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 6A-4A)
Pensacola Booker T. Washington (Class 4A, Region 1, District 1): The Wildcats made it to the Class 5A Region Semis last year. Due to the bi-annual reclassification, they will now compete in Class 4A. Nearly everybody returns, especially Keylon Williams, a 6’1 junior that is a pure bucket-getter. He averaged just shy of 16 points a contest last season. He will get help from 6’3 senior Dwayne Francis and fellow junior 5’10 Kaden Ware.
Fort Walton Beach (Class 4A, Region1, District 1): The Vikings made it to the Class 4A Region Semis last year and stay in that classification. They return three starters from last season. That group, led by 6’3 senior Sean Simon, averaged a cumulative 32.3 points per contest. Zaire Colbert, a 6’1 sophomore who played a national schedule at The Rock School in Gainesville last year arrives and has proven to be one of the better guards nationally in the 2029 Class. His presence will elevate this group.
Tallahassee Rickards (Class 4A, Region 1, District 2): The Raiders reached the Class 4A Region Quarter-finals last year and will look to go at least as far in 2027. Three starters return that together averaged just over 21 points a game. The top scoring returnee is 6’6 junior Gary Scott at just under ten points per game. Tarek Caesor, a 6’6 senior, provides a presence inside.
Lynn Haven Mosley (Class 5A, Region 1, District 2): The Dolphins got as far as the Class 5A Region Quarter-finals last year and hope to better that this time around in that same classification. Three starters that averaged a combined 22 points a game return, led by 6’0 senior Jason Holsombake and his near 10 ppg.
Tallahassee Godby (Class 4A, Region 1, District 2): The Cougars reached the Class 4A regional final last season. Only one starter returns, 6’5 junior Keishawn Spears, but the program seemingly has an endless supply of talent waiting in the wings.
Top Five “Small” Schools (Class 3A thru Rural)
Tallahassee Florida High (Class 3A, Region 1, District 2): The Seminoles did not make the Class 3A playoffs last season and hope to return to previous glory this year. They have a good starting point with 6’5 senior Calvin Laing, arguably the top senior in the region. He averaged just over 17 points a game last year and should pad that number this season. The “baby” Seminoles play in a very competitive 3A classification.
Port St. Joe (Rural Classification, Region 2, District 4): The Tiger Sharks lost only two games last year. Both were to Rural state champ Crossroads Academy. The team returns its top four scorers, headlined by 6’0 Zay Jenkins. He averaged just shy of 23 points a game last year. He will get support from 6’3 senior Jayden Reese and 6’3 junior Braelin Morris.
Ponce De Leon (Rural Classification, Region 1, District 2): The Pirates finished as the runner-up in the Rural classification last year. They are expected to return all five starters that cumulatively averaged 46 ppg. Leading the way will be 6’5 junior Amarion Griggs, who tallied just short of 16 points a game. Help should come from 6’2 sophomore Banner Collins and 6’0 senior Malachi Kirkland.
Pace L.E.A.D Academy (Class 1A, Region 1, District 1): The Lions reached the Class 1A Region Quarterfinals last year. They are expected to return their top five scorers, led by 6’2 senior Ta’Navion Richardson who averaged just shy of twenty points a game. Additional firepower will come from 5’6 junior Andrew Holcomb and 6’0 senior Adam Melvin.
Blountstown (Rural Classification, Region 2, District 4): The Tigers reached the Rural Region Semis last year. The top five scorers are expected to return and combined they produced nearly 51 points a game. The big guns are 6’1 senior Christian Martin and 6’3 junior Cyion Smith.
Top Five Players
Calvin Laing, Tallahassee Florida High: The 6’5 senior was one of two juniors on the Tallahassee Florida-Democrat’s All-Big Bend First Team last season. A slashing athlete with an improving perimeter stroke, he creates havoc at both ends of the court for opponents.
Zay Jenkins, Port St. Joe: The 6’0 senior is one of the best (if not THE best) scorers in the region. Speedy, quick with the ball, and an aggressive, attacking style of play gets him to the hoop and the foul line with regularity.
Eric Turral, Tallahassee FAMU DRS: The other junior on the All-Big Bend First Team, the 6’1 Turral is a prolific scorer, averaging 19 points a contest for the “baby” Rattlers last year. He plays hard and fast, putting a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.
Keylon Williams, P’Cola Washington: A 6’0 junior, Williams averaged just over fifteen points a game last year. He was quite impressive at the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches event this past live period, using his athletic ability to score in a variety of ways.
Zaire Colbert, Fort Walton Beach: The 6’1 sophomore may be the best player and prospect of the five players listed. He was one of the better players on the Nike EYBL 15U circuit for Jet Academy. He scores and assists at a high rate.
#1 Senior: Calvin Laing, Florida High (see above)
#1 Junior: Keylon Williams, P’Cola Washington (see above)
#1 Sophomore: Zaire Colbert, Fort Walton Beach (see above)
#1 Freshman: Gabriel Bikles, Florida High: At 6’6 he has great size for a “rookie”. He also has the skill set to play on the perimeter on offense and defend multiple positions.
Senior Sleeper: Tanner Mandell, Jay: The 6’2 senior is a living, breathing double-double waiting to happen. Last year he led the Rural Classification in scoring (25.6 ppg) and was second in rebounding (11.7)