Preview: Inaugural Prep Hoops Sun Bash
On Friday, the very first Prep Hoops Sun Bash will take place at Carrollwood Day School in Tampa, Fla.
13 games will be played this weekend including three on Friday evening and a busy 10-game slate on Saturday. This inaugural Sun Bash has set games. The goal is to have a bracketed tournament in 2019.
Schedule:
Friday – Alonso at Carrollwood (5:30), South Miami at Holy Spirit Prep (7), Pebblebrook at Edgewater (8:30)
Saturday – Nature Coast at St. Pete Canterbury (8 AM), Superior Collegiate at Anclote (9:30 AM), Alonso at Santa Fe Catholic (11 AM), Palm Glades at Bayshore Christian (12:30 PM), Newsome at Lake Gibson (2 PM), Durant at Carrollwood (3:30 PM), Plant at Creekside (5 PM), Lake Wales at South Miami (6:30 PM), Holy Spirit at Vanguard (8 PM), Lakewood Ranch at Pebblebrook (9:30 PM)
Here is a team-by-team preview:
Pebblebrook (Ga.)
Last season’s finish: The Falcons (21-8) made an appearance in the AAAAAAA third round before losing to eventual state runner-up Norcross.
Outlook: Pebblebrook is led by seniors, forward Mervin James and guard Dwight Murray. The duo played alongside Alabama freshman Collin Sexton last season. James is headed to Canisius College next fall. Currently, 9-2, the Falcons have six seniors and size on their side with six players 6’4″ or higher.
Games on tap: Pebblebrook will play Edgewater on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. before facing Lakewood Ranch the following night at 9:30 p.m.
Holy Spirit Prep (Ga.)
Last season’s finish: The Cougars went 21-3 a year ago in route to winning the Class AAA GISA title.
Outlook: Holy Spirit Prep features senior forwards Kamani Johnson and George Masslenikov and sophomore guards Anthony Edwards and Buka Peirkrishvili. The Cougars play a national level schedule that includes games against Norcross (Georgia), Paul VI (Virginia), McEachern (Georgia), Westtown (Pennsylvania) and Wheeler (Georgia). They are currently 4-5 this season.
Games on tap: Holy Spirit Prep will play South Miami on Friday night at 7 p.m. before going up against Ocala Vanguard on Saturday night at 8 p.m.
South Miami
Last season’s finish: The Cobras (26-4) made a trip to Lakeland, appearing in the Class 9A state semifinal before surrendering to Wekiva.
Outlook: Despite graduating nine seniors from a year ago, South Miami has started this season 8-1. The Dean brothers, Toru, a junior and Arturo, a freshman have taken control of this group. Junior forwards Lee Flenor and Markeis Danon have done a lot to help on both ends of the floor.
Games on tap: South Miami will play Holy Spirit Prep on Friday night at 7 p.m. before going up against Lake Wales on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.
Alonso
Last season’s finish: The Ravens went 14-12 a year ago losing to Newsome in the Class 9A-District 6 semifinal.
Outlook: Alonso is off to an 8-3 start this season which includes six wins since Dec. 8. The Ravens feature junior forwards Sager Cavalier and Kamalii Findlay, senior guard Drew Price and sophomore guard Andrew Leftwich.
Games on tap: Alonso will play Carrollwood Day on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. before going up against Santa Fe Catholic on Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m.
Carrollwood Day
Last season’s finish: The Patriots went 8-12 in Class 3A-District 4. They move into Class 4A-District 4 under first-year head coach Teddy Owens.
Outlook: The tournament host are 7-1 thus far this season with its lone loss coming to Berkeley Prep in the opener on Nov. 28. The trio of juniors Malcolm Whitlow and Edgar Ziegler and senior Owen Mixon has worked well for the Patriots early this season.
Games on tap: Carrollwood Day will play Alonso on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. before going up against Durant on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Edgewater
Last season’s finish: The Eagles (23-9) were the Class 7A state runner-up, falling to Dillard in Lakeland. They are now in Class 8A.
Outlook: Star guard Anfernee Simons graduated and is now playing for IMG post grad, but Edgewater has been very good without him this season. The Eagles are 10-2 with sophomore Michael Eads, senior Samford commit Robert Allen and juniors Terrence McClain and Trevon Cason at the forefront.
Games on tap: Edgewater will play Pebblebrook on Friday night at 8:30 p.m.
Creekside
Last season’s finish: The Knights (26-4) finished one game from the Class 8A state tournament, losing 62-61 to Lincoln in the region final.
Outlook: Senior forward Caleb Townsend broke his foot in the opening game of the season. The Knights have been very successful to open the season at 11-2 with three seniors stepping up in guard J’Michael Plummer, forward DJ Dumas and forward Noah Lippy.
Games on tap: Creekside will play Plant on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Lakewood Ranch
Last season’s finish: The Mustangs (27-3) reached the Class 8A state semifinal, a loss to eventual champion Sickles.
Outlook: Lakewood Ranch is off to a 9-3 start to the season. The Mustangs are spearheaded by seniors Damien Gordon, Jack Kelley and Evan Spiller and sophomore Keon Buckley. This group beat Elijah Weaver and Rockledge on Saturday at the Kingdom of The Sun tournament in Ocala.
Games on tap: Lakewood Ranch will play Pebblebrook on Saturday night at 9:30 p.m.
Plant
Last season’s finish: The Panthers (9-15) lost in the Class 8A-District 8 quarterfinal to Wiregrass Ranch last season.
Outlook: With new head coach Joe Willis on the sidelines, Plant is 9-1 thus far this season which included an 8-0 opening. Seniors Dylan Wilson, Ronald Boyd and Chance Jackson, junior Logan Morrissey and sophomore Reagan Weiss give the Panthers plenty of offensive firepower.
Games on tap: Plant will play Creekside on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Vanguard
Last season’s finish: The Knights (24-7) played in the Class 7A region final before falling to eventual state champion Dillard.
Outlook: Sitting at 7-5 this season, Vanguard has had two 3-game winning streaks already. Senior Jalen Scott, juniors Derek Brown and Dantwan Grimes and sophomore Leonard Manuel are the top pieces for the Ocala based group.
Games on tap: Vanguard will play Holy Spirit Prep on Saturday night at 8 p.m.
Anclote
Last season’s finish: The Sharks finished 16-11 a year ago falling to Ridgewood in the Class 6A-District 8 semifinal.
Outlook: Right now, Anclote is 6-7 being led by a trio of sophomore players in forward Jakob Hester and guards Jalen Cooper and Jacobie Forrest. The Sharks have been in two overtime games already this season, splitting them at 1-1.
Games on tap: Anclote will play Superior Collegiate on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
Lake Wales
Last season’s finish: The Highlanders (12-14) lost in the Class 6A-District 10 semifinal to Booker last season.
Outlook: Lake Wales has a 6-4 record currently which includes a five-game winning streak. The Highlanders outlasted Ridge Community on Dec. 28 in a 61-60 double overtime victory. Freshman point guard Walter Clayton Jr., sophomore Gervon Dexter and senior Detravlon Marlow are all players to watch.
Games on tap: Lake Wales will play South Miami on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.
Palm Glades Prep
Last season’s finish: The Eagles (11-10) made the Class 4A region semifinal visit before losing to Archbishop Carroll.
Outlook: Winners of five of its last seven games, Palm Glades Prep sits at 6-5 heading into the Sun Bash this weekend. Senior captain Jaiden Lee does it all at the wing while senior Nathaniel Stewart and junior Joshua Avecedo are crafty guards for the Eagles.
Games on tap: Palm Glades Prep will go up against Bayshore Christian at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Durant
Last season’s finish: The Cougars went 5-15, ending their season in a Class 8A-District 9 quarterfinal loss to Plant City.
Outlook: Durant is 1-8 to start this season. Junior guard Jeffery White and seniors Ak’mee Burton and Darrius DeJesus are the leaders of this group.
Games on tap: Durant will play Carrollwood Day on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Newsome
Last season’s finish: The Wolves (19-6) made a region quarterfinal appearance this past season, losing to Oak Ridge.
Outlook: Newsome owns a 6-3 record behind strong play from senior guard Isaiah Islam, sophomore guard Jake Brazinski, junior forward Tyler McKenna and senior guard Marcus Morin.
Games on tap: Newsome will play Lake Gibson on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Sante Fe Catholic
Last season’s finish: Last season, the Hawks (14-6) fell in the Class 4A-District 3 semifinal to Orangewood Christian.
Outlook: Santa Fe Catholic is 5-4 this season so far with sophomores Javon Bell, Joe Stubbs and Ray Davis taking over the team. However, Stubbs is out for at least the next month with a fractured ankle that he suffered last week following a 36-point performance.
Games on tap: Santa Fe Catholic will play Alonso on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Lake Gibson
Last season’s finish: Last season, the Braves (17-9) took Auburndale to overtime in the Class 7A-District 6 semifinal before losing.
Outlook: Lake Gibson owns a 6-3 record so far this season with senior guards Nick Jiles and Travell Jones leading the charge. Junior forwards Reese Yothers-Jackson and Sharond Poag have held their own as well.
Games on tap: Lake Gibson will play Newsome on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Superior Collegiate
Last season’s finish: The Legion are in their second year of existence, playing as a freelance member of the FHSAA.
Outlook: Superior Collegiate is 7-5 right now with junior forward Robert Hardy, senior forward Kamari Barnes and junior guard Murad Berrien doing it all. Senior forward Justin Smith was a big pickup from Middleton, but he’s currently serving a suspension.
Games on tap: Superior Collegiate will play Anclote on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
Nature Coast
Last season’s finish: The Sharks (27-2) reached the Class 6A region final this past season before falling to Palatka.
Outlook: Nature Coast is a perfect 10-0 to start this season with senior forward Robert McAfee putting up points in bunches. Junior forward Robert Gomez, sophomore forward Orien Adams and senior guard Estevan Lopez are regular contributors.
Games on tap: Nature Coast will play Canterbury on Saturday at 8 a.m.
St. Pete Canterbury
Last season’s finish: The Crusaders posted a 22-7 record a year ago, ending their season in the Class 3A region semifinal against Faith Christian.
Outlook: Canterbury is 4-4 right now with senior forward Zion Channer, sophomore guard Rivers Lenholt, junior guard Brendan Riggs and senior forward Will Bond leading the way.
Games on tap: Canterbury will play Nature Coast on Saturday at 8 a.m.
Bayshore Christian
Last season’s finish: The Faith Warriors ended last season 20-4 with a Class 2A region final appearance, a loss to North Florida Educational Institute.
Outlook: Bayshore Christian is 5-5 thus far this season. Sophomores Jeremiah Wicks and Brent Reid and senior Da’Aundre Kitt are the feature players for the Faith Warriors.
Games on tap: Bayshore Christian will play Palm Glades on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.