Without solid guard play, success on the basketball court is hard to come by.  It becomes much more difficult to advance the ball, score, or contain the other team on the perimeter without it.  With that in mind, we take a look at what we think will be some of the better backcourts this coming high school season.

Miami Riviera Prep

6’1 JR Mason Fuentes, 6’2 SR Myles Fuentes, 6’3 JR Quincy Douby, 6’2 SR Randy Livingston

This quartet of Bulldogs has everything needed for a fourth state title.  Mason Fuentes has been at the helm since the eighth grade, is rapidly rising up the rankings, and is a high-level scorer and distributor.  Myles Fuentes is a Stetson commit and is an aggressive attacker at both ends of the floor.  He is fearless in attacking the basket, has good court vision, and disrupts the passing lanes.  Douby is on the national radar in the 2027 Class.  He has good scoring skills, size, and athletic ability.  Livingston returns to Florida after playing for his dad the past two seasons in Louisiana.  He is a reliable shooter from deep, has plenty of speed and quickness with the ball, and makes good shot vs. pass decisions on the move.

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

6’2 SR D.J. Sandi, 6’1 JR K.J. Sandi, 6’1 JR Clarence Westbrooke, 6’5 JR Nate Accius

This group took home the Class 6A state title last season and are the favorites to do so again.  D.J. Sandi, an American University commit, is a classic point guard that gets his teammates involved first, can score when necessary, and dominates the point of attack at both ends of the court.  K.J. Sandi is a dynamic perimeter shooter with a quick release and improving drive and finish game.  Westbrooke is old-school with his crafty mid-range game.  He knows how to separate from defenders and get off his shot.  Accius is arguably the best athlete of the bunch.  He is a rim-seeker with good finishing ability in traffic and can also knock down open perimeter shots.

Tampa Catholic

6’5 SR Willie Piggott, 6’1 JR Skoot Donald, 6’0 JR Neo Flores

Arguably the best scoring trio in the state, each of these guys can light up the scoreboard at a moment’s notice.  Piggot, a Kennesaw State recruit, has excellent one-on-one skills, is a three-level scorer, and uses his abundant athleticism well at both ends of the floor.  Donald’s game and name have really grown since the end of last season.  He is a reliable shooter from deep, has good ball-handling and finishing skills, and is an alert passer and defender.  Flores plays at one speed and that is all out.  He has reliable range on his perimeter jumper but excels at pushing the pace, weaving past defenders to score at the basket, and rarely if ever gets beat to a 50/50 ball.

The Villages Charter

6’1 JR Aaron Britt, 6’3 SR Jared Thompson, 6’7 JR Jomar Bernard, 6’0 FR Cam Lee, 6’4 FR Zayden Garcia

Both Britt and Bernard are national names in the 2027 Class.  Britt is quick with the ball, scores as well as distributes, and has three-point range on his shot.  Bernard is a smooth operator, scores well on either side of the arc, and competes on the glass.  Thompson is the “elder statesman” of the group.  He takes care of the ball, scores well off the bounce, is an active defender, and helps out on the glass.  Lee has always played up and against stellar competition, so he won’t be intimidated by The Villages national schedule.  Fast with the ball and having good court vision and instincts, Lee routinely makes plays when there is seemingly nothing available.  Garcia has a high hoops IQ, shoots and passes the ball well, and makes the game look easy for someone so young.

Jacksonville Providence

6’2 SR Luke Mayberry, 6’3 SR Marvin Christie, 6’4 SO William Stewart, 5’10 SR Evan Hines, 6’3 JR Ryan Gornto

Quite possibly the deepest guard rotation in the state, Providence doesn’t lack for perimeter fire power.  Mayberry is solid in running the show, knocking down open looks, and getting the ball to the right place at the right time.  Christie is an exciting athlete that seemingly does something spectacular once a game.  He excels when the game is up-tempo or when he get attack the rack off the bounce.  Stewart is an instinctual scorer.  Whether from deep, mid-range, or at the rim, he has great touch, body control and shot fundamentals.  Hines and Gornto are not just three-point marksmen; each is a feisty defender, solid passer, and do lots of things that win ball games but don’t appear in the box score.

Others To Know

Bartow: 6’4 SR Jay Crossley, 6’6 SO Derwyn Link, 6’4 SO Jah’mir Wallace

Lecanto: 5’11 SR J.T. Lipton; 6’0 SR Braylen Moore

Belen Jesuit: 6’0 SR Alec Arnholt, 6’3 JR Orlando Roche, 6’0 SR Lucas Diaz

Blountstown: 5’11 JR Curtis Ellis, 6’3 SO Cyion Smith

Mater Lakes: 6’0 JR Khanye Moss; 6’3 SO Tai Bell

Braden River: 5’10 JR Anquan Polynice, 6’1 JR Jerrod Long

Miami Country Day: 6’0 JR Malik Charles, 6’3 JR Miguel Orbe, 6’2 JR Mike Muscarella, 6’4 SR Fernando Romero

Carrollwood Day: 6’5 SR Moses Allen, 6’5 JR Ayaan Bhadouria

Miami SLAM: 6’3 FR Josiah Brooks, 6’0 SR Tony Guerrero

Chaminade: 6’1 SR Jasen Lopez, 6’2 JR Lunden Knights

Milton: 6’4 SR Mateo Robinson; 6’0 SR Sergio Robinson

Charlotte: 6’0 JR Marcus Nestor, 5’11 SR Isaiah Newson

Munroe: 6’2 SR Zelden Chukes, 6’2 JR Jamari Jones

Crossroad Academy: 5’10 SR Forrest Dudley, 6’2 SR Jabari Boahen

Newberry: 6’0 SR Henry Mathias, 6’5 SR Juwan Scippio

Columbus: 6’2 SR Marcellous Jackson, 6’4 SR Filipe Quinones

Coral Glades: 6’5 SR Kyler Theophile, 6’0 JR Gavin Reed, 6’0 SR Jamari Bolden

Divine Savior: 6’5 SR David Watson, 6’2 JR Joost West