South Florida Preview: Class 4A

Gulliver Prep- District 16- Head Coach Gary Decesare - (Top Players- 2020 6’7 Tony Sanders, 2020 5’11 Gabe Taylor, 2020 6’5 Diego Lamonica)

Gary Decesare is set for his first season as head coach of the Raiders. Sanders is as talented as prospect as there is in South Florida. He holds multiple division 1 offers and is a big time scorer and athlete. Taylor is a tough dynamic guard that penetrates at will. Lamonica is a solid big with a good back to the basket game. If Donell Harris and Eddie Jackson, who are both football standouts for the Raiders, decide to play basketball this team is legitimate state title contender. 

Immaculata-LaSalle- District 16- Head Coach Derrick De La Grana - (Top Players- 2021 6’1 Emilio Ramirez, 2023 6’0 Gilbert Salazar, 2021 6’2 Joshua Fernandez)

The Royal Lions are looking for a breakout season led by star guard Emilio Ramirez. Ramirez is an ultra skilled scorer that averaged 25 points per game last season. He is great at driving to the basket and has become a consistent outside shooter. Salazar has a chance to develop into a top guard and is a talented freshman that will see immediate minutes. 

Keys Gate- District 16- Head Coach Matthew Dordoye- (Top Players- 2020 5’11 Steven Hernandez, 2020 5’7 Jade Hatfield, 2022 5’9 Daniel Zaladon)

Dordoye takes over in his first season for the Knights and he has a talented group of guards to lead the way. Hernandez, a transfer from Marathon, is 60 points away from scoring 1000 points for his career and will be one of Dade County’s leading scorers. Hatfield is a prolific outside shooter and should have a big season. Zaladon, a transfer from Homestead, is a talented young guard that plays with a great motor and competitiveness. He is set for a breakout season. 

Miami Sunset- District 16- Head Coach Erick Martinez - (Top Players- 2020 6’2 Jayden Wilson, 2021 6’1 Dylan Harris, 2021 6’1 Justin Harris, 2022 5’10 Cade Bouza)

Sunset is set for a competitive season in District 16. Bouza is a skilled guard that can really shoot it. The Harris twins are athletic playmakers that thrive in transition. The Knights are undersized but they have a solid group of guards and should contend for a playoff spot. 

iMater Prep- District 15- Head Coach William Garcia - (Top Players- 2021 5’9 William Garcia, 2021 5’9 Jose Banks, 2021 5’10 Christian Soto)

The Knights having a growing program and should be very competitive in District 15. Garcia, Soto, and Banks are a tough and skilled group of guards. They will have iMater competing for a playoff spot. 

Miami Springs- District 15- Head Coach Delmar Wilson - (Top Players- 2020 6’5 Alexander Aguilar, 5’11 Luis Young)

The Golden Hawks always have a tough and competitive group. Young is a knockdown shooter, who had a solid summer for the Miami Suns. Aguilar plays with great energy and has an improving skill set. Miami Springs is the preseason favorite in District 15 and should make the state playoffs. 

Monsignor Pace- District 15- Head Coach Anthony Serro - (Top Players- 2020 6’3 Marcus Frazier, 2020 Nasir Lamar, 2021 5’9 Cafecito Ulloa)

The Spartans play a run and gun seven seconds or less style. They are always one of the highest scoring teams in the state. Frazier is one of South Florida’s top scorers and can fill it up in a hurry. Lamar and Ulloa will be counted on for bigger roles this upcoming season. 

North Miami Beach- District 15- Head Coach Joseph Masselle - (Top Players- 2021 6’0 Nathaniel Fulton, 2021 5’9 David Alize)

The Chargers are set to contend in District 15. They had a young core of players last season that are set for a breakout season. Fulton will be counted on to be a double digit scorer. Alize plays with great speed and energy. They will have a chance to capture this new district. 

Mater Lakes- District 14- Head Coach Lance Tejada - (Top Players- 2022 6’5 Andruw Rondon, 2023 5’10 Jamai Tejada, 2023 5’9 Anthony Floyd)

Tejada takes over the Bears’ program following Coach Juan Urbina taking an assistant coaching position at Broward College. Mater Lakes will lean on a talented group of sophomores and freshmen this season. Tejada and Floyd are talented guards that have the chance to develop into a great backcourt. Rondon is a skilled wing and is another talented piece on this young core. 

Miami Carol City- District 14- Head Coach Charles Hankerson - (Top Players- 2021 6’3 Rashard Parms, 2020 6’5 Deandre Stafford)

The Chiefs will lean on Parms to lead a squad that had a lot of key contributors graduate. Stafford is another experienced player that returns and will be counted on to anchor the defense. Carol City should be strong defensively as usual and be a well disciplined team. 

NSU University School- District 14- Head Coach Ron Oliver - (Top Players- 2020 6’6 Jace Howard, 2020 6’4 Roger McFarlane, 2022 6’5 Jett Howard, 2022 6’8 Taylor Hendricks)

The Sharks are starting the season with a new coach and a talented young core that has the monumental task of replacing Scottie Barnes, and Vernon Carey Jr. Hendricks and Jett Howard are talented sophomores that already have multiple high major offers and will look to lead U School’s next run to state. McFarlane and Howard are the returning veterans and will be crucial to the teams rebounding and defense. McFarlane is a load driving to the basket and dominates once he gets inside. University School is still stacked with talent and will be a state championship contender.  

Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines)- District 14- Head Coach Andrew Scott - (Top Players- 2020 6’5 Nathan Montaque, 2020 6’2 Mike King, 2020 6’3 Gabriel Vargas, 2021 5’11 Jonathan Renois)

The Panthers have a talented group of prospects. Montaque is the heart and soul of the team and is set for a huge senior campaign. Renois is a great athlete and has improved his shooting and guard play tremendously over the summer. King is a utility player that helps the team in many aspects. Vargas is the point guard for this group and is a creative passer and ball handler. 

Stranahan- District 14- Head Coach Terrence Williams - (Top Players- 2020 6’1 Chayse Culpepper, 2020 6’7 Inady Legiste, 2020 6’2 Dave Herard, 2020 6’5 Leonard Manuel, 2020 6’3 Daquion Vickers)

The Dragons are looking to repeat as state champions and have a very talented group once again. Culpepper is the point guard for this group and is a great on ball defender. Manuel is a newcomer to Strahan and is a major addition for the Dragons’ quest to repeat. Heard and Vickers are talented veterans that are vital to the Stranahan scoring output. Legiste is a true hidden gem and is one of the most talented big men in South Florida. 

North Broward Prep- District 13- Head Coach Casey Wohlleb - (Top Players- 2020 5’10 Dominick Denny, 2021 6’6 MK Ashmore, 2022 6’8 Justin Abson, 2022 5’11 Maximus Fuentes)

The Eagles have been slowly building a rock solid program and are set for a huge season. Denny is the engine of the North Broward Prep team and is one of the elite guards in South Florida. Abson is a talented young big with great potential. Ashmore is a legit 6’6 wing who can really score it. Fuentes is a tough and talented guard who excels at finding teammates for easy scores. 

Pine Crest- District 13- Head Coach Barry Connors - (Top Players- 2022 6’5 Ausar Thompson, 2022 6’5 Amen Thompson, 2021 6’3 Eros Carpio)

The Thompson twins are both high level college prospects. They have offers from Alabama, Iowa State, South Florida, and Florida Atlantic. They can really score and both are talented ball handlers. The panthers should be highly competitive in District 13 and should make the state playoffs.