Every year there are players that raise their reputation with their play. This year was certainly no different. These are just some of the performers that had us sit up and take notice.
CLASS 1A
Albert McKinnie, Chipley: The 6’7 senior was on the Chipley roster as a sophomore but not as a junior. He returned as a senior and was a key part of the Tigers run to Lakeland, winning 13 of their final 15 games and rolling through opponents in the playoffs until they faced Williston. McKinnie averaged a team-high 16 points and 7 rebounds a contest.
CLASS 2A
Landon Harwood, Lake Worth Christian: A 6’3 junior, Harwood was one of the top scorers in the state, averaging nearly 28 points a game. Solidly built at 180 pounds, Harwood used his strength and savvy to get to the basket, often earning bonus points at the free throw line. He also has a solid perimeter shooting touch and routinely knocks down shots from behind the arc when opponents play off him for the drive.
CLASS 3A
Colby Cannizzaro, Tampa Catholic: When it was announced that Karter Knox was heading to Overtime Elite, many wrote off Tampa Catholic as a serious playoff contender. Who did they have other than stalwart junior Isaiah Campbell-Finch? They had Cannizzaro, that’s who. While he certainly didn’t replace Knox (and who could), he became a much-needed sidekick to Campbell-Finch as the 6’0 junior dropped in nearly 19 points a game. He also helped guide the Crusaders to the regional semifinals.
CLASS 4A
Darius Livingston, Lake Alfred Discovery: A 6’2 junior, Livingston make an impact for a Wekiva team that reached the state semis in 2023. A move to northeast Polk County kept him out of the limelight, but not for long. He averaged nearly 22 points a contest this past season. We saw him put that up…in a half at the Wally Keller Classic. He is a dynamic lead guard with three-level scoring skills as well as high-level passing (4 apg) and defensive (3 spg) skills.
CLASS 5A
Ryan Rodriguez, Port St. Lucie: Per Max Preps, the 6’5 senior was the #5 scorer in the state, dropping in just over 25 ppg. We were able to catch his act in the fall and came away intrigued with his ability to get to the basket and finish in a crowd as well as covert open shots on either side of the three-point line.
CLASS 6A
Alex Springs, St. Cloud: A 6’0 junior, Springs led St. Cloud to its first district championship in several decades. Springs is very athletic and plays with a motor that goes way past the red line. He averaged 17 points and 5 rebounds a game this season. Most of the St. Cloud team returns intact for next season and no doubt Springs and the rest of the Bulldogs will be looking to make an impact in the playoffs.
CLASS 7A
Romae Brown, Coral Springs: A 6’4 senior, Brown is one of those jack-of-all-trades types that a coach can put anywhere on the floor and get results. Brown has good perimeter skills but also the strength and athleticism to defend bigger players inside. He rebounds, gets the ball to teammates for open shots, and scores when called upon.
Independents
Babatunda Durodola, DME Academy: A 6’9 junior, Durodola was an excellent compliment inside the 7’2 junior teammate Moustapha Thiem. Durodola’s strong frame allowed him to dominate around the basket in the paint, scoring through contact. He was an active rebounder at both ends and, while certainly not the shot blocker of Thiem’s stature, Durodola altered or blocked his share of shots by opponents.