Mastrole Passing Academy, the premier quarterback training program in Florida, hosted the 4th annual Winter Showcase in Fort Lauderdale this past Saturday. The camp, combined with competition, was designed for high school quarterbacks and wide receivers. Quarterbacks from around the sunshine state competed for top positions in their respected classes. Private quarterback coach Ken Mastrole and his staff provided on field fundamental and mechanical training combined with classroom film study and mental preparation. Many of the top signal callers in the state competed to earn a spot on the Mastrole Passing Academy Super Select. The super select was designed to provide the most advanced training for quarterbacks and receivers. The super select also provides maximum exposure for the athletes that will be selected for the 2012 season.
In the Senior group, Brock Bukowski (Palm Beach Central) took home top honors showing an accurate arm and excellent mobility in and out of the pocket. The Junior division was won by 2013 quarterback Ryan Giaratano (Cardinal Gibbons HS). Giaratano, excels in a spread based offense and has a knack for creating big plays with his arm and feet. Drew Domino (St. Thomas Aquinas), and Chandler Mann (Union HS) both finished 2nd and 3rd in the competition. The sophomore division proved to be the best of the class with a number of future Division I signal callers. 2014 quarterback Sean White (Chaminade Madonna) finished at the top of his class with an impressive performance in the accuracy and deep ball drills.
The sophmore registered 65+ yard throws during the long ball competition. White, a 2011 super select quarterback, finished this past season with a 9-1 record and 25 TD passes. Already receiving interest from ACC schools. Nick Smith (Merritt Island) was also impressive with a strong right arm and excellent size at 6′-4″. Smith has the potential to grow into one of the top quarterbacks in the state heading into the 2012 season. Two candidates with Division 1 arms were Wade Freeback (Western HS) and Kelly Benson (Miami Pace). Freeback who will end up on a number of radar screens this off season displayed touch and velocity during the live receiver competition. Freeback, who stands 6′-2.5″ has the frame college coaches will see as a quarterback with an enormous upside. Look for Freeback to be one of South Florida’s top quarterbacks in 2012. Benson (Pace HS) has all the tools to separate himself as an elite passer. A smooth delivery combined with a strong arm, Benson, can make all the throws at the quarterback position. Look for a burst onto the scene in 2012.
The Freshman division gave spectators the opportunity to see the future of the quarterback position in Florida. Jupiter Christian’s Bryan McGlynn finished number one in a close race. McGlynn is slated to take over the reigns from highly touted Senior Kedric Bostic who also trains with Ken Mastrole. Bostic will be signing with Princeton in the upcoming months. McGlynn and the Jupiter Christian offense should not miss a beat with the 2015 quarterback’s athleticism and strong right arm. Brett Kean (University) school proved why he could be one of the most prolific passers for the U school. Kean is a smart player with excellent mechanics. His determination combined with his accurate passing ability prove to be a perfect fit for any pass heavy offense. Cody Long (Estero HS), is an interested prospect. The 6′-4″ freshman is very athletic on the run and showed well during the live passing tree segement of the competition. Estero features a pass heavy offense which may best suit Long’s abilities as a quarterback. Gio Lugo (Glades Central) has already proven himself as a pressure field goal kicker and is working his way to be one of the best two way players in the state. Lugo can beat defenses with his ability gain yards on the ground and in the air. A very accurate short to intermediate passer Lugo will compete for the starting job at powerhouse Glades Central.
The Next Generation Division brought 7th and 8th grade quarterbacks into a very competitive atmosphere. Tyler Monaco took the top spot followed by Buckshot Calvert, and Blake Dever. High School coaches will look forward to having any of these three quarterbacks on their campus in 2012. Monaco has continued to improve and develop each year. Monaco’s strongest attributes are his mind and his accuracy. Calvert has a strong arm and does an excellent job with ball placement in tight spaces. Dever, who is also a standout baseball player, has the size and arm to draw attention during his first year of high school.
Other quarterbacks that were impressive during the event were Keon Roman of Miami Dr. Krop. An excellent athlete with a strong right arm, Roman will start gaining attention as a top quarterback in Dade county. Drake Haff (Lake Wales) has the arm and the size to draw attention from college coaches. Tyler Jones (Archbishop McCarthy) displayed accuracy and field awareness during the pocket presence drills. Sean Lemay (Palm Beach Central) and Bud Martin (Miramar) also looked impressive during many of the individual drills and long throws. Both quarterbacks have the arm strength to complete throws to the outside zones on the football field. Brandon Diaz (Columbus HS in Miami) is an intriguing prospect. Excellent size and arm strength. The 6′-3″ signal caller also spends time on the other side of the ball as a linebacker. Diaz could start seeing multiple offers at the linebacker position combined with interest at the quarterback position. Tyler Crowe (Flannigan HS) is a sophomore with height and strong right arm. The off season could prove to be a excellent time for Crowe to develop into a solid quarterback and start gaining interest from college programs.
For more information on quarterback training, clinics, private sessions, and super select camps www.PassingCamp.com
Contact coach Ken Mastrole for an evaluation and training in South Florida.