Every school in this classification was in Class 2A last year. It still remains an Orlando Christian Prep/Weston Sagemont world, with North Tampa Christian looking to crash the party.
Favorite: Weston Sagemont
Sagemont returns enough from last year’s team to contend and an influx of new players gives them the edge as the favorite in a robust 1A this season. Matthew Able, a 6’5 senior, transfers in after having a breakout July and earning top fifty player in the class honors. He is a University of Miami commit. Ricky Liburd, a 6’5 senior, proved to be a solid scorer for the team at the FABC Team Camp in June. He is a good athlete that can be disruptive on the defensive end. The same can be said for 6’6 junior Kevin Thomas. That wing tandem will be tough to contain at both ends of the floor for Sagemont. Anthony Knowles, a 6’1 guard, transfers in and will run the show from the point guard position. He scores and distributes at a high level. Charlie Cohn, a 7’0 sophomore, will be called upon to provide rim protection and control the glass. There is also enough experienced depth returning to make Sagemont a prohibitive favorite this season.
Regional Favorites: Jacksonville Impact Christian (Region 1); North Tampa Christian (Region 2); Lakeland Victory Christian (Region 3)
Impact Christian looks to be a slight favorite in Region 1. Sterling Moody, an athletic 6’5 senior, and 6’2 junior point guard Jeremiah Jones, gives the team a potent 1-2 punch. North Tampa Christian may have one of the more talented starting fives in the state, let alone Class 1A. Toni Bryant, a 6’9 junior, is a top twenty or so player national in the class. Caleb Williams, a 6’5 senior, and Caleb Sanders, a 6’7 senior, transfer in from different locales. Williams is solid at either guard spot while Sanders brings a lot of versatility to both ends of the court. Archie McFadden, a 6’2 junior, brings plenty of speed and athletic ability. Victory Christian may rely on some very young players, but the talent is most certainly there. Keep an eye on 6’4 freshman Quentin Wilson. He got a lot of minutes on varsity last year as an eighth grader and recently competed at a USA Basketball mini-camp in Colorado.
Best Player: Matthew Able, Weston Sagemont
The 6’5 Able has a deep bag of tricks that he can go to on the offensive end. Whether dropping in shots from either side of the arc on the perimeter or taken defenders off the bounce and scoring through contact and traffic at the rim, he manufactures points. Able is also a solid ball-handler, high-end athlete, and determined defender.
Pre-Season All-State: Able; Toni Bryant (North Tampa Christian); Landen Harwood (Lake Worth Christian); Mario Forbes (Tallahassee St. John Paul II); Caleb Williams (North Tampa Christian)
The 6’9 Bryant may be a bit on the thin side but he is a shot blocker and rebounder deluxe. He is showing some perimeter scoring skills but he is best as a rim runner and lob target around the basket. Harwood, a 6’2 senior, was one of the top scorers in the state last season, tossing in just over 27 points a game. He was solid this off-season with the Wellington Wolves travel program, playing well against strong competition. Forbes, a 6’7 junior, was the Tallahassee Player of the year as a junior last season. He is a strong and effective insider. Williams, a 6’5 senior, provides the perfect compliment for Bryant both in stretching the floor with his shot and as a ball-screen partner.
Better Than Advertised: Tallahassee St. John Paul II
SJP II will be a tough out thanks to the presence of Forbes. Few teams in the region have answers for him on the interior. Julian Thompson, a 6’2 senior and junior Javier Santana will look to step up their production from a year ago.
Don’t Sleep On: Asa Rogosich, Fort Myers Southwest Florida Christian
The 5’11 senior was superb at a couple of fall showcase events. Rogosich has three-point range, good passing instincts, and makes positive plays at both ends of the floor. He averaged 24 points a game last season.
PRE-SEASON TOP TEN
1.Weston Sagemont
2.North Tampa Christian
3.Orlando Christian Prep
4.Boca Raton Grandview Prep
5.Lakeland Victory Christian
6.Lake Worth Christian
7.Jacksonville Impact Christian
8.Jacksonville North Florida Educational Institute
9.Orlando Central Florida Christian
10.Mount Dora Christian