Florida Preseason Top 25 Team Rankings (1-5)
In this article:
As the 2023-2024 High School Basketball season is just a few weeks away and Fall Leagues have officially wrapped up. Prep Hoops Florida is taking a deeper dive at the way too early Top 25 teams in the state of…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAs the 2023-2024 High School Basketball season is just a few weeks away and Fall Leagues have officially wrapped up. Prep Hoops Florida is taking a deeper dive at the way too early Top 25 teams in the state of Florida, regardless of classification. We will start by previewing our top five teams heading into the upcoming season. A lot of new faces are in new places as well this upcoming season.
#1 Montverde Academy
The Montverde Academy Eagles come into the upcoming season as our top ranked team in the state of Florida for the 2023-2024 season. The Eagles are loaded with talent all over the frontcourt including recent Duke commit in 6-8 senior forward Cooper Flagg, 6-9 senior forward Derik Queen Derik Queen 6'9" | PF Montverde Academy | 2024 State #18 Nation FL and recent Georgia commit Asa Newell Asa Newell 6'8" | PF Montverde Academy | 2024 State #29 Nation FL . The Eagles also have a loaded backcourt as well featuring 6-1 senior guard Robert Wright III Robert Wright III 6'0" | PG Montverde Academy (FL) | 2024 State #35 Nation FL (Baylor commit) and 6-6 sophomore guard Kayden Allen Kayden Allen 6'5" | SG Grayson | 2026 State FL who transferred from Grayson (Georgia) over the summer.
Notable Games: 12/1 vs Columbus, 1/12 vs Oak Hill Academy (VA), 1/13 vs Brewster Academy (NH), 1/14 vs Prolific Prep (CA), 1/20 vs DME Academy, 2/2 @ La Lumiere (IN)
#2 IMG Academy
The IMG Academy Ascenders have once again reloaded their roster with four and five stars all over the floor. Their latest additions include 6-2 junior guard Darius Acuff Darius Acuff 6'2" | PG IMG | 2025 State #9 Nation FL , 6-9 senior wing Donnie Freeman Donnie Freeman 6'9" | C IMG | 2024 State FL (Syracuse commit) and 6-5 senior wing Chase McCarty. The Ascenders have more depth this upcoming season and have loaded their schedule with marquee matchups once again.
Notable Games: 12/1 vs SFA Academy, 12/15 @ Elder (OH), 1/5 @ The Villages Charter, 1/10 vs Tampa Catholic, 1/14 vs Sunrise Christian (KS), 2/8 vs Oak Hill Academy (VA)
#3 Riviera Prep
The reigning Class 3A Champion Riviera Prep Bulldogs check in at No. 3 in our preseason rankings. The Bulldogs return their trio backcourt that features 6-1 sophomore Mason Fuentes Mason Fuentes 6'1" | PG Rivera Prep | 2026 State FL , his younger brother Myles Fuentes Myles Fuentes 6'1" | CG Riviera Prep | 2027 FL and 6-4 junior wing Dante Allen Dante Allen 6'5" | SF Riviera Prep | 2025 State #57 Nation FL . Meanwhile, The Bulldogs return 7-0 junior big man Gustavo Guimaraes Gustavo Guimaraes 6'10" | C Westminster Academy | 2025 State FL who adds a ton of rim protection on the defensive end of the floor. The Bulldogs are heavy favorites to retain the crown in Class 3A again this season.
Notable Games: 12/5 @ Columbus, 12/12 @ Miami Norland, 1/8 @ Gulliver Prep, 1/13 vs Sidwell Friends (DC), 1/17 vs Sagemont, 1/20 vs Winter Haven, 1/22 vs Mater Lakes Academy
#4 Columbus
The two-time defending state champion Columbus Explorers have plenty of experience in their starting lineup this season. 6-5 junior guard Cayden Boozer Cayden Boozer 6'5" | PG Columbus | 2025 State #28 Nation FL , 6-3 senior guard Jase Richardson Jase Richardson 6'2" | PG Columbus | 2024 State #49 Nation FL (Michigan State commit), 6-2 junior guard Benny Fragela Benny Fragela 5'11" | SG Columbus | 2025 State FL , 6-8 senior forward Malik Abdullahi (Princeton commit) and 6-10 junior forward Cameron Boozer Cameron Boozer 6'9" | PF Columbus | 2025 State #2 Nation FL . Cameron is a natural forward who feels very comfortable when he has the basketball in his hands. Cayden is a well-built strong guard who has great court vision along with pure passing skills.
Notable Games: 11/24 vs McEachern (GA), 11/25 vs Wasatch Academy (UT), 12/1 at #1 Montverde Academy, 12/5 vs Riviera Prep, 12/15 @ Miami Norland, 12/19 vs Archbishop Ryan (PA), 1/3 @ Mater Lakes Academy, 1/5 @ Westminster Academy, 1/9 vs Huntington Prep (WV), 1/13 vs Long Island Lutheran (NY), 1/15 vs Paul VI (VA)
#5 Oak Ridge
The Oak Ridge Pioneers round out our “Top 5” in the initial Prep Hoops Florida Top 25 rankings heading into the season. The Pioneers loaded front-court features 6-6 junior guard Jamier Jones Jamier Jones 6'5" | SF Sarasota Riverview | 2025 State #16 Nation FL , 6-5 senior wing Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson 6'6" | SF Oak Ridge | 2024 State #175 Nation FL (Virginia Tech commit), 6-6 senior forward Cameron Simpson Cameron Simpson 6'6" | SF Oakridge | 2024 State FL (UCF commit) and 6-10 sophomore power forward Tim Winkler. Jamier is a high-flying wing who can finish on both sides of the rim whether it’s off of put-backs or lobs thrown to him. Also don’t sleep on 6-0 junior point guard Jalen Reece Jalen Reece 5'11" | PG Oak Ridge | 2025 State #92 Nation FL who is a pure playmaker where he has a high IQ and gets his teammates involved often. A key newcomer to the fold will feature 6-9 senior forward Amari Davis Amari Davis 6'8" | PF Oak Ridge | 2024 FL who has a smooth jumpshot as well as a great distributor of the basketball.
Notable Games: 11/22 vs Windermere Prep, 11/25 vs Bishop O’Connell (VA), 12/6 vs Tampa Catholic, 12/12 vs The Villages Charter, 1/19 at Olympia