Favorite: Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

This group will miss D.J. Wimbley, now at Florida State, but has the winning pedigree to repeat.  D.J. Sandi, a 6’1 senior, spearheads the point of attack on offense and defense.  He does a fine job of pushing the pace, scores over the defense with floaters and mid-range pull-ups, looks to get teammates involved and is disruptive in the passing lanes as well as when guarding the basketball.  Zane Elliott, a 6’6 senior, is a small forward in a big forward’s body.  He is a combination of speed and strength that makes for a tough matchup.  A pair of juniors, 6’1 Clarence Westbrook and 6’1 K.J. Sandi, are proven potent scorers.  Westbrook is more of the driver/slasher while Sandi is a quick catch-and-shoot artist.  Nate Accius, a 6’4 junior, is a constant on the offensive glass, a threat to score on drives, and a harassing defender. This team enters the season nationally ranked according to the Ball is Life Fab 50.

Regional Favorites: Winter Park Lake Howell (Region One); Bartow (Region Two); Tampa Sickles (Region Three)

It has been since the days of Nick Calathes, Chandler Parsons, and Joey Rodriguez that Lake Howell has been prominent.  That should change this season.  Isaac Buckley, a 6’5 senior, is a tough matchup thanks to his strength and skills.  Ethan Diaz, a 6’8 senior, is solid on the interior while 6’0 Johnas Maurice runs the point.  Look for the likes of Milton, Ocala Forest, Tocoi Creek, Oviedo and Mainland to be solid in this region.  Bartow may be young but definitely has the depth, athleticism and skill to overcome that small hurdle.  Ja’Kylen Crossley is one of the foremost three-point shooters in the state.  Jah’mir Wallace, a 6’4 sophomore, is a tough match-up with his size, strength, and skills.  James Rateree, a 6’0 sophomore, and Derwyn Link, a 6’6 sophomore, will be major contributors.  It is a tough region with the likes of Orlando Edgewater, Orlando Evans, and Groveland South Lake ready to take over should Bartow stumble.  Tampa Sickles, behind the inside/outside combo of 6’7 senior Eddy Hernandez and 6’3 junior Chase Weismiller, look to be the best of the bunch in Region 3.  They will get tested by the likes of East Lake, Charlotte, and Parrish.

Best Player: D.J. Sandi, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

Sandi sometimes gets knocked for not being a scorer with a “wow” factor but all he seems to do is make a big impact when it comes to winning basketball games.  He is arguably one of the best at using defense to generate offense.  Sandi is a high-level thief of the basketball, constantly harassing the opponent and poking at the ball.  He forces a lot of turnovers this way.  Sandi is quick to turn those into points for himself or others.  Offensively he attacks the basket with purpose, makes good shot vs. pass decisions, will make shots if ignored by the defense.

Pre-Season All-State: Sandi; Isaiah Pina (Groveland South Lake); Jordan Quince (Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer); Jah’mir Wallace (Bartow); Brandon Brazell (Stuart Martin County)

Pina, a 6’6 senior, is a physically superior athlete that pretty much gets his way around the rim.  A terror in transition or with a direct path to the basket, Pina is as much a candidate as anybody to break a backboard this coming season.  Quince, a 6’4 senior, blew up this summer with Florida Pro.  He has great scoring instincts, play with great energy, and makes shots on both sides of the arc.  As mentioned above, Wallace of Bartow is tough to contain.  He’s too big and strong for guys his size or smaller but is quick enough to get by bigger opponents.  Brazell, a 6’6 senior, has a lot of versatility.  He will play multiple positions throughout a game and score from each one.

Better Than Advertised: Largo East Lake

East Lake is a program that is seemingly in the mix for a run in the regionals every season.  This year’s team, behind 6’7 senior Jordan Bryant, will no doubt be formidable come playoff time.

Don’t Sleep On: Mateo Robinson, Milton

The 6’3 senior is the catalyst for a Milton squad that has made its mark in the state the past couple of seasons.  Robinson has good size, court vision, and decision-making skills at the point.  He can get his own shot and will connect from deep if given the slightest bit of room.

PRE-SEASON TOP TEN

1.Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

2.Bartow

3.Orlando Edgewater

4.Orlando Evans

5.Winter Park Lake Howell

6.Ocala Forest

7.St. Augustine Tocoi Creek

8.Groveland South Lake

9.Tampa Sickles

10.Stuart Martin County