Boys’ basketball preview: Broward County looking for encore after record season
Since the FHSAA expanded to six classes in 1994, no county has dominated Florida boys’ basketball the way Broward did last season.
Broward won a record five state titles: St. Thomas Aquinas (6A); Ely (5A); Stranahan (4A); Calvary Christian (3A); and Sagemont (1A).
In addition, Broward’s Westminster Academy was a legitimate threat to win 2A, losing 76-75 in the regional semifinals to eventual champion Riviera Prep.
Here’s a class-by-class look at some of the top teams in Broward this upcoming season:
CLASS 7A
Miami’s Columbus, which has won four straight state titles, is still the team to beat.
But Coral Glades (20-8, regional semifinals) is perhaps Broward’s best hope in this class.
The Jaguars are led by 6-5 senior combo guard Kyler Theophile, who recently committed to Kennesaw State. He averaged 11.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.4 steals.
Gavin Reed, a 6-0 junior point guard, led the team in scoring (13.4) and assists (4.8).
Donovan Swain, a 6-4 junior shooting guard, averaged 10.9 points. He has grown six inches over the past two years, and he’s a terrific shooter.
Other rotation players include 6-9 sophomore Samuel Pierre; 5-11 senior Jamari Bolden; 6-7 junior Ethan Jeanlouis; 6-6 junior Brandon Pitts; and 6-5 junior Ali Atallah.
Cypress Bay (16-10, 7A regional quarterfinals) boasts a well-balanced team that features great chemistry, and that includes three sets of brothers. The top player is 6-1 junior guard Cristian Rios (14.0 points, 5.0 assists). Two seniors will also contribute: 6-3 guard Lucas Almonte and 6-6 forward Jackson Barnes.
Western (19-8, regional semifinals) returns two starters: 6-3 senior shooting guard Calvin Thompson and 6-0 sophomore point guard Jovan Rodriguez. In the summer/fall, Thompson averaged 21.5 points, and Rodriguez averaged 6.0 assists.
CLASS 6A
St. Thomas Aquinas (30-2) won just the second state title in program history and its first since 2001.
Aquinas ran the table last season, winning the Kingdom of the Sun tournament in Ocala; the Kreul Classic in Coral Springs; the Big 8 for Broward supremacy and then district, regional and state titles.
The Raiders ended last season on a 14-game winning streak, but they graduated Dwayne Wimbley Jr., who is now playing at Massachusetts for coach Frank Martin, a Miami native. Wimbley averaged 16.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks, winning Broward’s 5A-7A Player of the Year.
Virtually everybody else returns, including 6-1 junior Clarence Westbrook, who led the team in scoring (17.3); 6-2 senior point guard Drake Sandi, a three-time All-County player who has committed to American University; and 6-5 junior Nate Accius, who averaged 6.1 points off the bench.
Kellson Sandi – who is Drake’s younger brother – is a 6-2 junior who averaged 11.2 points. He may be the best 3-point shooter on the team.
Zane Elliott provides inside muscle at 6-6 and 235 pounds. He averaged 7.0 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Miramar (20-9, regional semifinals) brings back three starters after getting eliminated by Aquinas, 60-53. The returning starters are: 6-10, 230-pound junior Ronald Germeille, who has an offer from Alcorn State; 6-0 junior point guard Mikey Daniels; and 6-3 senior shooting guard Martell Smith.
The Patriots also added 6-3 junior guard Jayson Negrin (Sagemont transfer, two-year starter); 6-7 senior Walter Williams (14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds from Hallandale).
South Plantation (20-8, regional quarterfinals) has turned in three straight 20-win seasons.
This season, the Paladins return three starters: 6-1 senior point guard Travis Chin, who made second-team All-County and averaged 13.0 points; 6-1 senior shooting guard Gabe Collier; and 6-3 senior wing Franco Domine.
The team also brought in four transfers: 6-6 junior wing James Williams III (Pines Charter); 6-6 sophomore wing Aiden Hamilton (Somerset Key); 6-3 junior guard Aiden Davis (Piper); and 6-0 junior guard Tyler Bennett (Sagemont).
Boyd Anderson (16-10, regional semifinals) returns four starters: 5-7 senior guard Juawayne Walters; 6-3 junior guard Branden Jean; 6-4 senior utility player Romondy Sainvri; and 6-5 senior forward Niteno Pierre.
In addition, two transfer juniors have arrived: 6-4 Hatem Chehade and 6-6 Jayden Silvera.
Monarch returns just three players from a team that went 7-10. One of the returners is three-year starter Nikyle Campbell, a 6-1 senior shooting guard who last season averaged 10.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
CLASS 5A
Ely won its ninth state title and its first since 2019. However, following the season, coach J.R. McNabb left the team and will return to coaching the girls’ team. He has been replaced by BJ Hicks, who must replace Ely’s top-four scorers, all of whom graduated.
The changes at Ely could open the door for the Pembroke Pines Charter Jaguars, who won state titles in 2022 and 2024.
Last season, the Jaguars lost in the regional final to Ely, 59-56.
The Jaguars (19-8) return three starters: 6-7 senior center Robert Guishard; 6-0 senior guard Jacob Trenchfield; and 6-1 senior guard Roman Hughes.
Guishard has a Division I offer from Lafayette. Hughes is the son of Channel 10 news anchor Calvin Hughes.
In addition, the Jaguars added two transfers: 6-6 junior wing Anthony Wolcott (Norland); and 6-1 junior point guard Zack Dawson (Northwestern).
CLASS 4A
Stranahan (25-7) is coming off its fourth state title and its third under coach Terrence Williams, who also won rings in 2019 and 2020.
The Mighty Dragons should be mighty again this season as they return 6-9 senior center Isaiah Brown, who hit the winning layup to beat Gibbs, 63-62, in last year’s state final. Brown, who committed to North Florida in September, averaged 6.5 points and 9.6 rebounds.
Christian Yeargin, a 6-3 senior, also returns after leading the team in scoring (14.8). He’s a team leader who brings energy and all-around skill.
Damari Foster, a 5-10 junior guard, returns after averaging 12.1 points.
In addition, the Dragons added two transfers: 5-9 junior Preston Antonie (from South Plantation) and 5-10 senior Kendrick Hardy (Deerfield Beach).
CLASS 3A
Calvary Christian (22-1) won state and finished ranked sixth in the nation, according to USA Today.
It was Calvary’s fourth state title in 12 years and its first since 2022. Calvary’s only loss last season came against an elite prep school, falling 62-55 to Montverde Academy.
This season, though, the Eagles will be without 6-7 wing Shon Abaev, who signed with Cincinnati.
The top returners to start the season are 5-11 point guard Cayden Daughtry, who is the 21st-ranked junior in the nation, according to ESPN; and 6-5 senior combo guard Kenneth “KJ” Francis, who is Calvary’s best defender.
Daughtry led the team in assists (3.6) and steals (2.1), and he ranked second behind Abaev in points (16.7). Francis averaged 8.3 points but should get more shots this season.
In addition, 6-8 forward Collin Paul, a Florida State recruit who averaged 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds, is out due to a knee injury but is expected to return in January.
Other players to watch are 6-1 senior point guard Jacob Zhu, who plays for China’s junior national team; 6-11 senior Chauncey Stewart, a Westminster Academy transfer; Aiden Bolden, a 6-7 senior transfer from Tennessee; and Jadus Sorhanhiandho, a 6-8 junior from Tampa’s Berkeley Prep.
The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (26-5) got all the way to the state semifinals before losing to Calvary, 72-58.
Of the Chiefs’ five losses, four came against teams that went on to win state titles: Ely, Aquinas, Stranahan and Calvary.
This season, the Chiefs return three starters, including 5-9 senior point guard AJ Ambrose, who has a 4.87 grade-point average and could be Ivy League material. Ambrose averaged 15.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.9 steals, and the Chiefs believe he is the best senior point guard in the state.
Leading scorer Justice Herbert also returns. He’s a 6-3 senior shooting guard who averaged 16.0 points and 8.6 rebounds, making first-team All-Broward. He also has a 40-inch vertical leap.
Other players to watch are 6-4 senior Evan Wyche; 6-4 junior DeMarcus Deroche, 6-5 senior Mason Rowan; and 6-4 junior Juan Fernandez.
Deroche is a Miami Hurricanes football recruit as a defensive end.
The North Broward Prep Eagles (14-14) played a tough schedule and had some big wins, beating 6A state champ St. Thomas Aquinas and 5A state champ Ely.
However, the Eagles were eliminated in the regional semifinals by eventual state champ Calvary Christian.
The Eagles will be led by Francesco Borio, a 6-7, 210-pound senior wing who missed most of last season due to injury. He defends, rebounds and scores.
Other players to watch are 6-0 senior Ryan Baxley; 6-1 senior Jayden Smith; 6-4 sophomore Gavin Gorman; 6-5 senior Sam Cano; 6-8 junior Aleksej Nesovic; and 6-9 freshman Chudier Diew Yak.
Pine Crest (19-8) returns its core players from a team that lost in the regional quarterfinals. Rowan Hoffman, a 6-8 senior forward, leads the way. He averaged 17.5 points, 14.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals, making second-team All-Broward. Alex Jenkins, a 6-6 sophomore shooting guard, is another player to watch. He averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds as a freshman. Sophomore point guard Karl Mullins is also back after averaging 8.3 points, 4.6 assists and 2.3 steals. Overall, this is a deep, experienced and athletic team.
CLASS 2A
Miami’s Riviera Prep, which has won three straight state titles, could be challenged by Westminster Academy and Chaminade.
WA (17-13) had a great roster last season, but the Lions lost 76-75 to Riviera Prep in the regional semifinals.
Since then, WA suffered two major losses. Alex Constanza, who led the Lions in points (29.4) and rebounds (10.9), transferred to a prep school (Spire). And Alex Lloyd, who averaged 27.9 points, is now playing for the Florida Gators.
The Lions will reload around Dwight “DJ” Gaines, a 5-10 junior guard who led the team in assists (4.8) and ranked third in scoring (12.3). He has five Division I offers, including Florida Atlantic.
Westminster’s next big star could be Desean Clayton, a 6-5 freshman with a huge vertical leap and a good touch on 3-pointers.
Joshua Williams, a 6-5 junior who finished third at state in the high jump, is another athletic wing. And Matj Crnojac, a 6-11, 225-pound senior from Croatia, gives the team an old-school center.
Chaminade (23-6, regional semifinals) will again be led by 5-10 senior point guard Jasen Lopez (25.0 scoring average). Lopez has committed to Florida State for football and basketball.
The Lions also have four juniors to watch: 6-1 Santana Henderson; 6-3 London Knights; 6-6 Giuilani Blaise; and 6-8 Tristan Sylvera. Henderson is a transfer from Taravella. Knights is a transfer from Aquinas.
CLASS 1A
The Sagemont Lions have won five state titles, including three straight. The all-time record is five in a row held by Malone in the 1990s and Jacksonville’s Arlington Country Day in the 2000s.
Sagemont (22-8) had several impressive wins last season, including a 33-point victory over eventual 4A state champ Stranahan.
However, the Lions graduated 6-5 shooting guard Matthew Able, who is now playing for North Carolina State. Patrick Liburd (Michigan recruit, 16.4 scoring average) and Anthony Knowles (12.2) also graduated.
In addition, 6-7 senior forward Kevin Thomas, who is known as a great leaper with a 6-10 wingspan, transferred to Montverde. He’s an LSU recruit.
Sagemont’s new stars are 6-3 sophomore Ezra Gelin; 6-3 senior David Nealy; and 6-6 sophomore Branden Sharpe.