Polk Hoops Preview and Watch List

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's that time again folks! The hoop scene is back for high school student-athletes and Prep Hoops will continue delivering reliable and consistent player coverage for our readers. As we head into the fall season, let's look at some of the top teams in Polk County with players to watch!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TOP 5 Ranking</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winter Haven Blue Devils (1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Tyrone Woodside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>27-5 | State Finals Appearance (7A)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055750' first='Isaac' last='Celiscar'] (2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1055762' first='Jamie' last='Phillips'] (2024), Zay Mosley (2025)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winter Haven has been one of the top teams in the county the past few years and enter the 2023 season ranked first on my ranking list. While losing some production, the Blue Devils return key Division I prospects who are eager to back into state champion contention. Excited to get eyes on the team this season as they try for consecutive district championships and stats title runs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Victory Christian Storm (2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Steve Fitzgerald</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>24-6 (Playoffs - Regional Finals, 2A)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners:</strong> Lorezno Cason (2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1296001' first='Mike' last='Andino'] (2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1055581' first='Jordan' last='Lanier'] (2024), Quentin Wilson (2028)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Victory jumped on the Polk radar last season while taking down some of the tough high schools in the area. The Storm are led by D1 FAU commit [player_tooltip player_id='1055782' first='Lorenzo' last='Cason'] who is stamped as the Real Deal. VCA is primed to make a run for the 2A title and finally get over the OCP hump.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Christian Prep Seahawks (3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Mike Guastella</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>30-7 (FIHSAA State Champs/NACA Nat Champs &amp; District SIAA Reg Division)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2201109' first='Diamant' last='Blazi'] (2024), Danillo Stankovic (2024), [player_tooltip player_id='2217893' first='Babacar' last='Diop'] (2024), William Reyes (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>JCP has moved over to the SIAA Regular Division this season and has a roster list of impressive prospects who are hungry for consecutive state championships. Having watched a few of their prospects compete live in the summer, they'll be a problem if they can put it all together this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Santa Fe Hawks (4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Mike Blicher (Playoffs - Quarterfinals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District - 3A-7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>17-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1450225' first='Tate' last='Darner'] (2025), Antonio Wright (2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1295941' first='Hudson' last='Dykhuizen'] (2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1450214' first='Malikai' last='Broffitt'] (2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks under coach Blicher have steadily improved on both sides of the ball. He will have a few pieces to get it done this year with the main man [player_tooltip player_id='1450225' first='Tate' last='Darner'] leading the way. With a couple of new faces and reliable depth, interested to see how the season plays out for Santa Fe.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bartow Yellow Jackets (5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Terrence McGriff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>14-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners:</strong> Jayson Williams (2024) [player_tooltip player_id='1055763' first='Edward' last='Wiggins'] (2024) [player_tooltip player_id='1055705' first='Daniel' last='Thompson'] (2024) K.J Valentine (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About time for Bartow to get back to its winning ways under one of the best to do it in Coach McGriff. A few pieces return for the Yellow Jackets to make noise and win their way to a district championship appearance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakout Team Watchlist:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lakeland Dreadnaughts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Henderson Taylor</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>24-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055775' first='Derajah' last='Hardy'] (2024) Shanard Clower (2025) Tre Jackson (2025) Jayren Dennis (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those in the Polk area know that when the football season concludes the basketball roster will look a bit different. Coach Taylor has a few key returners and a big-time transfer for a run at consecutive district titles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Region Thunder</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Shake Simmons</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>21-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: </strong>BJ McKinney (2024) D Lattimore (2024) D Booker (2024) C German (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Region had one of the best records in the county under Coach Simmons and will look to get back to and finish strong in the playoffs this season. The team should get some help with a couple of football players such as B.J McKinney who will join the roster and boost production output.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Davenport Broncos</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301756' first='Anthony' last='Jones']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>17-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: Dwayne Williams (2024), A'maree Ellis (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a season from first-year head coach [player_tooltip player_id='1301756' first='Anthony' last='Jones'] who nearly led the Broncos to 20 wins. Lots of momentum and some young talent who I'll need to get eyes on this fall season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mckeel Academy Wildcats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>David O Callaghan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record:</strong> 15-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1055781' first='Alex' last='Sessoms'] (2024), [player_tooltip player_id='2217891' first='Axel' last='Acevedo'] (2025), Vann Osmon (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking forward to seeing what the elite duo of Sessoms and Acevedo can do together who both had a great off-season and saw a jump in their overall development. They start the season early on Monday against Lake Wales to get a feel of how the season will play out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sebring Blue Streaks&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Princeton Harris</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>15-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong> Dyveon Collymore (2024) [player_tooltip player_id='2046259' first='KJ' last='Turner'] (2024) [player_tooltip player_id='1578328' first='Sylvester' last='Lewis'] (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Respectful season for Sebring a year ago and coach Harris has a few Dogs returning with a chance to get into district title conversations. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Need to Rise:&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Wales Highlanders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Junior Geidi</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Record: </strong>8-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578326' first='Sevastian' last='Rosado'] (2024), Gabe Legrand (2026), Sebastian Perez (2025), Gary Love (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's about time for Lake Wales to get back on the map. This is a tough basketball program that's been down the last few years but is trying to find a way to get things back on the winning side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->