We move onto Southwest Florida for our regional previews.
TOP FIVE “BIG” SCHOOLS (CLASS 7A thru 4A)
Sarasota (Class 7A, Region 3, District 12): This perimeter-oriented team has a lot of fire power and it will be difficult for defenses to focus on just one player. Oliver Boyle, a 6’4 senior, averaged in the high teens last season. Christian Drayton, a 6’3 junior, is an athletic and capable scorer from just about anywhere on the court. Johnny Lackaff, a 6’0 sophomore, averaged thirteen points a game last season as a freshman and had shooting splits of +50% from the floor, +40% from three, and +80% from the foul line. Aaron Clark, a 6’0 senior, transfers in and will be a factor at either guard spot. If this group can come together on the boards and defense, they could go far come playoff time.
St. Petersburg Gibbs (Class 4A, Region 3, District 11): Gibbs took last season’s Class 4A state title and with everybody of consequence back, is heavily favored to do so again. Jacob Daniels, a 6’0 senior, runs the team on the offensive end. He creates scoring opportunities for others but when a bucket is needed, his number is called. Mathis Roberts, a 6’2 senior, is another double-figure scorer for Gibbs. He is tough to contain on drives and is active on the defensive end. Just a sophomore, 6’3 O’Neal Delancey looks very much like one of the better players on the team. He has a basketball pedigree, is an excellent athlete, and can light up a scoreboard when he gets going. Gibbs has three players standing 6’7 or bigger but the most active and accomplished one is 7’0 senior Isaiah Medina, a DePaul commit. Senior Bobby Crawford is slim but very quick off the floor, gets several putbacks a game and does a good job of protecting the basket on the defensive end. It wouldn’t surprise if this group makes a run to a national ranking.
Tampa Blake (Class 4A, Region 3, District 10): A tall, talented, and versatile front-line makes this a season of great expectations for Blake. Joshua Lewis, a 6’7 senior and South Florida recruit, is very skilled, has the ability to play and defend multiple positions and will be the focus of opposing defenses. Joe Philon, a 6’7 junior, is a high-level athlete whose skills and basketball IQ have developed significantly since the spring. There has been talk of him playing some point guard. He is another Blake player that can matchup up with just about any opponent at either end of the court. Jason Johnson, a 6’6 senior, and Justice Barber, a 6’7 freshman are part of the mix. If a complimentary component on the perimeter can be found for all of this size, Blake should have a stellar season.
Tampa Jesuit (Class 5A, Region 3, District 9): This program is one of the more consistent ones in the state when it comes to finishing above .500 and earning a spot in the regional round of the playoffs. Head Coach Neal Goldman enters his 38th(!) season at the helm of the Tigers. This season, look for more production from 6’8 senior Carter Reins. He scores well around the basket and rebounds his area on defense. Tyler Caouette, a 6’4 junior, stretches defense with his outside shooting prowess. Another junior, 6’4 Dylan Flach, is another sniper from the perimeter with the ability to defend multiple positions. Seniors Morty Hanlon and Ayden Hewitt, along with junior Damian Ross, are expected to increase their contributions from last season. A couple of freshmen, 5’9 John Arroyo and 5’11 Michael McClendon, show promise.
Winter Haven (Class 7A, Region 3, District 10): Despite some graduation losses, Winter Haven still looks to be the class of Region 3 in 7A this coming season. The bulk of the scoring will most likely come from a pair of seniors, 6’5 Tre Jackson and 6’1 Eric Dailey. Both are very aggressive at attacking the basket and finish well in a crowd. The Blue Devils will need to use their abundance of athleticism at both ends of the floor to create tempo and manufacture easy buckets.
TOP FIVE “SMALL” SCHOOLS (CLASS 3A thru Rural)
Clearwater Calvary Christian (Class 3A, Region 2, District 8): This group looked really good at the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches team camp in June. Ethan Sabec, a 6’7 junior, has made great strides in his development, becoming a multi-level scorer and tough player to contain one on one. Ethan Bergantino, a 6’3 junior, is tough with the ball, has an abundance of scoring tools, and backs down from no one. Madden Geiger, a 6’9 sophomore, had a good freshman campaign and looks to step up his production at both ends of the floor. It is a young group with only a few seniors on the roster so opponents better get them while they can.
Fort Myers Bishop Verot (Class 3A, Region 3, District 10): The Vikings have one of the better inside/outside combinations in the state in 6’8 senior Jerry Ashley and 6’1 senior Gavin Williams. Ashley is a quick and active insider that scores well around the basket, rebounds out of his area, and challenges shots in the paint. Williams has a quick release and range that goes well beyond the arc. He isn’t afraid to challenges defenders at the rim either. Austin Leslie, a 6’7 senior, transfers back to the area. He is a difficult matchup with his size and shooting skills. Should things go their way, it could be a very special season for Bishop Verot.
Fort Myers Gateway Charter (Class 3A, Region 3, District 10): A quartet of seniors are looking to lead Gateway Charter to its first appearance in Lakeland. Pat Johnson, a 6’8 senior, anchors the team at both ends of the floor. Athletic and strong, he is a scoring threat in the lane, is quick to put back missed shots, and makes opponents think twice about attacking the basket. Gio Easley, a 6’0 senior, transfers in and gives much needed direction at the point guard spot. He scores and distributes at a high rate of effectiveness. Myles Jones, a 6’3 senior, is a wing slasher that loves to get out in transition and challenge defenders off the dribble. Trey Fogle, a 6’1 senior, has a green light to shoot from deep whenever the opportunity arises. Gateway Charter is taking on a very challenging schedule in order to be as prepared as possible come playoff time.
Lakeland Sante Fe Catholic (Class 2A, Region 2, District 5): With the bi-annual re-shuffling of schools and classifications, Santa Fe looks to have a solid chance of getting to play in front of their fans come final four time. Tate Darner, a 6’4 senior at UT-Chattanooga commit, seemingly takes his game to another level each season. While his deep range is his calling card, he has become much more effective as a driver and finisher in traffic. Toby Lane, a 5’10 junior, is pesky at both ends of the floor. He excels as a vocal leader and energizer. Malikai Broffitt, a 6’3 senior, provides an athletic punch, running the floor, scoring ahead of the defense, and playing bigger than his size when it comes to rebounding. Incoming freshman Ethan Knox, 6’4, is highly regarded with his length, energy, and non-stop motor.
North Tampa Christian (Class 1A, Region 2, District 5): The group might be as talented a starting five as there is in the state regardless of class in the FHSAA. The big name is 6’10 Toni Bryant, a top twenty player nationally in the Class of 2026. He might be on the thin side but his length and leap allow him to play at a high level at both ends of the floor. Caleb Sanders, a 6’7 senior, brings a lot of versatility to the team. Caleb Williams, a 6’5 senior, can play either guard spot, is a natural scorer, and is a willing distributor of the ball when the defense collapses on him. Brody Cuffle, a 6’6 junior, is an X-Factor for the team. He scores when given the opportunity, values the basketball, and does a lot of little things that win basketball games. Archie McFadden, a 6’2 junior, brings a lot of speed and quickness to the offense when he is in control of the basketball.
Top Five Players
Josh Lewis, Tampa Blake: The 6’7 senior and USF recruit had a solid season in his last go around in the EYBL this summer and is generally considered a consensus top 100 player in the class. Athletic, long, and skilled, Lewis is very versatile, plays inside and out, and has a very high ceiling.
Toni Bryant, North Tampa Christian: A long 6’9 athlete, Bryant skills, especially on the perimeter, continue to rapidly improve. He is quick off his feet for putbacks and lobs, is fast up the floor in transition, and is a dynamic shot blocker.
Pat Johnson, Fort Myers Gateway Charter: The 6’8 senior is a combination of strength and high-level athleticism. He is showing more patience and therefor more progress when posting up inside and he excels as an offensive rebounder with multiple quick leaps. Defensively, Johnson is a shot blocker that shuts down the lane.
Caleb Wiliams, North Tampa Christian: The 6’5 Williams returns to Florida after a stint at an academy in Arizona. He is effective at either guard spot. With his size he sees over defenders and makes good reads when running the offense and when off the ball, he is a capable scorer with both his jumper and drive game.
Isaiah Campbell-Finch, Tampa Catholic: The 6’1 senior has been one of the better players in the state in his class since his freshman season. He can score (25.2 ppg last season) as well as distribute. He has committed to Samford for college.
#1 Senior: Josh Lewis, Tampa Blake (see above)
#1 Junior: Toni Bryant, North Tampa Chrisitan (see above)
#1 Sophomore: O’Neal Delancey, St. Petersburg Gibbs: A 6’3 high-level athlete with skills from a basketball family, Delancey is considered one of the better sophomores in the country after averaging double-digits for a state title team as a freshman. He attacks the rim, has a respectable jumper from the perimeter and puts in work on the defensive end.
#1 Freshman: Quinton Wilson, Lakeland Victory Christian: The 6’4 freshman got plenty of run as an eighth grader on last season’s regional final team that was senior-laden. Already having participated in USA Basketball events, Wilson is a dynamic athlete with good offensive skills.
Senior Sleeper: Colby Cannizzaro, Tampa Catholic: The 6’1 senior excelled last season running alongside Campbell-Finch at Tampa Catholic, averaging just short of nineteen points a game. He plays with reckless abandon, has an accurate perimeter shot on both sides of the arc, and finishes well at the basket.