Class 6A 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 Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2) Class 3A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2) Class 4A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2) Class 5A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2) Class 6A Preview: (Part 1) We arrive on Class 6A and its 16 districts, here with Part 2. Stranahan captured its first state title ever this past March with a 63-54 win over Lakewood. 2018-19 state champion: Stranahan 2018-19 runner-up: Lakewood Part 2 Class 6A-District 9 2018-19 winner: Jesuit won the 6A-9 district final over Robinson. 6A-9 is now occupied by six different Tampa area programs which include East Lake from 8A-10, Gaither, Wiregrass Ranch and Freedom from 8A-8 and Sunlake and Mitchell from 7A-8.  Teams to watch: East Lake, Sunlake, Mitchell, Wiregrass Ranch Other teams in the district: Gaither, Freedom Predicted district champion: East Lake ---East Lake lost to 8A state runner-up Lakewood Ranch on the road in the region final. The Eagles bring back its trio of top pieces in 2020 6'3" guard Dionte Blanch (Murray State signee), 2020 5'10" guard Jordan Hillmon and 2021 6'4" guard Dean Gabrelcik. This is East Lake's district to lose. The Eagles will make a deep playoff run. Class 6A-District 10 2018-19 winner: Lake Wales beat Booker in the 6A-10 district final a year after the opposite occurred. Now seven teams reside in the revamped 6A-10 with mainly Pinellas County programs. Largo, Dixie Hollins from 7A-9, St. Pete, Seminole and Pinellas Park from 8A-10 and Manatee and Palmetto from 8A-11. Teams to watch: St. Pete, Seminole, Palmetto, Manatee Other teams in the district: Largo, Pinellas Park, Dixie Hollins Predicted district champion: St. Pete ---St. Pete and Seminole know each other pretty well. I give St. Pete the edge with the deep group of young athletes it has in place which includes 2020 6'2" guard Deondre Earley, 2020 6'3" guard Ferlin Joseph, 2021 5'11" guard Ray Perry and 2021 5'10" guard Omarie Sherrod. Seminole has 2020 6'4" guard Parker Conitz in charge of a tough-minded team. Class 6A-District 11 2018-19 winner: Lakewood beat Gibbs in the 6A-11 district final. This district consists of teams from Sarasota and Fort Myers now. Braden River, Sarasota and Venice come over from 8A-11, Fort Myers from 7A-11, Charlotte and North Fort Myers from 7A-10. Teams to watch: Charlotte, Fort Myers, Braden River, Venice Other teams in the district: North Fort Myers, Sarasota Predicted district champion: Fort Myers ---Picking a winner in 6A-11 wasn't easy. Charlotte has a Division I prospect in 2021 6'7" forward Tre Carroll (USF, Santa Clara, Stetson, FAU and FGCU offers), 2020 6'8" forward Faustin-ruben Phanor, 2020 6'2" guard Tyrik Gainer and 2023 6'4" guard John Gamble. Fort Myers has the speed and size to keep up with 2020 6'7" forward Cayden Baker (North Carolina football commit), 2021 6'1" guard Javian McCollum, 2020 5'11" guard Bradey Luttrell, 2020 6'6" forward Kyle Riemenschneider and 2021 5'10" guard Jamin Primus. Braden River will compete as well with 2020 pair D'Angelo Antonio and Amari Jones. Venice will likely have 2020 6'5" guard Malachi Wideman (FSU football commit). Class 6A-District 12 2018-19 winner: Lely beat Immokalee in the 6A-12 district final. Dunbar, South Fort Myers, East Lee County and Lehigh come in from 7A-11,  Riverdale from 8A-12 and Palmetto Ridge from 7A-12. Teams to watch: Lehigh, Dunbar, Riverdale Other teams in the district: East Lee County, South Fort Myers, Palmetto Ridge Predicted district champion: Lehigh ---Lehigh is the favorite with 2020 6'4" duo Darron Humphrey and Quinton Desamours. 2021 6'6" forward Ronnail Tape and 2021 5'9" twins Markel Carter and Marvel Carter will help plenty. Dunbar has 2021 6'1" guard Caleb Jones, 2020 6'7" forward Caleb Snowden and 2021 6'4" guard Ahmad Watkins. Riverdale has a rising talent in 2021 6'9" forward Tyrone Baker.  6A-District 13 2018-19 winner: Poinciana beat Eustis in the 6A-13 district final. Six South Florida teams now reside in 6A-13 with Atlantic coming in from 9A-13, Olympic Heights and Boca Raton from 8A-13, Martin County from 9A-8, South Fork from 7A-13 and Seminole Ridge from 9A-9. Teams to watch: Atlantic, Olympic Heights, Martin County, South Fork Other teams in the district: Seminole Ridge, Boca Raton Predicted district champion:  Olympic Heights ---I like what Olympic Heights still has in place. 2022 6'2" guard Caleb Mackrey and 2021 5'10" guard Marc Steig should be able to carry the Lions to the district title win. Class 6A-District 14 2018-19 winner: Rockledge beat Titusville in the 6A-14 district championship. Seven teams from around Fort Lauderdale are now in 6A-14 with Blanche Ely, Ft. Lauderdale, St. Thomas Aquinas and Plantation from 8A-14, South Plantation from 9A-12, Nova from 8A-15 and Dillard from 7A-14. Teams to watch: Blanche Ely, Dillard, Ft. Lauderdale, St. Thomas Aquinas Other teams in the district: South Plantation, Plantation, Nova Predicted district champion: Dillard ---Having Dillard and Blanche Ely in the same district should be super fun. Add in Ft. Lauderdale and St. Thomas Aquinas and there is a lot to like here in 6A-14. Dillard returns for key pieces from a 7A state runner-up group in 2020 6'8" forward Jalen Haynes, 2020 6'3" guard Chandler Mack, 2020 6'6" forward Kirt Bromley and 2020 6' guard Darry Burrows. Add 2020 6'4" guard Ivan Reynolds to the mix from Coral Springs Charter. Blanche Ely has 2020 5'11" guard Lamont Evans and 2022 6'5" forward Derrick Lovett. Ft. Lauderdale features 2021 6'5" guard Jordan Shorter and 2020 6'3" guard Alex Vertus (transfer from Cardinal Gibbons). Class 6A-District 15 2018-19 winner: Suncoast beat Port St. Lucie in the 6A-15 district final. Six Miami area squads are in the new 6A-15 with North Miami and American from 9A-14, McArthur, Hollywood Hills and South Broward from 8A-15 and Goleman from 8A-16. Teams to watch: North Miami, McArthur, South Broward Other teams in the district: Hollywood Hills, Goleman, American Predicted district champion: North Miami ---North Miami has a ton of talent in place with 2020 6'5" guard Carlos Hart, 2020 6'4" guard Vee'lesk Avin (transfer from Dr. Krop), 2021 6'4" forward Johnsky Saintsurin and 2021 6' guard Ronaldo Vescine. McArthur will have a say in this district with 2020 guard pair Jordan Howard and Dominic Shaw. Class 6A-District 16 2017-18 winner: Stranahan beat Hallandale in the 6A-16 district final on the way to a state title. Doral comes from 7A-16 after going 31-1 a season ago, Hialeah from 9A-14, Homestead and Southridge from 9A-16, South Miami from 9A-15 and Mater from 8A-16 Teams to watch: South Miami, Mater, Doral Other teams in the district: Homestead, Hialeah, Southridge Predicted district champion: South Miami ---South Miami, Doral and Mater all have major pieces to brag about. South Miami lost to Osceola in the 9A state semifinal and returns 2021 5’10" guard Arturo Dean, 2020 6’10" forward Brandon Sanders and 2020 6’1" guard Farid Saintcyr. 2020 6'4" guard Nicolas Louis-Jacques (transfer from Killian) gives the Cobras a huge lift on both ends of the court. Mater has 2022 6’8" forward Malik Reneau and 2020 6’2" guard Isaiah Josue leading the way while Doral has 2020 6'4" guard Devin Carter carrying the brunt of the load. Predicted State Champion: Dillard ---Dillard has seven state titles under its belt including in 2017 and 2016. The Panthers nearly had another one last season but fell in a low scoring tilt against Crestview. The Panthers will earn No. 8 with its tough, athletic and versatile group led by the trio of Haynes, Mack and Reynolds. The winner of 6A-14 should be the favorite to take home the state title in March. North Miami, South Miami, Doral, Mainland, Fort Myers and East Lake will all have a say in this different looking Class 6A. Final Score (6A State Final): Stranahan 63 Lakewood 54 The Mighty Dragons win their first ever state title. ????leaders @StranahanBasket Brian Dugazon 14 Dave Herard 13 Inady Legiste 12 Chayse Culpepper 10@LakewoodBoys Jalen White 16 Jamille Reynolds 10 pic.twitter.com/LWvrsZoGU6 — ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) March 8, 2019