Postseason Hoops — State Semifinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The regular season has officially ended for high school basketball. As the postseason continues the stakes are higher than ever for teams vying for state championship titles. We've seen it all this season, from buzzer-beating shots to nail-biting finishes. Who will rise to the occasion and take home the coveted state championship hardware? Let's dive in and find out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1 Columbus&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4 Evans&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>A premier Columbus team will take on a talented Evans squad.&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Columbus has steamrolled their way to the state semifinal matchup with only four losses this season. One of the nation's premier national prospects, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301714' first='Cameron' last='Boozer'] </strong>has dominated the 7A class the past couple years and has his team going in the right direction midway through the state tournament. This kid holds major Power 4 offers from nearly every school in the country. The 2x state champ is currently the #1 ranked junior because of his sheer college-ready frame and versatile ability on the court. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2197286' first='Jase' last='Richardson']</strong> and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301715' first='Cayden' last='Boozer']</strong> have also made huge impacts to give this team a chance to win back-to-back 7A state championships. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Evans team is led by a talented junior standout, including SG Arosco Dubois, who averages 18.3 PPG with 6.5 rebounds. He leads the team in both categories and has been a notable 2025 riser throughout the season. 2025 G <strong>Antonio Pollard</strong> has also provided solid scoring output with 11.4 PPG while adding 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2 Winter Haven</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3 Oak Ridge&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>A must-see postseason rematch from a year ago.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Winter Haven basketball team is the Real Deal! Senior Yale commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055750' first='Isaac' last='Celiscar']</strong> has blossomed into a problem for opposing defenses as he seems to be on a mission in his final high school season. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055762' first='Jamie' last='Phillips']</strong> has contributed immensely to his team's success. He's a smart big guard who can score at will but is more comfortable creating for his teammates and pushing the floor. Role players such as <strong>Zay Mosley </strong>(F), and <strong>Tyrese Mayo </strong>(G) could push this team over the hump for a state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Ridge boasts a versatile lineup that features various Division I athletes including an elite junior in 2025 G <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301713' first='Jamier' last='Jones']</strong> who recently recorded 1000 career points for his high school campaign. When you combine the production Jones provides with three DOGS in seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055776' first='Tyler' last='Johnson'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1163617' first='Cameron' last='Simpson']</strong> along with rising 2025 G <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301787' first='Jalen' last='Reece'], </strong>you have a well put together roster that can push deep into the state tournament. The Pioneers made it to the state semifinals last year but have another chance at earning some big-time hardware. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1 Edgewater&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4 Charlotte</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solid season for Edgewater who went through a tough slate of games this year and came out as the top seed in class 6A. Talk about being a versatile squad, the Eagles have three players who average double digits. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1660045' first='Donovan' last='Williams Jr.']</strong> leads the pack with 16.7 points as the 2026 G has been among the more impactful sophomores. College coaches and attendees should also look out for 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1620353' first='Myles' last='Mayfield'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055709' first='Zion' last='Mitchell']</strong> to impact this game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charlotte Players to Watch:&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1579752' first='Jordan' last='Attia'] | G | 2025 | @J_attia11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1055718' first='Chris' last='Cornish'] | F | 2024 | @jamil_chris</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1579754' first='Jah' last='Chin'] | G | 2025 | @chin_jah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2 Pembroke Pines Charter&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3 Ponte Vedra</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch:&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1722577' first='Josh' last='Harris'] | F | 2024 | PPC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1306091' first='Jeremy' last='Elyzee'] | F | 2024 | PPC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1139735' first='Ramez' last='Zayed'] | G | 2024 | PPC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1859283' first='Sam' last='Ritchie'] | G | 2024 | Ponte Vedra</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyler Cowan | F | 2024 | Ponte Vedra&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>David Sanchez Barrera | G | 2025 | Ponte Vedra</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->