Class 5A Season Preview (Part 2)
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)
Class 5A Preview: (Part 1)
We arrive on Class 5A and its 16 districts, here with Part 2. 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 2
Class 5A-District 9
2018-19 winner: Berkeley Prep beat Tampa Catholic in the 5A-9 district final but it was Tampa Catholic that made its fourth straight Final Four appearance, losing to Andrew Jackson. Now, 5A-9 consists of seven different Tampa area programs with Jesuit, Robinson, Spoto, Middleton and Jefferson moving down from 6A-9 and Blake and Chamberlain from 7A-7.
Teams to watch: Jesuit, Blake, Jefferson, Chamberlain
Other teams in the district: Robinson, Spoto, Middleton
Predicted district champion: Jesuit
––Jesuit continues to have a good system in place that holds opposing teams to lower scores than they are used to and it works. The Tigers have 2020 6’2″ guard Bennett Anderson leading the charge alongside 2021 5’11” guard Ryan Weir and his sharpshooting ability. For Blake, 2022 6’5″ guard Emanuel Sharp returns after averaging 25.1 PPG as a freshman and earning offers from UF, USF and Texas Tech this summer playing for E1T1.
Class 5A-District 10
2018-19 winner: Community School beat LaBelle in the old 5A-10. Now, the revamped 5A-10 has Bradenton and Tampa area squads. Clearwater, Boca Ciega, St. Pete Northeast and Seminole Osceola arrived from 7A-9, Bayshore and Southeast from 6A-11 and Countryside from 8A-10.
Teams to watch: Clearwater, Countryside, Southeast
Other teams in the district: Northeast, Osceola, Bayshore, Boca Ciega
Predicted district champion: Countryside
—Countryside has a fun 2021 trio of Anthony Bittar, EJ Hubbert and Mikey Shane in place. Bittar and Hubbert came over from Oldsmar Christian and have already brought a lot of scoring this summer for the Cougars. Clearwater always contends and has 2020 6’4″ guard Max Jones leading the charge. For Southeast, 2021 5’11” guard Maleek Huggins is a two-sport athlete who is a shifty point man and a standout quarterback.
Class 5A-District 11
2018-19 winner: Oxbridge took down Cardinal Newman in the district final. 5A-11 now have six teams from the Fort Myers area. Cape Coral, Ida Baker, Island Coast and Port Charlotte came in from 7A-10 and Mariner and Cypress Lake from 6A-12.
Teams to watch: Port Charlotte, Mariner, Cape Coral
Other teams in the district: Cypress Lake, Island Coast, Ida Baker
Predicted district champion: Port Charlotte
––Port Charlotte continues to be a contender every season and with 2020 6’3″ guard Colby Schmutz at the helm, things should continue to roll for the Pirates. 2022 6’4″ guard Kdyn Waters is a player to watch for Cape Coral.
Class 5A-District 12
2018-19 winner: Saint Andrew’s won 5A-12 over Coral Springs Charter. Now six Naples area programs sit in 5A-12. Golden Gate, Naples and Barron Collier from 7A-12, Immokalee and Lely from 6A-12 and Estero from 7A-11.
Teams to watch: Naples, Immokalee, Lely
Other teams in the district: Barron Collier, Golden Gate, Estero
Predicted district champion: Naples
—Naples is my pick for 5A-12 with 2021 6’5″ guard Tony Green becoming one of the breakout juniors this season alongside 2021 6’6″ guard James Cone. 2020 guard pair Hunter Hancock and Nate Raymond do plenty for the Golden Eagles as well. For Lely, 2020 5’10” guard McCline Sttulus is really crafty. Immokalee has 2020 6’4″ guard Obny Marquavien Saint-Jean back in charge.
Class 5A-District 13
2018-19 winner: University School beat Chaminade Madonna in the 5A-13 district final on the way to its second consecutive state title. Six different programs now occupy 5A-13 with Suncoast, Westwood and Port St. Lucie coming in from 6A-15, Jensen Beach and Okeechobee from 7A-13 and Boynton Beach from 8A-13.
Teams to watch: Suncoast, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Okeechobee
Other teams in the district: Boynton Beach, Westwood
Predicted district champion: Suncoast
—This will be a highly contested finish in 5A-13. Jensen Beach has 2020 6’6″ forward Lavarius Hampton and 2021 6’1 guard Jeremiah Denaud back. 2020 6’7″ forward Emanuel Rogers (FSU football commit) could suit up and that would do wonders for the Falcons. Okeechobee has the Kelly brothers, two 2020 5’10” guards in Malcolm Kelly and Markeze Kelly to pair with 2021 6’8″ forward Alessio DeHart. 2020 6’3″ guard Nelson St. Louis is the guy to watch at Port St. Lucie while Suncoast has trio 2020 5’11” guard Sam Rolle, 2021 6’5″ forward Makye Boles and 2021 6’4″ guard Evan Stinson in place.
Class 5A-District 14
2018-19 winner: Mater Lakes beat Pace to take home the 5A-14 crown. Six different South Florida programs slide into 5A-14 now with Plantation American Heritage and Coconut Creek from 6A-16, Boyd Anderson and Oakland Park Northeast from 7A-14, Pembroke Pines Charter from 9A-13 and Archbishop McCarthy from 6A-16
Teams to watch: Boyd Anderson, Northeast, Pembroke Pines Charter, American Heritage
Other teams in the district: Coconut Creek, Archbishop McCarthy
Predicted district champion: Northeast
—Picking between Northeast and Pembroke Pines Charter was like splitting hairs. I think this is Northeast’s season with all of the talent it has in place. Pembroke Pines Charter has pure scorer 2020 5’9″ guard Dallas Graziani (transfer from Cooper City), 2020 6’4″ guard Osei Price (transfer from Montverde), 2020 6’6″ forward Amarachi Ujagbor, 2021 6′ guard Javen Smith and 2022 5’10” guard Geoffrey Sprouse. Northeast will have a lot to brag about with 2020 5’11” guard Tyrecke Francios (transfer from Blanche Ely), 2021 6’5″ guard Wesley Cardet, 2023 6’9 Bewley twins, Ryan Bewley and Matthew Bewley and 2021 6’3″ guard Jameon Harris (transfer from West Oaks). Boyd Anderson should be competitive with 2020 5’11” guard Martin Mercedes (transfer from Palmetto), 2020 6’4″ guard Kemari Brown and 2020 6’5″ forward Rivaldo Fairweather.
Class 5A-District 15
2018-19 winner: Booker T. Washington beat Gulliver Prep in the 5A-15 district title game. Five new Miami area schools move into the revamped 5A-15 with Mourning, Westland Hialeah and Hialeah-Miami Lakes coming from 8A-16 and Miami Central and Miami Norland from 7A-15.
Teams to watch: Norland, Central
Other teams in the district: Mourning, Westland Hialeah, Miami Lakes
Predicted district champion: Norland
—Norland is the clear favorite in 5A-15 with 2020 6’3″ guard Jahvon Smith, 2020 6’4″ guard/forward Kendrick Wilson and 2020 5’10” guard Ricky Bush leading the way.
Class 5A-District 16
2018-19 winner: Westminster Christian beat Keys Gate to win 5A-16. Five different Miami programs are now in the revamped 5A-16 with Miami Killian coming from 9A-16, Miami Jackson, Belen Jesuit and TERRA Environmental from 7A-16 and Northwestern from 7A-15.
Teams to watch: Killian, Jackson, TERRA Environmental, Belen Jesuit
Other teams in the district: Northwestern
Predicted district champion: Belen Jesuit
—Belen Jesuit will have to fight for 5A-16 but it will have a major chance to win the district with 2020 6’8″ forward Joshua Cecol, 2020 6’2″ guard Mario Cobo, 5’10” brothers, 2021 guard David Fernandez and 2023 guard Daniel Fernandez. In the meantime, Killian has a good brother duo in 2020 6’6″ forward Josh Acosta and 2021 6’1″ guard Ariel Acosta.
Predicted State Champion: Oakland Park Northeast
—With Cardet leading the charge with his length and versatility along with Francois, who is a blazer and shooter and the Bewley twins, Matthew and Ryan doing a ton on both ends of the floor, I see Northeast winning 5A. Although the Hurricanes won only four games a season ago, they have all the talent and athletes in place. 2020 6’3″ guard Jermaine Dyges is a great pair with Harris, who just came in recently.
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