You would think it would be hard to lead the FHSAA in scoring and still be under the radar, but that is the case with this week’s player spotlight Dallas Graziani. He averaged 31.3 points per game last season with 6 assists per game and 2.1 steals per game. The 5’8 guard has made the first team all county team in Broward the past two seasons, while playing at Cooper City high school. He was selected to the Fab 5 by the Sun Sentinel alongside Vernon Carey Jr, Scottie Barnes, Zaire Wade, and Toumani Camara.
Dallas has played his entire travel basketball career with the Broward County Cougars and up until this season he was playing alongside his brother Dylan Graziani, who is a walkon at Barry University. He just wrapped up his grassroots career by winning the HoopSeen Best of the South 17u Red division. The 5’8 guard led the tournament in scoring with 35.5 points per game.
“I feel that my performance at the best of the south was one of my best ever,” said Graziani. “I felt unstoppable the entire tournament, leading the tournament in scoring. It was a very efficient performance too, I shot over 50% from the field for the tournament and 90% from the free throw line and averaged 35.5 points a game. Winning our bracket at the tournament was a big team accomplishment, I feel that we had a great performance as a team.”
The Cougars only lost one game during their week at Best of the South and it came despite a tremendous effort from Graziani to will his team to victory. He had a tournament high 55 points in the loss to Georgia Stars Red.
“The 55 point game was a very intense game, I started off slow only having 13 points at the half and we were down 14 at halftime. When the second half started I hit a couple shots early and got hot. I got it going from all levels, I was hitting deep 3s, hitting mid-range pull ups, and getting all the way to the rim for layups. I also got the line a lot, I finished 15-18 from the free throw line
and 17-31 from the field that game.”
Despite Graziani’s career accomplishments his recruitment is not developing the way you would imagine.
“I have one offer from Missouri Western and I want to go to a school where the coach truly wants me and where I will make an immediate impact when I get there.”
Graziani is worth the price of admission each time you go to see him play. He may get overlooked due to his size, but in addition to his three point shooting prowess he can score at the rim and midrange very effectively. He is full of energy and is relentless every time you see ;
him play.
“My strengths are scoring at a high level, I can shoot it well, get to the rim, get to the mid-range area and hit jump shots. I can pass the ball well, I penetrate and kick it out to an open shooter or give a dump off pass to the bigs down low. I play very aggressive defensively, I always pressure the ball causing a lot of steals and deflections.”
Cooper City’s head coach Eric Kapel resigned at the end of last season and Dallas is still deciding on where he will finish his prolific high school career. He is awaiting acceptance at Pines Charter High School.
“Some of my team goals for my senior season are winning a district championship and making a run to state and hopefully winning a state championship. Individually I want lead the state in scoring again, be first team all state and prove that a 5’8 player is just as valuable as a 6’8 player.”
Graziani is definitely a prospect college coaches should be considering. Some schools may count him out due to his size, but at a certain point you have to accept his production and skill level are just something special and can translate to the next level.
Check out Dallas Graziani junior season highlights below.