St. Augustine HS – New Orleans, Louisiana
The “Purple Knights” make their 2nd appearance in the Kingdom and brings a ton of basketball tradition to Ocala. Coach Clifford Barthe has compiled an overall 103-40 record in a 5 year span returning 3 starters off a 31-5 team. Added depth will come from a 29-6 JV club and a 20-3 Frosh team. Led by the scoring duo of a pair of juniors in 6’4” Sydie London (12.3ppg) and Javan Felix (9.3ppg). Inside play will be strong with 6’7” Craig Victor and 6’6” Jr. Dieon Taylor.
Roanoke Catholic HS – Roanoke, Virginia
The Celtics are coached by Bill Hodges of Indiana State basketball fame when he took the Sycamores & Larry Bird to the championship game of the NCAA in the huge televised matchup of Bird vs Magic Johnson. Hodges, in his 1st year at the helm has an overall coaching record of 263-181. The Celts will start 4 underclassmen with lone Senior in 6’2” Wayne Bradford. A pair of junior insiders include 6’10” Andre Washington and 6’8” Matt Moats and 6’5” frosh newcomer in Bennett Holley.
Lasalle HS – Cincinnati, Ohio
The 2006 Kingdom champion Lancers are back under Coach Dan Fleming who has completed 21 years at the helm compiling a nifty 302-179 record. The Lancers return all 5 starters off a 22-3 record that went deep into the state playoffs. Loaded with experience led by league Player of the Year in 6’3” Sr. Brandon Nell (16ppg-6 rebounds) and 1st team all city 6’3” Sr. Ryan Fleming (11ppg – 6 rebounds). A balanced scoring attack will come from 6’1” Sr. Matt Woeste (7ppg-5 rebounds), 6’1” Sr. Trey Casey (5ppg), and 5’10” Jr. Josh Lemons (7.3ppg).
Depth and 3 point shooting are a plus for this talented buckeye state quintet. This will be the Lancers 6th appearance in the Kingdom.
William T. Dwyer HS – Palm Beach Gardens
The “Panthers” are rated as one of the top 3 teams in the sunshine state loaded with size and talent. Coach Fred Ross has led this program compiling a 442-120 record in 19 years and has an overall 510-279 record overall for 23 years of coaching. The Panthers have a 1-2 punch in a pair of multi-talented seniors in 6’4” Jacoby Brissett (15ppg-7.5 rebounds) and Palm Beach county “Player of the year” honors and teammate 6’6” Greg Louis (10ppg-6 rebounds). 6’2” senior guard Terrell Harris (11ppg) will provide leadership while vastly improved 6’9” Jr. Joell James will be a force in the paint. Look for Dwyer to be in the hunt for a 5A state title in March.
Lakewood HS – St. Petersburg
The Spartans will possess an abundance of quickness and athleticism under Pinellas County’s winningest coach in Danny Wright with a _______record in 34 years of coaching. The Spartans return 9 players off last years team that advanced to the regional finals. This balanced scoring team will be led by 5’10” Sr. Mike Singletary (9ppg-7 assists), 6’4” Jr. Roux Frezell (5ppg-5 rebounds), and 6’4” Jr. post Brooks Denzel (5ppg-6 rebounds).
Wharton HS – Tampa
The wildcats are 1 of 4 entries from the Tampa bay area in the 2010 event. Coach tommy Tonelli brings a wealth of experience after serving as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida. His return to the wildcats spelled success going 29-2 winning 25 straight games in a row at one point during the season. A pair of talented seniors lead the way in 6’4” Xavier Owens (17ppg-9 rebounds) and 6’5” team mate AJ Ashtoth (17ppg). 6’5” Sr. Drake Williams returns to the lineup after being injured the whole season last year. 5’8” Sr. transfer Da-Vonte from Brandon will join 2 newcomers to the varsity in 6’3” Soph Sir-Patrick Reynolds and 6’5” Frosh Chase Litton. The Wildcats lost 5’8” Soph CJ McGill for the season with a torn ACL injury as he was a starting point guard and will be hard to replace.
Miami Senior – Miami
The “Stingarees” are back for their 5th Kingdom appearance representing Dade County. Marcus Carreno enters his 11th year at the helm of “The High” compiling a ______ record.
6’ Sr. Ladislao Martinez (13ppg – 6 assists) is one of the top guards in dade while 6’8” Soph Rashad Thompkins is an up and coming post player. 6’4” Jr. Willie walker (12.6ppg – 8 rebounds) adds offensive punch. The Stings rely on a strong defense
University HS – Fort Lauderdale
The Suns are one of the top 3A schools in South Florida. Coach Andre Torres enters his 4th season with an overall 61-24 record. His 2009-10 quintet finished 24-7 advancing to the regional finals. This successful core group of starters has a balanced scoring attack led by 6’3” Sr. Damien Dwaine (16ppg-10 rebounds) who committed to Barry University, and a pair of 5’11” junior brothers in Kyle and Kevin Phanord who combine for a 26 ppg average. 6’5” Soph transfer Maquedius Bain from Miami Pace fits in well for the inside attack.
North Marion HS – Citra
The Colts are a local fixture in the Kingdom. Coach David Waters enters his 5th year bringing his most talented team to battle some of the top teams. The Colts have a balanced scoring attack that is underclassmen orientated. The inside – outside tandem of 5’7” Jr. Travis Fletcher (14ppg) and 6’3” Jr. center Latrail Patterson (12ppg-6 rebounds) will pave the way while 6’3” Jr. Sean Price (10ppg-8 rebounds) and 6’1” Sr. Jeremy Singleton (10ppg) provide offensive fire power. 5’7” Jr. Markell Hawkins (7ppg) is a solid all around guard. The Colts finished 10-13 last season and return all 5 starters.
Williston HS
The Red Devils provided a magical year for their fans last season by racing to a 26-6 record and a 3A state final 4 appearance in Lakeland. Coach steve Faulkner enters his 2nd year at the helm and would to make another state tourney trip. The devils have a solid inside game with 6’6” Sr. James Hunt (5ppg) and 6’5” Soph Tre Wilson (5ppg) patrolling the paint area. Balance scoring and experience comes from the perimeter in a trio of seniors in 6’1” Jacques Edwards plus two 5’7” jitterbugs in Paul King (6.5ppg) and James Monroe (7.5ppg). This team has experience and quickness and are known for their pressing and fastbreak style of play.
Berkeley Prep – Tampa
Coach Bobby Reinhart hopes to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Bob Sr. who led Decatur, Georgia to the 1982 Kingdom title and Georgia state title. He came close in 2007 losing in overtime to McEachern, Georgia on a45’ buzzer beater shot by trae Golden who now plays for the University of Tennessee.. The bucs were 18-11 last season and have added some depth from a 12-1 JV team. The Bucs rely on a balanced scoring attack and an efficient offense.
Leading the way is 6’2” Sr Josh Williams (17ppg) while 6’3” Frosh Justin Gray (12ppg) and 6’2” Jr. Reggie Barnes (10ppg) blend into the offensive mix. Inside play will come from 6’4” Pierce Hunt (10ppg) and 6’6” Jr. Kenny Barrett. Hoefully 6’1” Jr. Nelson Agholar returns from an previous injury.
Evans HS – Orlando
The Trojans make their 1st appearance in the kingdom from the Orlando Metro area. Boasting one of the top Sophomores in the nation in 6’6” Drekalo “Dre” Clayton (16ppg-9 rebounds) was an impact player his 1st year on campus. Team mate 6’3” Jr. Mike McCode (9ppg) will help out. Coach Matt O’Callahan enters his 2nd season after posting a respectable 12-12 record. 3 transfers bolster the starting lineup in 6’7” Soph Malik Thompson from West Orange, 6’2” Jr. Terrance Litton from Boone, and 5’9” Sr. Jordan hawthorn from Rock Island HS in Illinois. 6’9” Sr. Marc Toussaint adds to the post play presence.
Tampa Prep
The Terrapins are coming off a 2A state runner-up appearance and return the bulk of that 29-3 quintet. Coach Joe Fenlon is a Tampa Bay icon entering his 27th year compiling a 564-248 record during that span. A trio of underclassmen provide the bulk of the offensive firepower led by a pair of juniors in 6’3”. Devontae Morgan (21ppg-7 rebounds) and 6’6’ Quincy Mitchell (6ppg-10 rebounds) while 6’1” Soph Josh Heath (10ppg-7 assists) who is the son of University of South Florida head coach Stan Heath.
Leesburg HS
The “Yellow Jackets” return to the Kingdom making the 6th appearance and an impressive runnerup finish in 2001. Marcel Thomas takes over the head coaching reigns in this tradition rich cage program. The Jackets will have a balanced scoring attack led by 6’2” Sr. Teron Wallace and 6’2” soph sensation Undra Mitchum. 6’3” Jr. Joe Toolie will provide on the court leadership while the inside play will be handled by 6’6” Sr. Robert Jones & 6’5” Jr. D’Maury Jones. 6’5” frosh Troy Willis will come off the bench to add firepower support.
P.K. Yonge – Gainesville
The “ Blue Wave” are making their 3rd appearance in the Kingdom. The wave are led by the 1-2 scoring punch of a pair of seniors in 6’1” Carl Brown and 5’11” Devin Wilson. Another pair of seniors will bring size to the front line in 6’7” Ron Fox and 6’6” Omali Tyson. Coach Carlos Villabos has plenty of experience to have the “Wave” back in the 2A state playoff hunt.
Vanguard – Ocala
The host Knights always love the home court advantage in the prestigious Kingdom. 2nd year head coach Phillip Small returns 3 starters off a 13-12 quintet led by the senior duo of 5’11” Brandon Farmer (16ppg) and member of the VHS 1000 point club and his inside team mate in 6’3” Marcus Hagins (12 ppg – 10 rebounds. The 3rd returning starter is 6’ Tikeem Platt (6ppg) while 6’3” Soph Raheem Freeman can play both inside and outside. The Knights are small but athletic.
