Top 10: District Tournaments To Watch
Somehow we have made it to the playoffs already here in the 2022-2023 high school boys’ basketball season.
There have been some terrific matchups and major upsets down the stretch. Here is a look at my Top 10 favorite district tournaments in terms of toughness and rivalries.
Note: You can view all the playoff matchups and scores, here on MaxPreps.
7A-13
Top Teams to Watch: Deerfield Beach (20-4), Stoneman Douglas (18-6), Park Vista (14-10)
Top Players to Watch: Deerfield Beach – 2023 6-0 G Jakwon Morris, 2023 6-1 G Jason Morris, Stoneman Douglas – 2023 6-7 F Damerius Summers, 2024 6-1 G Jhalen Phang, Park Vista – 2023 6-2 G Carlos Perez, 2023 6-1 G Jalen Alvater
Insight: Deerfield Beach has won 10 of its last 11 games with its most recent loss coming in the season finale to Pembroke Pines Charter. The Bucks have the Morris brothers scoring in a variety of ways and are an in-sync group. Stoneman Douglas has shown flashes of strong play all season long behind big man Summers and lead point Phang. Carlos Perez has been everything for Park Vista and will look to get the Cobras rolling.
7A-8
Top Teams to Watch: Lake Worth (19-1), Wellington (18-4), Leonard (18-7)
Top Players to Watch: Lake Worth – 2023 5-8 G Calvin Sirmans, 2024 6-5 Hedrens Barthelus, 2023 6-4 F Marvin Golf, Wellington – 2023 6-5 G Shawn Cineus, 2023 6-3 G Erick Perez, Leonard – 2023 5-11 G Marc Ortiz, 2023 5-10 G Alex Resto, 2023 6-1 G Jael Gonzale
Insight: Lake Worth has not lost a game since the season opener against Doral. Recently knocking off undefeated Dwyer, the Trojans are a tough out behind Sirmans, Barthelus and Golf. Wellington has been dang good all year behind Cineus, Perez and a skilled group of athletes so don’t expect them to go down easy. Leonard has emerged behind a very successful senior class to put the program back on the map.
7A-5
Top Teams to Watch: Olympia (23-2), Oak Ridge (15-8), Windermere (18-6)
Top Players to Watch: Olympia – 2023 6-2 G Jizzle James, 2024 6-3 G Kaiden White, 2023 6-5 F Kevins Charles, Oak Ridge – 2024 6-5 F Tyler Johnson, 2024 6-5 G Jordan Tillery, 2024 6-6 F Cameron Simpson, 2025 6-0 G Jalen Reece, Windermere – 2024 5-7 G Ta’Veon Jones, 2024 6-4 G Chalier Torres, 2023 6-2 G Jalen Debose
Insight: 7A-5 is the toughest district in the state, hands down. Olympia’s only losses have come in Polk County against top area teams Winter Haven and Victory Christian. Cincinnati commit Jizzle James is a workhorse and won’t let his side go down easy. Oak Ridge is young, long and peaking at the right time behind Tyler Johnson and Jordan Tillery and others. Windermere is built to hang with anybody, losing by six points to Oak Ridge and by three points to Olympia earlier this season. Ta’Veon Jones sets the tone with his speed while Chalier Torres is a knockdown shooter. This will be highly watched.
6A-7
Top Teams to Watch: Lakeland (20-4), Bartow (13-12), Kathleen (7-15)
Top Players to Watch: Lakeland – 2023 6-2 G Rolijah Hardy, 2024 6-0 G Derajah Hardy, Bartow – 2025 6-0 G EJ Horton, 2024 6-2 F Jayson Williams, Kathleen – 2023 6-0 G Jeremy Russell
Insight: Lakeland’s four losses this season have come to teams that are a combined 70-18 which includes Lake Worth, Orlando Christian Prep, Doral and Viera. This team is full of speed, athletes and pure toughness. Bartow has been at the top of 6A over the last few years and this should be a fun photo finish in 6A-7 between the in-town rivals.
5A-14
Top Teams to Watch: Suncoast (19-5), Stranahan (15-9), Northeast (11-8)
Top Players to Watch: Suncoast – 2024 6-8 F Ian Smikle, 2023 6-5 G Nate Sasser, 2024 6-0 G Stone Bureau, Stranahan – 2023 6-4 F Joshua Vedrine, 2025 6-2 G Justin Snell, Northeast – 2023 6-4 Allen Omana
Insight: This is going to be a super fun finish in Class 5A-14. Suncoast has been very good all season behind its trio of Smikle, Sasser and Bureau and its tough-nosed defense. Stranahan is well-coached and is the defending 5A champion. Vedrine has emerged this season as an inside piece while Snell is a very skilled point man. This is a district to watch very closely.
5A-8
Top Teams to Watch: Jesuit (20-5), Blake (19-6), King (17-8)
Top Players to Watch: Jesuit – 2024 6-1 G Chris Moliere, 2024 6-2 G Nate Boayke, Blake – 2025 6-7 G Josh Lewis, 2023 6-4 King Asad, 2026 6-7 F Jojo Philon, King – 2023 6-2 John Ziegler, 2024 6-3 G Jabriel Hakim
Insight: Jesuit beat Blake 62-60 back on Jan. 10 and I fully expect the two squads to meet again in the district final barring an upset from King. Blake has youth and length on its side with Lewis and Philon while Jesuit has a disciplined system with two talented guards in Moliere and Boayke.
4A-3
Top Teams to Watch: Ribault (20-4), Andrew Jackson (14-11)
Top Players to Watch: Ribault – 2024 6-0 G Caleb Williams, 2023 6-1 G George Woods, Andrew Jackson – 2023 6-8 F Deonte Crummell, 2024 6-4 G Octavius Lawson
Insight: Ribault has beaten Andrew Jackson two out of three times this season including by one point early in the season and by five points in overtime on Jan. 27. The two squads don’t like each other, so expect a crazy finish in the district final this week. I know Caleb Williams wants to avenge the playoff loss last year to Andrew Jackson that’s for sure.
3A-14
Top Teams to Watch: Westminster (17-7), Miami Country Day (15-10), NSU University (16-5)
Top Players to Watch: Westminster – 2025 6-4 G Alexander Lloyd, 2025 6-7 F Alex Constanza, 2025 6-6 F Dwayne Wimbley Jr, 2023 6-8 Jaylen Carey, Miami Country Day – 2023 6-8 F Sami Elkamel, 2023 6-6 G Jasai Miles, 2024 6-4 Herbert Wilson, NSU University – 2025 6-4 G Kohl Rosario, 2026 6-3 G Navon Shabazz, 2024 6-3 G Anthony Ferrer
Insight: You might not find a deeper group of young talent in the state than Westminster, which is always a threat in Class 3A. Lloyd, Constanza, Wimbley, Carey and 2024 6-5 F Jeremiah Police and 2026 6-0 G Randy Livingston Jr. give the Lions perhaps their most gifted teams ever. Miami Country Day and NSU University each pose a threat in the district but Westminster is a favorite to capture 3A so it will take a great effort from either squad.
3A-12
Top Teams to Watch: Gateway Charter (20-5), First Baptist (17-6), Community School (19-6), Canterbury (9-17)
Top Players to Watch: Gateway Charter – 2023 6-4 G Jahmari Johnson, 2025 6-7 F Pat Johnson, 2025 6-0 G Trey Fogle, First Baptist – 2023 6-3 G Latrell Davis, 2023 6-4 G Yohandry Ortiz, Community School of Naples – 2023 6-3 G Jackson McAdams, Canterbury – 2024 6-1 G Leroy Roker
Insight: Gateway Charter has emerged in Year 4 under head coach RJ Jones with Jahmari Johnson putting the team on his back alongside Pat Johnson’s inside game and Trey Fogle’s shooting. The Griffins are built for a run. First Baptist has Davis doing just about everything on both ends of the floor. The Lions beat Gateway Charter late in January 64-63, so a rematch would be fun. Community School and Canterbury have both been playing good basketball down the stretch.
3A-9
Top Teams to Watch: Berkeley Prep (21-2), Tampa Catholic (14-10), Brooks DeBartolo (19-6)
Top Players to Watch: Berkeley Prep – 2023 6-1 G George Kimble, 2024 6-5 F Donnie Morris, Tampa Catholic – 2024 6-6 G Karter Knox, 2023 6-3 G Eddrin Bronson, 2025 6-0 G Isaiah Campbell-Finch, Brooks DeBartolo – 2024 6-2 G Jordin Bell, 2024 6-4 G/F Ezekiel Udozorh, 2025 5-11 G Lyrique Sartin
Insight: Berkeley Prep went to Tampa Catholic late last month and won 67-59. Expect a rematch in the district final with Kimble playing red-hot basketball alongside Morris inside. Tampa Catholic has played a national schedule and at any time Knox, Bronson, or Campbell-Finch could score in bunches. Brooks DeBartolo has been steady all season long behind true team ball, so don’t expect the Phoenix to shy away from a matchup with Tampa Catholic in the semifinals.
Must Attend: Spring Showcase
Looking to get your prospect to play against the top competition while also earning coverage from The Hoop Vibe scouts as well as media and college coaches in attendance evaluating? Make sure to attend the Spring Showcase on Saturday, March 18 at Bradenton Christian to further your game.
Jake Perper has been a sports writer since 2010 and a basketball scout since 2015. He was the Southeast Scouting Director for the Prep Hoops Circuit and the lead scout for Prep Hoops’ Florida site for seven years. You can follow him on Twitter @thehoopvibe.