Riviera Prep boys’ basketball shines in ‘The Main Event’, seeks bigger goals this season
Miami’s reputation as a talent farm for college and pro basketball is changing for the better.
That’s the opinion of Riviera Prep Bulldogs boys’ basketball coach Anthony Shahbaz, whose team beat Southern California Academy 68-57 on Friday afternoon at Miami Dade College.
The Bulldogs (4-0) played the first game of a two-day tournament at MDC billed as “The Main Event.”
Also playing in the event this weekend are Miami-Dade/Broward powers Columbus (ranked third in the nation by MaxPreps); Sagemont (No. 31); and Westminster Academy (74).
Riviera Prep, ranked 26th in the nation, never trailed against SCA, and Shabazz believes that the college-length court at MDC was a factor.
“We have some elite athletes,” Shahbaz said. “Our guards were able to push the ball up-court at a fast pace. We pride ourselves on being the best-conditioned team in the country.
“(SCA) struggled at the beginning with the bigger court. They were subbing every minute, and I think they were exhausted.”
Rivera Prep was led defensively by Gustavo Guimaraes, a 7-foot-1 senior center from Brazil.
“He was unbelievable,” Shahbaz said. “He made it difficult for (SCA) to shoot. (SCA) started pump-faking and not even wanting to finish at the basket.
“They started kicking the ball out. As a player, it gets in your mind when you know there’s an elite shot-blocker there. You start second-guessing things. You start shooting quicker than you should.”
SCA’s front line was tall at 6-10, 6-9 and 6-7, but those guys still seemed intimidated by Guimaraes, who has eight college-scholarship offers from mid-major-type schools.
“When I play against small guys, it’s not that fun,” said Guimaraes, who does not have an offer from a school south of Stetson. “But when I play against tall guys like me, it’s a bigger challenge, and I love it.”
Offensively, Riviera Prep was led by the Fuentes brothers: Mason (24 points) and Myles (21 points).
“They have both taken such a huge step this season,” Shahbaz said of the Fuentes brothers, who comprise Riviera Prep’s starting backcourt. “They have gotten better at everything – from leadership to defense to learning when to shoot and getting others involved.
“They made a few passes today that were NBA level.”
The brothers – similar to Guimaraes – are getting mid-major-type college offers.
“I’m glad they are able to showcase their talent at an event like this,” Shahbaz said. “They are probably two of the most underrated players in the country.”
The Fuentes brothers were mostly interchangeable on and off the ball.
“I always tell our kids, ‘Don’t give yourself a position,” Shahbaz said. “Just be a basketball player who can do it all.’”
Myles Fuentes said he also believes he and his brother are underrated.
“But now we’re putting people on notice,” Myles said. “This is a really big tournament, and we’re getting the exposure we want.”
Riviera Prep, which won Class 3A state titles in 2023 and 2024, has even bigger goals for 2025.
“When I started this trek seven years ago (as Riviera Prep coach), that was always the goal -- to be the best basketball program in the world,” said Shahbaz, who is not shy about proclamations. “It’s taken some time. But we’ve been able to put together a nice start.
“Our kids are finally getting recognized. It’s tough sometimes in Miami because there isn’t a lot of great competition in certain years.
“And we’re always going to be looked at as a football city. But between Columbus (High) being great and some of these other teams starting to be better and with us … Things are improving.”
Shahbaz said he loved the “ambience” at MDC on Friday, calling it a big-time event, especially with the presence of Columbus, Sagemont and Westminster Academy.
“All of us from South Florida -- we’re fighting for that national respect,” Shahbaz said. “We (South Floirda powers) all have kids who are going to big-time (college) programs.
“But the way to get that national respect is not by talking about it. We have to come to events like this and beat teams from other places so they leave and go: ‘Hey, South Florida has some really good players and teams.’”