On paper though, the most talented high school team in Dade County history might be the 1974 Miami Jackson squad aka the Jackson 5. That team went 33-0 and won every game by an average scoring margin of almost 30 points. Team consisted of 4 future NBA players -- Mychal Thompson (future #1 pick in NBA draft), Cecil Rose, Osborne Lockhart (Harlem Globetrotter legend), and Charles Thompson. The 5th starter on the team was Julio Davila, who also played Division I after HS and is still playing in his mid 60's.
Hankerson brothers were good. Not sure what you mean by "2 of them are the Hankers brothers" but no way are they top 5 players in Dade County history.
Them 4 BAHAMIAN Kids took over dade county all still legends back home in the Bahamas.
When I think of Pace basketball, Alex Fraser (former UM hooper) immediately comes to mind. In more recent years, Ray Taylor (a pro scout once told me he was considered one of the best under 5'7" players in the world), Ray Shipman (NFL) and Rakeem Buckles (Louisville) were all Spartan standouts. I'm sure I'm missing others but those are the ones I immediately think of.
Portillo and Martinez were pretty disappointing after HS. Martinez rode the pine at Kentucky, Portillo didn't work out at a number of stops, including UF. Doug Edwards was very good at FSU and played a few yrs in the NBA.
Agreed. Portillo and Martinez success at the High certainly didn't translate to the collegiate and/or pro levels. That still doesn't take away from the fact that at the HS level they helped form one of the greatest HS basketball teams in Dade County history.
When I was a 9th grader, I distinctly remember a 300 lb. Udonis asleep on my homegirl's couch(he was dating her older sister). Dude left those pounds in the '00's...
No one has mentioned the Miami High point guard Jose Ramos.
Not sure I'd put Neal Walk among the top 5 in Dade County HS Basketball. He was way before my time, but from what some of the old heads have told me he was an ok player in high school who didn't really become known til his senior year at Beach High. No one saw what was to come though. He had a great college and NBA career. Not everyday where one's best basketball isn't played at the high school level. Talk about a late bloomer. Neal Walk was just that.
I won't argue that point. He was terrific his senior year though. He got Beach to the semis.
If we're basing it solely off HS resumes, Cameron Boozer is without a doubt one of the top 5 players to ever come out of Dade County. Can make a strong case for the #1 spot.
Based strictly off HS resumes, I’d say he’s already 1B to Stevie Edwards. A lot of younger people don’t know that the national recruiting services back then had Jason Kidd and Edwards ranked either #1 or #2 in their class. Legit had an argument for the #1 player nationally against a HOFer.
Steve was the best player I played against in HS. There's no telling how his career would've gone had he not screwed up his knee playing pick up on campus.
Yeah bruh, Stevie was THE MAN back then. I was all of nine years old at the time, but I remember my older cousins from Town talking about the Edwards Brothers and how good they were. I might be a football dude that can’t hoop a lick, but I know a little something bout hoops. I have some kinfolk that could make a few Top 5 lists in Broward and Polk County…
Broward is Mitch Richmond and Polk is the absolute GOAT Tracy McGrady.