Last season was the first “Rural” season but perennial power Hawthorne came away with the state title.  This year, the classification seems wide-open.  We have hopes that one day Hawthorne, Williston, and Wildwood will be cast into different districts.  Our fantasy of taking the eight district winners and eight best non-district winners for a 16- team playoff held in Tallahassee is not going away anytime soon.

Favorite: Blountstown

After several seasons of the likes of Hawthorne and Williston dominating this classification, we feel like its time for a shift back toward the Panhandle.  Blountstown reached the region semis last year and took eventual state finalist Crossroad Academy to the wire on the road before falling.  Led by junior Curtis Ellis (14.3 ppg) and sophomore Cyion Smith (13.1 ppg), Blountstown returns its top five scorers from last year, which averages out to just over 48 points a game.  That type of experience and production is difficult to ignore.  It will be a challenge as district rival Munroe and regional foes Port St. Joe and Quincy Crossroad Academy return a lot of production as well.

Regional Favorites: Bethlehem (Region 1); Fort White (Region 3); Wildwood (Region 4)

Bethlehem, our projected favorite in Region 1 last season, fell in the semis but returns its top five scorers to the tune of 45.5 ppg.  Le by senior Kolton Amerson who averaged just over 21 ppg as a junior, Bethlehem expects to be in Jacksonville.  It will get a tough challenge from the likes of Baker, Chipley, and Graceville.  Region 3 is a toss up but Fort White looks to have enough back to make another final four run.  Bradford, Hilliard, and Trenton are likely formidable roadblocks to overcome.  In Region 4, it looks like its time for the “power” to swing back to Wildwood.  They return several players while both Hawthorne and Williston are looking to reload.  It will no doubt be the most competitive of the regions.

Best Player: Forest Dudley, Quince Crossroad Academy

Dudley led the Scorpions to the state title game last season, averaging just over fifteen points a contest.  The 5’11 senior was named first-team All-Big Bend by the local Tallahassee media for his efforts.  A strong driver and prolific shooter, Dudley is the leader of an experienced group looking to make another run and win a state title this time around.

Pre-Season All-State: Dudley; Kolton Anderson (Bethlehem); Cyion Smith (Blountstown); Zay Jenkins (Port St. Joe); Demarius Knight (Wildwood)

Amerson of Bonifay Bethlehem is the top returning scorer in the classification.  The 6’4 senior does a little bit of everything for the team.  While the 6’3 sophomore Smith didn’t lead his team in scoring, he wasn’t far behind and averaged over seven rebounds a contest, pretty impressive for a freshman no matter the level.  He is also a talented football player.  Jenkins, a 6’1 junior, hit for over twenty points a game as a sophomore last year.  He also filled the stat sheet to the tune of 5.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per game.  Knight led the Wildcats in scoring last season as a 6’3 freshman, averaging just over twelve points a contest.  He has a strong frame as is difficult to keep from the basket.

Better Than Advertised: Baker

This unheralded group reached the region semis last year and the top five scorers return, averaging just over a combined forty points a game.  The Gators are led by 5’10 senior, A.J. Chilton, who averaged just over thirteen points a game last season.

Don’t Sleep On: Zelden Chukes, Quincy Munroe

The 6’2 senior averaged eleven points, seven rebounds, and three steals a game in leading Munroe to the regional finals.  Chukes was named to the All-Big Bend First Team last season by the Tallahassee media for his efforts.

PRE-SEASON “FAB FIVEW”

1.Blountstown

2.Wildwood

3.Crossroad Academy

4.Bonifay Bethlehem

5.Williston