Class 6A Season Preview (Part 1)
Preseason classics are near and the FHSAA regular season officially begins on November 25. We will bring you previews on all seven classes in the state of Florida and the independent conferences. ICYMI: SIAA Preview Class 1A Preview Class 2A…
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Continue ReadingPreseason classics are near and the FHSAA regular season officially begins on November 25.
We will bring you previews on all seven classes in the state of Florida and the independent conferences.
ICYMI:
Class 2A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2)
Class 3A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2)
Class 4A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2)
Class 5A Preview: (Part 1), (Part 2)
We arrive on Class 6A and its 16 districts, here with Part 1. Stranahan captured its first state title ever this past March with a 63-54 win over Lakewood.
2018-19 state champion: Stranahan
2018-19 runner-up: Lakewood
Part 1
Class 6A-District 1
2018-19 winner: Mosley beat Bay to capture 6A-1. Now five teams from the panhandle move into this district. Crestview came in from 7A-2 after winning the 7A state title over Dillard. Also joining the revamped 6A-1 is Milton and Pace from 7A-1 and Navarre, Niceville and Tate from 8A-1.
Teams to watch: Crestview, Tate, Milton, Niceville
Other teams in the district: Pace, Navarre
Predicted district champion: Tate
—This is an interesting district with Crestview graduating its top five scorers including D’Marcus Purcell (Samford freshman), the state champion Bulldogs return 2020 6’4″ forward Mason Cooper. Milton has 2020 6’3″ guard Jared Barbour back while Tate features 2020 6′ guard Love Bettis (20.6 PPG last season). Niceville earned a nice pickup in Choctaw transfer, 2020 6’7″ forward Max Keebaugh who pairs with 2020 6’1″ guard Jai May and 2020 6’8″ forward Roland Mathews. With Bettis as a pure scorer, Tate is my pick for this district.
Class 6A-District 2
2018-19 winner: Rickards took down Godby in the 6A-3 district final this past season. Five new programs are in 6A-2. Lincoln, Leon and Chiles moved from 8A-2, Columbia and Gainesville from 7A-4 and Buchholz from 8A-4.
Teams to watch: Lincoln, Gainesville, Columbia
Other teams in the district: Buchholz, Chiles, Leon
Predicted district champion: Lincoln
—Lincoln, Columbia and Gainesville all have a chance to win this district. Lincoln has its top five scorers back including 2020 5’11” guard Zae Wiggins (14.0 PPG), 2021 6’2″ guard David Ganious, 2021 5’9″ guard Rajauhn Sancho, 2021 6’5″ forward Terence Card and 2020 6’5″ forward Eddie Yon. 2020 6’1″ guard Willie Williams is the top piece back for Gainesville while Columbia has 2020 guard duo Jordan Smith and Darrien Jones at the forefront.
Class 6A-District 3
2018-19 winner: Paxon beat Bishop Kenny in the 6A-3 district final. First Coast, Atlantic Coast and Fletcher join the new look 6A-3 from 8A-3 while Englewood comes in from 7A-3 and Creekside and Fleming Island from 8A-4.
Teams to watch: First Coast, Fleming Island, Englewood
Other teams in the district: Fletcher, Atlantic Coast, Creekside
Predicted district champion: First Coast
—With 2020 6’2″ guard Naseem Khaalid, 2020 6’6″ forward Kevin Finley and 2020 6’1″ guard Tyree Saunders the top pieces, First Coast should compete for this 6A-3 district. Fleming Island will have a say after appearing in the 8A state semifinals a season ago. 2020 6’1″ guard Sebastian Astor, 2020 6’3″ forward Jordan Miles and 2020 6’4″ forward Aaron Brown will all help the cause for the Golden Eagles.
Class 6A-District 4
2018-19 winner: Westside beat Orange Park in the 6A-4 district championship. Mainland and New Smyrna Beach come in from 7A-5, Wekiva from 9A-3, Forest from 7A-4, South Lake from 7A-6 and Winter Springs from 9A-2.
Teams to watch: Mainland, Forest
Other teams in the district: New Smyrna Beach, Wekiva, South Lake, Winter Springs
Predicted district champion: Mainland
—Mainland has been a contender year after year and with 2020 5’11” guard Jordan Sears (Gardner Webb commit), 2020 6′ guard Kenny Weatherspoon, 2020 5’11” guard Taron Keith, 2020 6’10” forward Shayne Brennen and 2021 6’6″ forward Ty’Rion Denson, the Buccaneers have loads of talent. Forest will contend with 2020 6’4″ guard Jake Charske, brothers 6’5″ forward Jeremiah Russell and 6’6″ forward Elijah Russell and 2022 6’7″ forward Brenen Lorient in place.
Class 6A-District 5
2018-19 winner: Palatka beat Clay in the 6A-5 district final. Now six new teams move in with Melbourne, St. Cloud, Harmony and Viera from 8A-6, East River from 8A-5 and Sebastian River from 7A-13.
Teams to watch: Melbourne, Viera, Harmony
Other teams in the district: Sebastian River, St. Cloud, East River
Predicted district champion: Melbourne
––The Bulldogs lost to Windermere 77-73 in the 8A region semifinals and bring enough back to make a run this season. Melbourne has five pieces that are all dynamic in 2020 6’6″ forward Reggie Hill, 2021 6’5″ forward Lorenzo Harrison, 2020 6’3″ guard Cameron Wickline, 2020 6’1″ guard Travis Maddox and 2020 6′ guard Joshua Sims.
Class 6A-District 6
2018-19 winner: Eastside beat Santa Fe in the 6A-6 district final. Bartow and Winter Haven slide in from 8A-7, Poinciana from 6A-13, Liberty from 8A-6 and Edgewater and Lake Howell from 8A-5
Teams to watch: Edgewater, Bartow, Poinciana, Lake Howell, Winter Haven
Other teams in the district: Liberty
Predicted district champion: Edgewater
—The five teams to watch all have a chance. Edgewater is my top pick since the Eagles have the best overall player and leader in 2020 6’5″ guard Michael Eads (Appalachian State commit). 2020 6’6″ forward Lloyd Matthew, 2020 6’5″ forward Navuan Peterson and 2020 6’6″ forward Dequarious Boles are good athletes. Lake Howell has 2020 guard duo Anthony Chavis and Matthew Sutton. 2020 6’3″ forward Joshua Simons is the heart and soul for Bartow as 2021 6’1″ guard Walter Clayton transferred in from Lake Wales. As for Poinciana, the Eagles have a ton of size with 2021 6’6″ forward Jahsean Corbett, 2022 6’7″ forward Isaiah Bromell-Hernandez and 2020 6’7″ forward Luis Pena.
Class 6A-District 7
2018-19 winner: Crystal River beat Nature Coast in the 6A-7 district championship. Lakeland and Kathleen from 8A-7, Strawberry Crest and Plant City from 8A-9, Armwood from 7A-7 and George Jenkins from 9A-7.
Teams to watch: Plant City, Kathleen, Lakeland, George Jenkins
Other teams in the district: Armwood, Strawberry Crest
Predicted district champion: Kathleen
—This is a very competitive district but I see Kathleen taking the crown with 2020 6’3″ guard Horace Tucker, 2021 6’3″ guard Marcellus Thomas, 2020 6’2″ forward Javont Williams and 2020 6’6″ forward Orien Adams (transfer from Nature Coast).
Class 6A-District 8
2018-19 winner: Anclote beat Zephyrhills 68-49 in the district title game. Now seven Tampa area teams are in 6A-8 with Tampa Bay Tech, Bloomingdale and East Bay coming in from 8A-9, Hillsborough, King and Brandon from 7A-7 and Leto from 8A-8.
Teams to watch: Hillsborough, Tampa Bay Tech
Other teams in the district: Bloomingdale, East Bay, King, Leto, Brandon
Predicted district champion: Hillsborough
—Hillsborough and Tampa Bay Tech both always have athletes and this district could go either way. I’m taking Hillsborough with 2020 6’3″ guard Tyriq James, 2020 6’5″ Cantia Rahming and 2021 5’11” guard Jalen Harris running the show. Tampa Bay Tech won’t go down easily with 2021 6′ guard Ronnie Johnson, 2021 6’4″ forward Henry Hughes, 2021 6’2″ guard Zion Green and 2020 6′ guard Ashtin Dore.
Final Score (6A State Final):
Stranahan 63
Lakewood 54The Mighty Dragons win their first ever state title.
????leaders @StranahanBasket
Brian Dugazon 14
Dave Herard 13
Inady Legiste 12
Chayse Culpepper 10@LakewoodBoys
Jalen White 16
Jamille Reynolds 10 pic.twitter.com/LWvrsZoGU6— ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) March 8, 2019