South Florida Region Preview: Class 6A

 

Doral- District 16- Head Coach Jorge Fernandez- (Top Players- 2020 6’4 Devin Carter, 2020 6’1 Jeffrey Bujan, 2020 5’11 Ricky Mercado, 2021 6’8 Kameron Johnson, 2023 6’7 Justin Johnson)

 

The Firebirds have reloaded around high scoring guard Devin Carter, who is one of the elite players in South Florida. Bujan, a transfer from South Miami, can fill it up from the 3 point line in a hurry. Mercado is a solid point guard that can make shots. The Johnson’s brothers are recent arrivals and the older brother Kameron should provide a much needed post presence. Justin is a great athlete for his age and has a big time ceiling. They will battle with Mater and South Miami in a ridiculously loaded district 16.

 

Hialeah- District 16- Head Coach Brian Palmer- (Top Players- 2020 6’3 Demetri Taylor, 2020 6’2 Gessan Gay, 2020 6’6 Judelin Prophete, 2020 5’8 Christian Jules)

 

The Thoroughbreds are filled with under the radar talent. Taylor is a high flying athlete that has developed his perimeter game and is a legitimate college prospect. Prophete is a high motor big that really competes. Gay and Jules are the guards for Hialeah and run the offense. Being in this talented district will give the T-Bred players a chance for a breakout season. 

 

Homestead- District 16- Head Coach Connie Moore- (Top Players- 2021 6’2 Tyric Francois, 2021 6’2 Richard Wilson, 2022 5’8 James Morman)

 

The Broncos have a young talented core to build around. Francois is a tremendous athlete that has really developed his guard skills. Morman is a tough young guard who plays with great skill and is set for a breakout season. Wilson is a skilled combo guard that competes on every possession. Homestead’s young talents will be tested every night in a highly competitive district. 

 

Mater Academy- District 16- Head Coach Marcos “Shakey” Rodriguez- (Top Players- 2022 6’8 Malik Reneau, 2020 6’2 Isaiah Josue, 2021 5’10 Ryan Sanchez, 2021 Torrence Shellman, 2023 5’8 Michael Bradley) 

 

The Lions may be the best team in Dade County. Reneau is possibly the top prospect in South Florida and plays will great skill and intelligence. Josue is an athletic combo guard that can really score and holds a division 1 offer. Sanchez is a tough as nails guard that runs the show for Mater. Shellman is the ultimate role player. He is one of the best defensive players you will find at the high school level. Bradley is a knockdown shooter. The Lions play great team basketball and won every team camp they entered this summer. 

 

Miami Southridge- District 16- Head Coach Marcus Barnes- (Top Players- 2020 5’9 Christopher Gonzalez, 2020 5’9 Waldemar Watt, 2020 6’3 Victor Morris)

 

The Spartans are a tough and well-coached team that will battle every night. Gonzalez is a great shooter that will be asked to carry the load for Southridge. Morris is a good athlete that will be looking for a breakout senior campaign. Watt is a solid combo guard that plays with a great motor. This senior led group faces a great challenge in District 16. 

 

South Miami- District 16- Head Coach Robert Doctor- (Top Players- 2021 5’10 Arturo Dean, 2020 6’4 Nick Jacques, 2020 6’10 Brandon Sanders, 2020 6’1 Farid Saintcyr)

 

The Cobras have a talented and dynamic roster once again. Dean is a shifty and exceptionally skilled guard that is one of the top point guards in South Florida. Jacques, a transfer from Miami Killian, can flat out score and recently picked up two division 1 offers. Saintcyr, a transfer from Southridge, is a skilled combo guard that completes a high scoring trio on the perimeter. Sanders is a great rim protector and his post offense has made great strides since last season.  

 

McArthur- District 15- Head Coach Warren Gale- (Top Players- 2020 6’4 Jordan Howard, 2020 6’3 Dominic Shaw, 2020 6’1 Trevor Ward)

 

The Mustangs are always a contender in South Florida and this year will be no different. They have a solid group of seniors led by Howard, who is a tough and talented wing. Ward and Shaw are the backcourt for McArthur and they run the show for this veteran group. They should battle with North Miami for their district title. 

 

North Miami- District 15- Head Coach Ray Benoit- (Top Players- 2020 6’6 Carlos Hart, 2020 6’4 Vee’lesk Avin , 2021 6’4 Johnsky Saintsurin, 2021 6’0 Ronaldo Vescine)

 

The Pioneers are poised to compete for a trip to Lakeland that they have come so close to achieving the past few seasons. Hart is a big time prospect and is one of the top players in South Florida. He is unstoppable at getting to the basket and has great size for a guard. Avin can really shoot it and along with Hart forms one of the elite backcourts in the state. Saintsurin is an active big that has really developed in the past year. Vescine is a solid ball handler that can make shots. 

 

Blanche Ely- District 14- Head Coach Melvin Randall- (Top Players- 2020 5’11 Lamont Evans, 2022 6’5 Derrick Lovett, 2020 Jahleel Patterson, 2020 6’2 Jair Copeland)

 

The Tigers have absolutely dominated their class for the past eight seasons in which they captured seven state championships. Ely enters this season as a big underdog in Class 6a which is an extremely rare occurrence. They lost 3 of their 4 returning leading scorers from last season due to transfers and if they are to return to Lakeland they will need new stars to emerge. Evans is the leader and captain for this group and will be their leading scorer and ball handler.

 

Dillard- District 14- Head Coach Darryl Burrows- (Top Players- 2020 6’8 Jalen Hayes, 2020 6’3 Chandler Mack, 2020 6’4 Ivan Reynolds, 2020 5’11 Darryl Burrows, 2020 6’6 Kirt Bromley)

The Panthers are loaded once again. Hayes, who had a monster summer for the Nightrydas, is one of the best prospects in South Florida. He is a skill, athletic, and long wing that has developed and matured into a great player. Reynolds is a dynamic athlete that plays above the rim and should have a monster season. Mack is a talented, strong, and tough guard that is set for a breakout season. Burrows is a floor spacer and vetran guard for this group. Bromley is a very talented senior with great physical tools and should be one of the top breakout players.  

 

Fort Lauderdale- District 14- Head Coach Richard Belton- (Top Players- 2021 6’5 Jordan Shorter, 2020 6’3 Alex Vertus, 2021 5’11 Jaylin Bain, 2020 5’10 Joshua Gammage)

 

The Flying L’s have a versatile roster that is filled his shooting and quick guards. Shorter is a talented big guard that holds several division 1 offers. Vertus is a skilled and strong perimeter player that attacks the basket constantly. Bain is a quick and fast guard that plays with great pace. Gammage is a veteran guard that knocks down shots consistently. 

 

St. Thomas Aquinas- District 14- Head Coach Ed Nelson- (Top Players- 2021 6’5 Tristan Goldstein, 2020 6’5 Chris Liger, 2021 6’0 Zach Zibelli)

 

Ed Nelson takes over as head coach for the Raiders after being an assistant coach the past few seasons. Goldstein is a talented wing that is set for a breakout season. He plays with a great motor and is a good shooter. Liger is another talented wing that is at his best in transition. Zibelli will do a lot of ball handling for this group and will be counted on to knock down shots.