Boys Basketball Final Regular Season Top 25 Playoff Preview

Jackson (22-3)

The Tigers are back on top after taking home the Gateway Conference championship and taking home the 4A District 3 championship. Their 54-45 win over Ribault in the district championship culminated a regular season that saw them take wins over Raines in the Gateway Conference Tourny (57-48), San Jose Prep (62-61), and Paxon 54-49). Coach James Collins and staff have done an amazing job getting his team to pressure opponents with quickness, and hit outside shots off penetration. Players like Ronald Durham, Jahari Simmons, and David Wilson have made big impact this year in various roles.

Jackson will face Bolles 11-11 in the first round of the playoffs, Thursday at 11pm

2. Providence (21-5)

The Stallions haven’t lost a game since last year. No really, Providence’s last loss occurred on December 29th 2023 to Blake. Since then, they’ve beaten NFEI (47-33), and Ponte Vedra (58-56). Only an early season loss to Raines blemishes their record. Coach Jim Martin never misses the mark when it comes to coaching his team to the post season. Chris Arias once again has been the star of stars averaging 14.0ppg, 5.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, all tops on the team. Senior Caleb Mcabee has averaged 12.0ppg, and Brady Patterson has averaged 10.6ppg. The Stallions defeated Episcopal 57-46 to win 3A District 3 and have proven they can win close buzzer beaters this year, like the one against Ponte Vedra.

They will take on P.K Yonge in the first round of the playoffs Thursday.

3. Paxon (20-3)

Paxon has returned to prominence thanks to an awesome team and an awesome job by coach Kenny Elliot. The Golden Eagles have soared to one of their best records in school history, and leading the way has been **Dameon Jones Jr** who leads the team averaging13.3ppg. **Delvin Bell Jr** averages 13.0ppg, and **Jacob Delos** averages 10.0 ppg. It’s a very talented team, and noone wants to play them, especially after they feel like they handed the Gateway Conference title to Jackson after losing a late game lead to Raines in the semifinal 50-48. Sometimes losses can be blessings in disguise as Paxon has defeated everyone in their path since, including a 69-61 overtime victory over Bolles for the 4A District 4 championship.

Thursday they look to continue taking their frustrations out facing always tough Godby (15-10).

4. Ponte Vedra (20-7)

It was another battle for the district and Ponte Vedra once again came out on top of Oakleaf, this time in a 79-73 thriller. The Sharks have once again been the bosses at the beach defeating Beachside (69-62), Nease (52-46), and Fletcher (57-47). Two losses to Paxon is why they come in at #4, yet still a great regular season as 6A District 3 champs. Lincoln is up for them in the first round as senior Sam Ritchie (14.6ppg), Tyler Cowan (11.6ppg), and David Sanchez Barrera (11.2ppg) have led the team all season. Coach Ben Wilson will have his team ready to roll, as the Sharks attempt to make a third straight run at the Final 4.

5. Oakleaf (19-6)

At 19-6, the Oakleaf Knights have conquered their competition on their way to the 6A District 3 runner-up. Their impressive play this season earned Coach Jason Price and company an invitation to the playoffs where they will face Gainesville this Thursday. Tyler Owens broke an 11 year record surpassing Sean Jones as the all-time assist leader at the school. Senior Aaron Rivers averages 15.8ppg as he is the clear go to on offense. Travis Knox Jr. leads the team averaging 5.3 RPG while Austin Davenport averages 1.2BPG.

6. Ribault (20-7)

Once again Caleb Williams has shown why he is in a class of his own leading Ribault in points per game 24.2, assists per game 6.2, and stelas per game 4.5. Ribault has played every team tough this season, a staple of a Charles Showers coached team. Wins over Riverside, Raines, and San Jose Prep showcased this toughness against bigger more physical teams. Jamian Jackson (12.4ppg) and on defense Jaheim Robinson and Tyreon Bradwell both average 4.8 rebounds per game. The Trojans will attempt to go back to Lakeland this Winter. They face Walton Thursday.

7. Riverside (17-8)

Riverside rode home with the 5A District 3 title defeating Ed White 72-39. The Generals and head coach David Jones are big and and long with 6’7 Jaquan Wells and 6’4 Tae’Shuan Gelsey. Gelsey leads the team averaging 13.5 ppg while Wells averages 9.2ppg, 3.0 BPG, and 10.0 RPG. Their physicality affords them the ability to create matchup problems like in wins over Nease and Impact. They mut be careful as smaller quicker teams have sometimes taken advantage of their size. Still, they’ll hope to keep exploiting potential mismatches in the playoffs, as they face Deltona Thursday.

8. Episcopal (22-4)

One of the best teams in the area this year has been the Episcopal Eagles. Led by Chip Stroud, they’ve soared to wins over San Jose Prep, Tocoi Creek, and NFEI. Only Providence got the best of them twice, leaving them as district runners-up. Still, this team knows how to score the basketball. Kent Jackson averages 19.3ppg, and Grady Schwartz averages 17.6ppg. They face San Jose Prep on Thursday in the first round of the playoffs.

9. Raines (20-8)

What a job coach Torien Moore has done with the Raines boys basketball team. The Vikings had their best season since 2017 as Gateway Conference Runners-up and are headed t the playoffs to face South Walton Thursday. Raines is led by Ta’veon Dunbar (15.7ppg), Terrance Walker(8.1ppg), Zion Kemp’s 7.1ppg, and senior Jeremiah White (3.1 apg). Raines signature win this year saw them upset Providence 62-54. Consistency is key for the Vikings though, as they fell to Ribault in the district tourny. They look to make some noise in the playoffs.

10. Hilliard (22-3)

Congrats to Coach Myron Saunders and the Flashes for winning the 1A District 5 District Championship. Brandyn Seldomridge against Madison County scored 14 points,14 rebounds, and 2 steals in the 66-40 District Championship Win. Malcolm Warthen put together this stat line 13 Pts, 8 Stls, 5 Rebs, 4 Ast, 1 Blk in the championship. The Flashes and Coach Saunders attempt to make another run at Lakeland.

11. Impact Christian (15-10), 2A District 3 Champions

Scoring leaders: Taylor Thompson (11.3ppg), Wilmer De jesus (10.5ppg)

Playoff opponent: St. Johns Country Day (21-4)

12.NFEI (9-12)-2A District 2 Champions

Key Players: Odaine Clahar , Maximiliano Antunez

Playoff opponent: Eagles View (19-8)

13. San Jose Prep (13-10), Class 2A

Scoring leaders: Camden Cooper (18.4ppg), Elliot Graham (9.9ppg)

Playoff opponent: Impact Christian (15-10)

14. Nease (14-12), Class 6A

Scoring leaders: Bryson Utter (14.5ppg), Jack Sullivan (12.4ppg)

Playoff opponent: Oakleaf (19-6)

15.Creekside( 18-9) , 7A District 1 Champions

Scoring leaders: Nolan Nelson (13.4ppg), Ethan Tucker (12.5ppg)

Playoff opponent: Seminole (20-7)

16. Fleming Island (15-12),

Scoring leaders: Carson Crawford (16.7ppg), George Hamm (11.8ppg)

17. University Christian (15-11), Class 2A

Scoring leaders: BRYANT BOYKIN (9.2 ppg), JUSTIN GIST (9.0)

Playoff opponent: St. Paul II (12-14)

18. Fort White (16-6) -Class 2A

Playoff Opponent Hawthorne

19. Columbia (15-12) – Class 5A

Playoff Opponent: Rickards

Scoring leaders: Marlin Haywood(10.2ppg), Zamarion Jones (8.5ppg)

20. Fletcher (11-15)

Scoring leaders: Ryder Kay (9.6 ppg), Anthony Vaglienti (8.7ppg)

21. Orange Park (17-8)

Key Players: Capo Triggs, Quayshon Blot

22. Bolles (11-11)– Class 4A

Scoring leaders: Kaden Ferguson (13.7ppg), Finley Bredehoeft (13.2ppg)

Playoff opponent: Jackson (22-3)

23. St. Johns Country Day (21-4)– Class 2A

Scoring leaders: Camdon Cooper (18.4), Elliot Graham (9.9)

Playoff opponent: Impact (15-10)

24. Eagles View (19-8) Class 2A

Scoring leaders: Jayden Williams (14.9ppg), Marcus Carter (12.0ppg)

Playoff opponent: NFEI (9-12)

25. Bishop Kenny (13-13)

Key Players: Oluwaji Eziemefe, Tong Tong

Boys Playoff Brackets:

Class1A

Class 2A

Class 3A

Class 4A

Class 5A

Class 6A

Class 7A

Featured Image by One Three Studios

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