Class 9A Season Preview: Part 2
Preseason classics are underway and the regular season officially begins on November 26.
We will bring you previews on all nine classes in the state of Florida and the independent conferences.
ICYMI:
Class 5A Preview: Part 1, Part 2
Class 6A Preview: Part 1, Part 2
Class 7A Preview: Part 1, Part 2
Class 8A Preview: Part 1, Part 2
Class 9A Preview: Part 1
Here is a look at Class 9A and a preview of districts 9-16.
2017-18 state champion: Oak Ridge
2017-18 state runner-up: Wellington
Class 9A-District 9
2017-18 winner: Wellington whipped John I. Leonard, 57-39, for the district crown before disposing of Boca Raton, Atlantic and Deerfield Beach in the regionals en route to making the state title game.
Teams to watch: Wellington, Jupiter
Other teams in the district: John I. Leonard, Palm Beach Central, Palm Beach Gardens, Seminole Ridge
Predicted district champion: Wellington
– Linton Brown (Tennessee Tech offer) returns for Wellington (31-1), which lost to Orlando Oak Ridge, 71-60, in the 9A state championship. The Wolverines will be young, including sophomore Trey Perry and junior Caleb Gordon. Jupiter has talent, with two 6-7 bigs and good guard play.
Written by Pat Lammer
Class 9A-District 10
2017-18 winner: Atlantic outlasted Boca Raton, 75-68 in overtime, for the district championship. The Eagles made it to the region semis before falling to Wellington.
Teams to watch: Atlantic, Lake Worth, Santaluces
Other teams in the district: Boca Raton, Park Vista, Spanish River
Predicted district champion: Atlantic
– Atlantic and Lake Worth are athletic and scrappy. Will likely battle for the top of the district. Atlantic lost big man R.J. Duhart to transfer but added Willie Razz. The Eagles also return Kadeem Wilks and D.J. Tucker. Lake Worth won 20-plus games a season ago. Kamari Brown will lead Santaluces.
Written by Pat Lammer
Class 9A-District 11
2017-18 winner: Coral Springs beat Deerfield Beach, 71-59 for the district championship. But Deerfield turned the tables in the regionals, eliminating Springs, 76-60.
Teams to watch: Deerfield Beach, Taravella, Coral Springs
Other teams in the district: Stoneman Douglas, Monarch, Coral Glades
Predicted district champion: Deerfield Beach
– Deerfield Beach got to the regional finals a season ago before falling to Wellington, 55-41. Seniors Michael Johnson (6-3) and Victor Robinson (6-3, offer Albany State) return for the Bucks. Coral Springs will look to 6-7 Alex London, while 6-4 Nicholas Chen leads Taravella.
Written by Pat Lammer
Class 9A-District 12
2017-18 winner: Cypress Bay defeated Western for the district crown, 62-43. The Lightning, however, lost to Deerfield Beach in the regionals while Western fell to Coral Springs.
Teams to watch: Western, Cypress Bay
Other teams in the district: Piper, South Plantation
Predicted district champion: Western
– Tristan Pratt (Colorado) and Damari Monsanto (American Heritage-Plantation) transferred to Western and are Division I prospects. Coach Ken Kelly will also count on Lavar Miller Jr. and Gavin Ostrow. Cypress Bay and Piper may fight for second. Cypress Bay lost a pair of starters in transfers Isiah Kirby and Brandon Garcia. The question is how do Isaiah Quinteros, Tyler Krivitzkin & Co. blend with new additions? Piper has a transfer from the Bahamas and a 230-pounder from Minnesota.
Written by Pat Lammer
Class 9A-District 13
2017-18 winner: Miramar took down Pembroke Pines Charter, 65-54, in the district final. The Patriots defeated Hialeah Gardens, North Miami and South Miami in regionals on the way to qualifying for state.
Teams to watch: Miramar, Pines Charter
Other teams in the district: Flanagan, West Broward, Everglades
Predicted district champion: Pines Charter
– Miramar went 27-4 in making the state tournament a season ago. The Patriots lost to Wellington, 75-60, in the state semis. But Miramar lost three very good seniors and will be talented, but mighty young besides Brent Davis. Pines Charter may be the team here because of that youth. Tough district to call.
Written by Pat Lammer
Class 9A-District 14
2017-18 winner: North Miami took out Hialeah Gardens, 66-55, in the district final. The Pioneers defeated Pembroke Pines Charter in the regionals but then fell to Miramar, 68-64.
Teams to watch: North Miami, Dr. Krop, Miami Beach, American
Other teams in the district: Miami High, Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens
Predicted district champion: North Miami
– Senior Richard Charles (6-5) and junior Carlos Hart (6-5) provide North Miami with an impressive one-two punch. The Pioneers won 22 games a season ago. The league has some impressive underclassmen, including Dashaun Joseph (Dr. Krop); Craig Starks (Miami Beach); and Justin Neely (Miami High).
Written by Pat Lammer
Class 9A-District 15
2017-18 winner: South Miami won the district crown. The Cobras defeated Homestead and Southwest in the regionals before being eliminated by Miramar, 54-48, in a contest to go to state.
Teams to watch: South Miami, Coral Gables, Southwest
Other teams in the district: Columbus, Ferguson, Braddock, Coral Park
Predicted district champion: South Miami
– Barry University guard signee Toru Dean, of South Miami, was first-team All-State as a junior. Dean, Lee Flenor (Stetson offer) and 2020 Iann Segura will lead the Cobras. Coral Gables has a talented senior trio in Nathaniel Walker (5-11), Jorge Becerril (5-9) and Aaron Hall (6-5).
Written by Pat Lammer
Class 9A-District 16
2017-18 winner: Miami Southridge defeated Homestead in the district final. Southridge then fell to Southwest and Homestead lost to South Miami.
Teams to watch: Miami Palmetto, Miami Killian, Homestead
Other teams in the district: Southridge, Coral Reef, Varela, South Dade
Predicted district champion: Miami Palmetto
– Palmetto will be a force behind seniors Josmel Martinez (6-6) and Alex Rodriguez (6-5), and juniors Kentron Poitier (6-4) and Martin Mercedes (5-10). Homestead returns nine seniors. Relies on talented guards Grevaughn Goodman, Mi’Dash Benoit and Alejandro Caula, and big Terrill Cobbs (6-6). Killian’s Nicolas Louis-Jacques is a difference-maker.
Written by Pat Lammer
Predicted state champion
-Osceola, South Miami and Seminole are all dangerous teams to watch in 9A, but Oak Ridge is simply too deep and too athletic still with C.J. Walker, Niven Glover, Emmanuel Adedoyin, Zavien Smith and Jalen Smith. This is a different group but it is still ready for the spotlight with all the pieces in place. — Jake Perper
-Steven Reece has things cooking at Orlando Oak Ridge. Oak Ridge added a tremendous transfer in C.J. Walker (Oregon) from Orlando Christian Prep. Look for Oak Ridge to repeat. — Pat Lammer
Final Score (9A state final):
Oak Ridge 71, Wellington 60
The Pioneers win their first ever state title.
????top scorers @ORHSHOOPSQUAD
Robin Perry 32
Emmitt Williams 8@WellyHSBBall
Nico Toledo 19
Linton Brown 17 pic.twitter.com/0VZipLc2ap— ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) March 11, 2018
Photo credit: Sun Sentinel