Class 5A Season Preview (Part 1)
Preseason classics are near and the FHSAA regular season officially begins on November 25. We will bring you previews on all seven classes in the state of Florida and the independent conferences. ICYMI: SIAA Preview Class 1A Preview Class 2A…
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Continue ReadingPreseason classics are near and the FHSAA regular season officially begins on November 25.
We will bring you previews on all seven classes in the state of Florida and the independent conferences.
ICYMI:
Class 2A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2)
Class 3A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2)
Class 4A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2)
We arrive on Class 5A and its 16 districts, here with Part 1. University School won back-to-back 5A state titles with a 72-46 win over Andrew Jackson.
2018-19 state champion: University
2018-19 runner-up: Andrew Jackson
Part 1
Class 5A-District 1
2018-19 winner: Walton beat Pensacola Catholic in the district final. Now, 5A-1 consists of six teams from the panhandle area. Choctawhatchee and Fort Walton Beach came from 7A-2, Escambia, Pensacola Booker T. Washington and Pine Forest from 7A-1 and Gulf Breeze from 8A-1.
Teams to watch: Choctawhatchee, Pine Forest, Gulf Breeze
Other teams in the district: Escambia, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Booker T. Washington
Predicted district champion: Choctawhatchee
––Choctawhatchee still has a lot to carry them even with 2019 standouts Diante Smith (TCU) and Joshua Williams (Pensacola State) in college now. 2021 6’5″ guard Jamil Bowles is an up and coming talent, 2020 guard duo Torrion Mcgowan and CJ Matthews and 2022 6’8″ big men Brian Grant and Elijah Johnson will all be major keys to success. Pine Forest has 2022 6’5″ guard/forward Omarion Turner to keep a close eye on while Gulf Breeze has 2020 6’2″ guard Griffen Corbin.
Class 5A-District 2
2018-19 winner: Florida State High beat Marianna in the old 5A-2. Now, there are a quartet of teams from the panhandle area. Rickards and Wakulla came from 6A-2 and Mosley and Arnold from 6A-1.
Teams to watch: Rickards, Mosley
Other teams in the district: Wakulla, Arnold
Predicted district champion: Rickards
—Rickards has a highly athletic new piece in 2020 6’6″ forward Myles Smith (transfer from Impact Christian) and 2020 6’1″ guard Zackary White. 2021 pair, 6’4″ forward Joshua Symonette and 6’6″ forward Khamari McGriff give the always contending Raiders some real length and versatility. Mosley has 2021 6′ guard Nyjah Gray leading the way.
Class 5A-District 3
2018-19 winner: Bolles beat Andrew Jackson in the 5A-3 district final, but Andrew Jackson made it all the way to the state championship before losing to University School. Seven different Jacksonville squads move into 5A-3. Orange Park, Westside and Ridgeview came in from 6A-4, Stanton and Parker from 6A-3, Middleburg from 7A-3 and Lee from 8A-3.
Teams to watch: Orange Park, Lee, Westside
Other teams in the district: Middleburg, Stanton, Parker, Ridgeview
Predicted district champion: Lee
––2021 6’6″ forward Alex Fudge is the best player in this district and he has earned a plethora of offers this summer including from Iowa State, USC, TCU, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and USF. 2020 5’10” guard Deandre’ Devaughn (transfer from Raines) and 2021 5’6″ guard Teron Haywood give Fudge a lot of help in the backcourt and the Generals should be able to take home the district crown.
Class 5A-District 4
2018-19 winner: Bradford edged Fort White 73-70 to capture 5A-4. Six new squads shift over to the new look 5A-4 which include Deltona, Pine Ridge and Seabreeze from 7A-5, Matanzas and Ponte Vedra from 6A-5 and St. Augustine from 7A-3.
Teams to watch: Deltona, St. Augustine
Other teams in the district: Matanzas. Ponte Vedra, Pine Ridge, Seabreeze
Predicted district champion: St. Augustine
—This district is certainly wide open, but it will likely come down to Deltona and St. Augustine. Deltona graduated a slew of talent but always have pieces to work with. 2020 6′ guard Dayron Horne will have a chance to be the guy for the Wolves. St. Augustine has 2020 guard Spencer Cambell and 2021 guard Brakhel Burch.
Class 5A-District 5
2018-19 winner: The Villages beat Trinity Catholic in the district final after losing to the Celtics the year prior. Seven schools from the Orlando area move into 5A-5 now. Belleview from 6A-6, Leesburg from 6A-13, Jones from 5A-6, Lake Minneola from 8A-5, Lake Weir and Ocala Vanguard from 7A-4 and Lecanto from 6A-7.
Teams to watch: Leesburg, Jones, Lake Minneola
Other teams in the district: Belleview, Lake Weir, Ocala Vanguard, Lecanto
Predicted district champion: Leesburg
—Leesburg is looking to bounce back after missing the postseason a year ago following back to back state titles. 2020 6’5″ forward Jyre McCloud, 2020 6’3″ guard Akiem Nickerson and 2021 6’3″ guard Justice Robinson will help a ton in the cause. Jones brought in 2020 6’1″ guard Shakur Poteat from Edgewater while 2022 5’10” guard Daquan Harris is an emerging piece.
Class 5A-District 6
2018-19 winner: Lake Highland Prep beat First Academy to win the 5A-6 district championship. Seven schools from the Pasco County area slide into the new look 5A-6 district. Zephyrhills, Gulf, Pasco, River Ridge and Fivay from 6A-8 and Land O’ Lakes and Springstead from 7A-8.
Teams to watch: Land O’ Lakes, Zephyrhills, Springstead, Gulf
Other teams in the district: Fivay, Pasco, River Ridge
Predicted district champion: Land O’ Lakes
—Returning is 2020 pair, 6’3″ guard Chase Farmer (19.0 PPG) and 6’1″ guard Mekhi Perry (14.1 PPG) for Land O’ Lakes. The Gators are the favorite in 5A-6. 2021 6’6″ forward Unique Torain (17.4 PPG) is the top piece for Springstead. 2020 5’9″ guard Dontae Marchman is going to lead the Zephyrhills offense.
Class 5A-District 7
2018-19 winner: Cocoa beat Melbourne Central Catholic in the 5A-7 district final. The six programs now in 5A-7 are from the Polk County area. Lakes Wales, Hardee and Sebring came from 6A-10 and Auburndale, Lake Gibson and Lake Region from 7A-6.
Teams to watch: Auburndale, Sebring, Lake Wales, Hardee
Other teams in the district: Lake Region, Lake Gibson
Predicted district champion: Auburndale
—Auburndale seems to always have pieces in place to succeed and after making the 7A region final this past spring, the Blooodhounds return 2020 5’9″ guard Dorian Allen, 2020 6’3″ forward Cameron Laguerre and 2021 6’5″ center David Drier. Sebring will have a say in this 5A-7 district race with 2021 6’4″ guard Alvin Tumblin and 2020 6’6″ forward Eric Brown.
Class 5A-District 8
2018-19 winner: McKeel beat Avon Park for the second consecutive season in 5A-8. The revamped 5A-8 district features seven East Coast programs. Bayside, Eau Gallie and Heritage came over from 7A-13, Gateway from 9A-7, Merritt Island, Palm Bay and Rockledge from 6A-14.
Teams to watch: Rockledge, Gateway, Bayside, Eau Gallie
Other teams in the district: Heritage, Palm Bay, Merritt Island
Predicted district champion: Eau Gallie
—This is certainly one of the most open districts as Rockledge graduated its entire team and head coach Logan Keith switched to Viera. Bayside has 2020 5’9″ guard Jatavius Washington back as the lead point man. I’m picking Eau Gallie with 2020 6’3″ guard Ayjay Plain and 2021 6’2″ guard Davion Sistrunk at the forefront.
Final Score (5A State Final):
University 72
Jackson 46The Sharks win back to back state titles.
????leaders @UNS_Athletics
Jace Howard 17
Scottie Barnes 13
Roger McFarlane 13@AndrewJacksonHS
Davin Daniels 9
David Daniels 7
Randolph Myers 7 pic.twitter.com/jMu9djwOZs— ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) March 7, 2019