Players To Watch By Class: 2A (Districts 1-8)
The FHSAA boys basketball season is just around the corner. The regular season tips off on Nov. 23. We will be looking at the top players to watch in all seven classes. Here is a peek at the top prospects…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe FHSAA boys basketball season is just around the corner. The regular season tips off on Nov. 23.
We will be looking at the top players to watch in all seven classes.
Here is a peek at the top prospects to keep an eye on in Class 2A (Districts 1-8).
ICYMI
Players To Watch By Class: 7A (Districts 1-8) Players To Watch By Class: 7A (Districts 9-16) Players To Watch By Class: 6A (Districts 1-8) Players To Watch By Class: 6A (Districts 9-16) Players To Watch By Class: 5A (Districts 1-8) Players To Watch By Class: 5A (Districts 9-16) Players To Watch By Class: 4A (Districts 1-8) Players To Watch By Class: 4A (Districts 9-16) Players To Watch By Class: 3A (Districts 1-8) Players To Watch By Class: 3A (Districts 9-16)
2019-20 state champion: Orlando Christian Prep
Region 1 – District 1
Terrance Card Terrance Card 6'5" | PF Florida A&M | 2021 State FL II (Florida A&M High)
Averaging 13.1 PPG and 9.6 RPG last season, Card enters his senior season looking to expand on those numbers. The 2021 6-5 forward is a powerful inside body who causes havoc on both ends of the floor for Florida A&M High.
Marco Atkins Marco Atkins 6'1" | PF Munroe | 2021 State FL & JJ Walton JJ Walton 6'7" | PF SLAM Tampa | 2022 State FL (Munroe)
Munroe has a pair of double digit scorers in Atkins and Stinson. Atkins, a 2021 6-2 guard averaged 12.2 PPG last season and is a reliable slasher while Stinson is a 2022 5-10 guard who averaged 12.1 PPG and uses his pure speed to get past defenders.
Terrion Arnold Terrion Arnold 6'1" | CG St. John Paul II | 2021 State FL (Tallahassee St. John Paul II)
With 40 plus offers for football which includes Alabama, FSU and UF, Arnold is one of the best safeties in the entire country. On the basketball court, the 2021 6-1 athlete is also a guard who can score plenty. He will be the leader for Tallahassee St. John Paul II this season.
Other names to know: 2023 F Traylon Ray (North Florida Christian), 2021 G Deandrae McCray (North Florida Christian), 2021 F JT Price (North Florida Christian), 2021 G Baquare Whitaker (North Florida Christian), 2022 G Hunter Watson (Aucilla Christian), 2022 G Shareed Ross (Florida A&M), 2022 G Caleb Bryant (Florida A&M), 2021 G Timothy Banks (Rocky Bayou Christian), 2022 G Deon Conyers Deon Conyers 5'11" | CG Robert F Munroe Day School | 2022 State FL (Munroe) and 2021 G Jazquez Price (Munroe).
Region 1 – District 2
Aidan Newman & Ashton Lovette Ashton Lovette 6'4" | CG Saint Francis Catholic | 2022 State FL (Saint Francis Catholic)
The duo of Newman and Lovette will carry Saint Francis Catholic most nights this season. Newman, a 2021 5-11 guard averaged 10.5 PPG doing most of his damage from deep in 2019-20 while hitting 40 percent behind the 3-point line. Lovette, a 2022 6-5 guard averaged 9.7 PPG but should see a huge bump in scoring with his length and attacking ability.
Jemel Facey (St. John Lutheran)
A gamer for St. John Lutheran, Facey is a 2021 5-11 guard who averaged 14.1 PPG and 4.6 RPG as a junior. He should continue to do plenty for this group.
Other names to know: 2021 G Jason Furey (St. John Lutheran), 2022 G Joshua Meo Joshua Meo 6'3" | CG Olympia | 2022 State FL (St. John Lutheran), 2021 F Timothy Carpenter (Cornerstone), 2021 F Jesse Dunn (Cornerstone), 2023 G Chase Guillot (Cornerstone), 2021 G Matt Dersch (Meadowbrook), 2021 G Jordan Kusnierz (Seven Rivers Christian), 2021 F CJ Phillips (Seven Rivers Christian) and 2021 F Zach Baldwin (Saint Francis Catholic).
Region 1 – District 3
Jaden Brill Jaden Brill 6'2" | CG Andrew Jackson | 2022 State FL (University Christian)
University Christian certainly has weapons on the floor. Brill, a 2022 6-2 guard is a top ballhandler here after averaging 10.1 PPG and showing a smooth game as a sophomore. 2021 6-3 forward Royce Morris Royce Morris 6'3" | SF University Christian | 2021 State FL is an effective shooter who sunk 45 percent of his 3-pointers to average 11.2 PPG and 2021 6-1 guard Joe Carter Joe Carter 6'1" | CG University Christian | 2021 State FL led this team with 11.3 PPG and took the attacking role to his preference.
Other names to know: 2023 G Orel Gray (University Christian), 2023 G Desirrio Riles Desirrio Riles 6'4" | SG University Christian | 2023 FL (University Christian), 2021 G Wallace Grissett (Christ’s Church), 2021 G Noah Coker (Christ’s Church), 2022 G Jaheim Wilson (Eagle’s View), 2021 G Jaylon Curry (Temple Christian), 2021 G Jirah James (Temple Christian),
Region 1 – District 4
Ivan Lawson Ivan Lawson 6'6" | CG Impact Christain Academy | 2021 State FL & Calvin Johnson Calvin Johnson 6'5" | CG Impact Christian | 2021 State FL (Impact Christian)
Impact Christian has been a frequent visitor in Lakeland over the last few seasons and I expect that to come true again here in 2020-21. Lawson, a 2021 6-6 forward is athletic as can be and is looking to really to take the next steps forward. Johnson, a 2021 6-6 guard is one of the most underrated athletes who has a versatile game as a ballhandler and mid-range finisher. 2022 6-6 forward Kelvin Johnson Kelvin Johnson 6'5" | PF Impact Christian | 2022 State FL is Calvin’s younger brother and a key inside presence.
Other names to know: 2023 F Keenan Johnson Keenan Johnson 6'7" | SF West Nassau | 2023 FL (Impact Christian), 2022 F Xavier Croson Xavier Croson 6'6" | SF Atlantic Coast | 2022 State FL (Beaches Chapel), 2021 G Martel Collins Martel Collins 6'4" | CG Beaches Chapel | 2021 State FL (Beaches Chapel), 2022 F Aiden Joseph Aiden Joseph 6'7" | PF Tampa Catholic | 2022 State FL (Beaches Chapel), 2022 G Jimmie Williams Jimmie Williams 5'11" | PG Palatka | 2022 State FL (Beaches Chapel), 2022 G Javon Prindle (North Florida Educational), 2021 F Dahntay Tillman (North Florida Educational), 2022 G Xavier Fearon (North Florida Educational), 2022 G Davon Holmes (Harvest Community), 2022 G Joshua Higdon Joshua Higdon 6'3" | PG Parsons Christian | 2022 State FL (Parsons Christian), 2023 G Corey Keys (Parsons Christian), 2021 G Elijah Farmer (Parsons Christian) and 2021 G Davion Fitzgerald (Seacoast Christian).
Region 2 – District 5
Jalen Brown Jalen Brown 6'2" | CG Academy at the Lakes | 2021 State FL & Caleb Yann Caleb Yann 5'11" | CG Academy at the Lakes | 2021 State FL (Academy at the Lakes)
Brown is the featured scorer and Yann really plays well alongside him at Academy at the Lakes. Brown, a 2021 6-2 guard averaged just a hair under 20.0 PPG last season. He has been a contributor dating back to his 8th grade year. Yann, a 2021 5-11 guard averaged 17.5 PPG and is a steady finisher.
Other names to know: 2022 G Demetri Wade Demetri Wade 5'11" | SG Zephyrhills Christian | 2023 FL (Zephyrhills Christian), 2021 F Tayshawn Pendleton Tayshawn Pendleton 6'3" | PF Academy at the Lakes | 2021 State FL (Academy at the Lakes), 2022 G Sebastian Koulias (Classical Prep), 2021 G Corbin Sumrell (Classical Prep), 2022 G Jammaric Hammond Jammaric Hammond 6'1" | SG Wekiva | 2022 State FL (Hernando Christian) and 2021 G Denali Duncan (Keystone Prep).
Region 2 – District 6
Mac Creek Mac Creek 5'11" | CG Cambridge Christian | 2022 State FL & Gavin Martinez Gavin Martinez 6'1" | SG Cambridge Christian | 2021 State FL (Cambridge Christian)
Fresh off of a football season, Cambridge Christian pair Creek and Martinez are ones to like. Creek, a 2022 6-0 guard averaged 14.2 PPG and made plays often for his side. Martinez, a 2021 5-11 guard was a close second with 13.7 PPG and showed plenty of patience as a lead ballhandler.
Other names to know: 2022 G Hareth Saleh (Universal), 2022 G Travus Dean (Brandon Academy), 2022 G Jahmal Fraser (Brandon Academy), 2023 G Robert Jenkins (Tampa Bay Christian) and 2021 G Luke Sullivan (Cambridge Christian).
Region 2 – District 7
Charles Crews Charles Crews 6'3" | CG Bayshore Christian | 2021 State FL (Bayshore Christian)
Bayshore Christian has a nice opportunity to get back to the state final four again with 2021 6-3 guard Charles Crews Charles Crews 6'3" | CG Bayshore Christian | 2021 State FL back at the helm. He averaged 22.2 PPG and earned an offer from Stetson earlier this summer. He can heat up in a hurry as a shooter. Another dangerous playmaker is 2021 6-2 guard Deon Brown Deon Brown 6'1" | CG Bayshore Christian | 2021 State FL , who averaged 16.2 PPG as a junior. He is a gifted jump shooter and a very quick guard. Also, 2021 6-4 guard/forward Christian Rolack Christian Rolack 6'4" | CG Bayshore Christian | 2021 State FL (via transfer from Robinson) is going to be a true X-factor for this squad.
Other names to know: 2022 G Drew Yoder (Sarasota Christian), 2021 G Evan Lewis (Sarasota Christian), 2022 G Adam Bassil (Sarasota Christian), 2021 G Percy Pederson (St. Pete Canterbury), 2022 G Sam Lee Sam Lee 5'9" | PG St. Pete Canterbury | 2022 State FL (St. Pete Canterbury), 2022 G Dominic Smith Dominic Smith 6'1" | SF St. Pete Canterbury | 2022 State FL (St. Pete Canterbury), 2021 G Brandon Hill Brandon Hill 6'4" | CG Community Christian | 2021 State FL (Community Christian), 2022 G Isaiah Levine (Community Christian), 2023 G Lucas Kolaxis (Lakeside Christian)
Region 2 – District 8
Aaron Jones Aaron Jones 6'7" | PF Evangelical Christian | 2021 State FL (Evangelical Christian)
When aggressive, defenses have a very challenging time slowing down Jones. The 2021 6-7 guard/forward is a good athlete who has averaged double digits the last three seasons at Evangelical Christian which includes a career-best 17.9 PPG as a junior. Earning an offer from NAIA Southeastern, Jones is playing with confidence right now. 2022 6-4 guard Jordon Rivera Jordon Rivera 6'3" | CG Evangelical Christian | 2022 State FL is a nice compliment as the lead point man and he can score in a variety of ways as a shooter and driver.
Jay White Jay White 6'1" | PG Southwest Florida Christian | 2022 State FL (Southwest Florida Christian)
A true tough guard, White averaged 17.5 PPG last season for Southwest Florida Christian. The 2021 6-1 guard is the clear cut lead man for this team. He is going to do it all in terms of scoring on most gamenights.
Other names to know: 2024 G Trae Guttery (Evangelical Christian), 2021 F Joseph Carletta (Donahue Catholic), 2021 G Joey Klucik (Donahue Catholic), 2023 G Lee Cortes Lee Cortes 6'0" | CG Southwest Florida Christian | 2023 FL (Southwest Florida Christian), 2021 F Sammy Townsend Sammy Townsend 6'5" | SF Seacrest | 2021 State FL (Seacrest Country Day), 2021 G Matt Riley Matt Riley 5'11" | SG Seacrest Country Day | 2021 State FL (Seacrest Country Day), 2022 G Jack Snyder Jack Snyder 5'10" | SG Seacrest Country Day | 2022 State FL (Seacrest Country Day), 2021 G Richard Matthews (First Baptist) and 2022 F Kenny Smallwood (Everglades City).