Columbus boys’ hoops has a 2023 national championship ‘in our eyesight’

If people thought the Columbus boys’ basketball team was good when it won the Class 7A state championship last year, just wait.

Led by Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the 2022-2023 Explorers return everyone from the 2021-2022 season’s starting lineup. They also added an asset in senior Nikola Djapa, who played in the Junior ABA League with Miami Heat rookie Nikola Jović last year.

Repeating as state champions is the goal, and seems like the expectation. But the Explorers, ranked No. 8 by MaxPreps, have ambitions for a national championship berth.

“Next year, we’re going to come back stronger and we’re going to keep working,” Cameron Boozer, the No. 1 recruit in ESPN’s class of 2025 rankings, said after Columbus defeated Dr. Phillips 45-44 in 2021-2022 state championship game. “...We’re going to keep pushing and try to push for a national name, up the national leaderboards, top team in the nation.”

Is that something Columbus coach Andrew Moran thinks his group is capable of?

“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “It’s gonna take a lot of preparation, a lot of mental focus and watching film on these other teams. But yes, that is definitely in our eyesight and hopefully, if we accomplish the things we want in the regular season and into the playoffs, hopefully we would get an invitation.”

Moran subscribes to the widely held belief that to be the best, one must play the best. That’s why Columbus’ regular season schedule is so tough this year. A more challenging slate would better serve to prepare Columbus for the playoffs, Moran said.

The Explorers open the season with games against Fort Worth OD Wyatt and No. 2 Duncanville in the 2022 Thanksgiving Hoopsfest in Texas. Then they travel to Marietta, Georgia for a battle with No. 7 Wheeler as part of the Battle in the Peach event. In January, Columbus will face off with No. 34 Sierra Canyon in the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic.

As far as personnel and potential role changes go, Moran is excited to have all the starters from last year’s championship caliber squad return.

Cameron and Caden, sons of two-time NBA All-Star and member of the United States’ Redeem Team in the 2008 Summer Olympics Carlos Boozer, are the foundation of Columbus’ team. They help control the tempo and usually open up the offense. The rest of the starting five include Garyn Bess, Benny Fragela and Malik Abdullahi, who Moran said improved over the offseason playing summer ball.

The addition of Djapa, a 6-foot-11-inch senior out of Serbia, will only make things easier.

“I think he fits in really well,” Moran said. “He’s obviously a big, but he stretches the floor because he can shoot the three. So it still allows a lot of spacing for us. And then it just gives us another body to be able to rest Cameron and Malik in stretches throughout the game, whereas last year we struggled to be able to do that.”

The key to another successful season will be mental fortitude, Moran said. He likes to bring in motivational quotes from figures in and outside the realm of sports to inspire the team throughout the year. They watch and dissect a lot of film in order to better understand themselves and their opponents and enter games with unbreachable confidence. Physical and practices also make it easier to establish and maintain a competitive outlook all year long.

“You can win, but it’s hard to continue to win,” Moran said. “So we just want to stay and grow mentally.”

TEAM-BY-TEAM RANKINGS

▪ 1. Columbus (see above)

▪ 2. Riviera Prep, which went 24-8 and lost in the Class 3A state final, is led by 6-5 sophomore wing Dante Allen, who has offers from Miami, Michigan, Memphis, Villanova, Florida and FSU. Riviera has impressive size with 6-11 sophomore Gustavo Gumieres, 6-10 senior Cheikh Ndiaye and 6-6 senior Joseph Ndiaye. Myles Fuentes, a 6-foot eighth-grader, is ranked No. 1 in the nation in his class, and his brother Mason Fuentes, a 6-1 freshman, is good, too.

▪ 3. Mater Lakes, which finished 22-8 last season and lost to eventual Class 4A state champion Calvary Christian in the regional quarters, will be led by 6-4 junior guard Christian Reid, who averaged 16.0 points and has a Southern Miss offer; and 5-11 sophomore point guard Anthony Knowles, who scored 13.6 points. Captain Michael Bradley, a 6-2 senior shooting guard, averaged 13.0 points and is a terrific 3-point marksman. Gabriel Fajardo, a 6-4 senior wing, transferred in from South Dade.

▪ 4. Norland, which went 20-10 and lost to eventual 5A state champ Stranahan in a regional quarter, is led by 6-2 senior combo guard Carl Parrish, who averaged 10.3 points. He has committed to play college ball at Presbyterian. The Vikings also have 6-6 junior wing Triston Wilson, who is a terrific shooter. Jamal Ware, a 6-4 junior wing, is an excellent passer and tough. “My type of kid,” Norland coach Lawton Williams said. In addition, 6-10, 270-pound freshman center Marcis Ponder has lost 35 pounds and is a worthwhile project.

▪ 5. Southridge (16-9) is led by 6-6 senior wing Koree Cotton, who averaged 18.4 points, 6.3 points and 3.2 assists. Cotton, a lefty being recruited by UMass, is a fourth-year varsity player who is serving his third season as a starter. The Spartans also have two junior rim protectors: 6-8 Lee Flenor and 6-9 Kas Williams. Anthony Dozier, a 6-1 senior, scores in bunches and on the break. Jamari Dean, a 6-0 senior, adds speed to get in the lane and push pace.

▪ 6. Miami High, which went 14-9 and lost in the regional semifinals, is led by 6-5 sophomore point guard Romari Robinson, who has offers from Florida State and Stetson; and 6-3 senior guard Josh Middleton, who is a sensational leaper. Robinson, who has great speed, is Dade’s No. 1 point guard, according to Miami High coach Humberto Govea.

▪ 7. Palmetto is led by 6-1 junior point guard Braylon Burbridge, who averaged 9.5 points and 6.0 assists. He also has a 3.8 GPA, which explains why the Ivy League (Columbia) is recruiting him. Randy Smith, a 6-3 junior guard who averaged 8.5 points, plays with “through the roof” energy and is one of the best defenders in the county. Matthew Mairena, a 6-0 senior guard, gets a lot of deflections and steals and is solid on offense.

▪ 8. Miami Country Day, which went 16-11 and lost in the regional quarterfinals, returns Jasai Miles, a 6-6 senior wing who averaged 19 points and 9.0 rebounds. He has offers from Florida Gulf Coast and a few others. Sami Elkanel, a 6-8 senior center, has an offer New Jersey Tech. Senior Herbert Wilson III is a 6-4 shooting guard with offers from Hofstra and Old Dominion. Senior Marc Wendrow is a fourth-year starter at point guard.

▪ 9. Gulliver (12-14), coached by former NBA star Ray Allen, is powered by 6-2 junior point guard Jackson Mansfield, who has impressed with his ability to get to the rim, averaging 12.5 points. He also led the team in assists (8.0) and rebounds (8.0). The coach’s son, Ray Allen Jr., is the team’s leader, and he averaged 13.2 points. Jeremy Arnum, a 6-5 senior wing, led the team in scoring (16.6). Amare Sanders, a 6-1 junior guard, averaged 13.1 points and fills out the team’s Big Four.

▪ 10. Belen Jesuit, which went 19-7 and reached the regional semifinals before losing to eventual 5A state champion Stranahan, returns 5-10 senior point guard Javi Rosell, who averaged 11.8 points and 6.2 assists. Rosell shot 76 percent on free throws, 50 percent on field goals and 36 percent on 3-pointers. Two more senior guards – 5-10 Kevin Garcia and 6-0 Ryan Cuellar – had breakout summers as double-figure scorers. Cuellar, in particular, is a deadly 3-point shooter, and Belen’s modest size comes from 6-3 seniors Joshua Perez and Dillon Diaz.

BEST OF THE REST

▪ St. Brendan, which went 22-7 and reached the regional quarterfinals, returns its entire core. The Sabres lack size, but they defend and shoot well. It’s a team of guards, led by senior Santiago Tovar, a defensive menace; sophomore Jonas Duque, who has poise and court vision; and senior Nelson Rodriguez. Senior Jonathan Diaz, a 6-2 forward, is the leading scorer (12.0) and rebounder (7.0).

▪ LaSalle, which went 10-14, is led by 6-9 senior guard Eke Ruutel, who averaged 23.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Euutel, who is from Estonia, has a scholarship offer from FIU and interest from Michigan. Sophomore Christian Paredes, a 6-2 point guard who averaged 12.0 points, is also back.

▪ Doral Academy, which went 15-11, is led by 5-10 senior guard Gabriel Hernandez, who averaged 21.0 points, shooting 37 percent on 3-pointers and 84 percent on free throws.

▪ Divine Savior, which went 15-7 and lost in the regional quarterfinals, is led by Kaue Kalinowski, a 6-4 senior guard who averaged 15.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists; and James Tejada, a 5-9 senior guard who averaged 13.0 points.

▪ Coral Reef (8-15) is led by 6-0 senior guard Hunter Bostwick, who attacks the rim, averaging 7.5 points. Gabriel Castro, a 5-10 senior who averaged 7.0 points, controls pace of play. The team’s other top seniors are 6-5 Nikolaos Psarrakos, 6-1 William Alfonso D’Armas and 6-0 Maxwell Statis.

▪ Palmer Trinity, which went 11-13, returns just three players from last season: 6-4 sophomore wing Graham Yanowitch; 6-2 sophomore combo guard Harrison Miles; and 6-3 senior forward Jahmir Everett. Yanowitch has deep range on offense and blocks/alters shots on defense. Everett is a strong rebounder despite being undersized for his position. Miles is a crafty scorer who can shoot and distribute.

▪ Miami Central, a tough defensive team, is looking to improve on last season’s 8-15 team. Seon Betton, a 6-4 senior wing, is a perimeter shooter who can defend all five positions. Brennen Sands, a 6-0 senior guard, can score from all three levels. Dwight Carter, a 6-1 guard, is terrific in transition, and he leads a stellar sophomore class that also includes 6-4 guards Jadon Wright and Justin Suarez.

▪ Varela, which went 14-9, returns 6-0 senior guard Anthony Fernandez, who averaged 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds; Xavier Costa, a 6-2 senior who averaged 10.0 points; Noah Summers, 6-2 senior guard who averaged 8.5 points; and Ethan Vega, a 5-10 senior guard who averaged 8.0 points.

▪ Braddock, which finished 8-15, should be much improved due to the return of 5-10 senior point guard Oscar Sanchez, who averaged 11.4 points. Senior Leonardo Perez, a 6-6 forward, averaged 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds as the team’s top post. Senior Felix Suarez, a 6-foot shooting guard, leads the squad in 3-pointers.

▪ Goleman (7-15) will rely on nine seniors and new coach Anthony Serro. The Gators’ top player is 5-10 senior Maykell Romero, a confident point guard and an improved shooter who transferred in from Westland Hialeah. The team is deep in guards, including seniors Jonathan Ruiz and Gadiel Cosme. There’s also Noah Youngblood, a 6-1 junior wing. But the team lacks size.

▪ Colonial Christian (9-12) will be led 5-10 junior guard Joshua Bertrand and 5-11 sophomore forwards Seth Porch and Hudson Castlemann Hermann.

This story was originally published November 14, 2022 at 7:00 AM.