The High School season is fast approaching. We will be presenting our annual previews over the next couple of weeks. As is tradition, we’ve broken the regions down into the Panhandle, North Florida, Central Florida, Southwest Florida, and South Florida. We kick off our regional coverage with a look at the Panhandle, which we consider to be Tallahassee to Pensacola.
Top Five “Big” Schools (Class 7A-4A)
Tallahassee Leon (Class 5A, Region 1, District 2): Leon was very impressive when we saw them participate in the FHSAA Team Camp back in June. The team reached the region semis last year and return a pair of starters. They are led by 6’1 senior Dekendrick Williams, a first-team All-Big Bend selection last year after averaging just over thirteen points a contest. He gets support from Alphonso Gammons, a 6’1 senior. Keon Green, a 6’4 junior, is expected to have a bigger role this season along with 6’6 senior Tremaine Jones.
Tallahassee Godby (Class 4A, Region 1, District 2): Godby reached the regional semis last season and return four starters. Jaden Staten, a 5’10 senior, was second-team All-Big Bend after averaging nearly twelve points a game. Terrell Ceasor, a 6’0 senior, was just shy of double-figures. Both are looking to step up their point production this season. Seniors Lazarus Chambers (6’4), Jason Brown (6’3), and Devin Anderson (6’1) will also be called upon to contribute.
Pensacola Booker T. Washington (Class 5A, Region 1, District 1): Booker T.’s season came to an end in the region quarter-finals back in February but with four returning starters, it won’t surprise if they advance farther this season. That’s is pretty impressive for a group with no seniors projected to roll out for the opening tip. Adam Griffin, a 6’3 junior, was the only player to score in double-figures last season. He was a second-team all-area selection last season. Brother Jacob Griffin, also a 6’3 junior, will be looking to average double-figures this season. A pair of sophomores, 6’0 Jaden Clardy and 6’1 Keylon Williams, were solid freshmen contributors and no doubt will be expected to expand their roles this coming season. Clardy was a first-team all-area selection.
Panama City Bay (Class 4A, Region 1, District 1): Bay reached the region quarter-finals last season and with four returnees that cumulatively averaged nearly thirty points a game, they come in with heightened expectations this season. Maddox Memmen, a 6’6 senior, averaged close to double-figures last season. Tre Walker, a 6’0 senior, will provide perimeter scoring punch. Zaybeon Morgan, a 5’10 senior, and Vernon Bates, a 6’2 senior, do a little bit of everything to fill out the stat sheet. Jahmius Franklin, a 6’7 senior, provides additional interior size.
Milton (Class 6A, Region 1, District 1): Milton reached the region semi-finals last season. This season, Milton will go as far as the Robinson brothers can take them. Mateo Robinson, a 6’3 senior, is an all-around baller that scores, rebounds, and distributes. Twin brother Sergio Robinson, 6’0, is a very good athlete that plays bigger than his size. Matt Anderson, a highly successful coach at Malone and Tallahassee Lincoln, takes the helm and will no doubt have his team peaking coming playoff time.
Top Five “Small” Schools (Class 3A thru Rural)
Blountstown (Rural, Region 2, District 3): All five starters return from a team that reached the region semi-finals last season. The team’s top five scorers return which makes for high expectations this coming season. Curtis Ellis, a 5’11 junior, led the squad last season at 14 points per game. Not far behind was Cyion Smith, a 6’3 sophomore, put up 13 points and 7 rebounds per outing as a freshman. Another sophomore, Braxton Sercye, averaged eight and six. Christian Martin, a 6’1 junior, looks to bump his eight points per game average from last season into double-figures.
Bonifay Bethlehem (Rural, Region 1, District 2): Bethlehem reached the region semis last year with the team’s top five scorers being juniors. That suggests bigger things for this season. Kolton Amerson, a 6’4 senior, averaged 21 points a contest last year. He gets help from classmates Justin Miller (6’1), Easton Lentz (6’1), and Kason Paul (6’1). It will be interesting to see how the team progresses this season. Marques Russell, a 6’3 junior, will also be a factor.
Port St. Joe (Rural, Region 2, District 4): The Tiger Sharks reached the region semis last season. The top four returning scorers averaged a combined 44 points a game last season and are looking to make the leap to Jacksonville in March. A pair of juniors led the team in scoring last season as sophomores. Zay Jenkins, 6’1, averaged just over twenty points a contest while Jayden Reese, 6’2, added nearly eleven points per outing. Senior Elijah Harris (6’0) and Sophomore Mase Larry (6’5) are each looking to up their scoring averages from six points a game last season.
DeFuniak Springs Walton (Class 3A, Region 1, District 1): The Braves finishes at .500 last season but made it into the regional playoffs. The top five returning scorers averaged nearly forty-five points a game collectively last season, fourth best of the teams in this category. Senior Robert Morse was the only player to average double-figures at sixteen a game. Camden Zodrow, a 6’0 senior, almost got there with nine and outing. Senior Trace Lindsey (6’4), and juniors Elijah Odom (5’9) and Whitton West (5’11) are all expected to up their offensive output this coming season.
Quincy Crossroad Academy (Class Rural, Region 2, District 4): The Scorpions return the top five scorers from a team that reached the Class 1A semi-finals last season. Forrest Dudley, a 5’10 senior, was the only one to average double-figures, popping off for fifteen points an outing. 6’1 SR Camari Hale, 6’2 SR Jabari Boahen, and 6’0 SR Tyrek Jessie each averaged between seven and nine points a game. Farlun Dudley, a 5’10 junior, was also in the that mix. Despite losing their coach to Florida High in the off-season, that offensive balance should propel Crossroad Academy to another successful season.
TOP FIVE PLAYERS
Julius Miles, Freeport: The 6’6 senior averaged over 27 points a game last season, an impressive eight point jump considering the team moved up to Class 3A from the rural division.
Forest Dudley, Crossroad: The 5’10 senior is a returning first team All-Big Bend selection and one of the more dynamic guards in the region.
Mateo Robinson, Milton: The 6’3 junior was first team all-area selection last year in Pensacola and a heavy favorite to earn Player of the Year honors this time around.
DeKendrick Williams, Leon: The 6’1 senior is a crafty scorer and leads arguably the top team overall in the region.
Zay Jenkins, Port St. Joe: The 6’1 junior is the third-highest returning scorer in the region and looking to make his mark as one of the best to wear the striped socks.
#1 Senior: Julius Miles (see above)
#1 Junior: Zay Jenkins (see above)
#1 Sophomore: Cyion Smith, Blountstown: A high-level two-sport athlete, his 13 points and 7 rebounds an outing last season as a freshman was quite impressive.
#1 Freshman: A.J. Penneywell, Tallahassee Godby: The 5’9 lefty is fast with the ball in the open court, sees the floor well, and has a reliable perimeter shot.
Senior Sleeper: Calvin Thomas, Tallahassee Rickards: The 6’4 senior is long, athletic, and is tough to keep from the basket. As he continues to refine his perimeter shot, he has an excellent chance to play at the next level.