The Holiday tournaments have concluded and we’re into the Martin Luther King Jr tournaments, which means it’s the half way point of the 2020-2021 regular season. We’ve learned a lot since the beginning of the season, but will learn even more down the stretch and during the conference tournaments. Check out our midseason rankings as teams look to finish strong.
1 Providence (14-2) (Preseason Ranking #6) – Riding a 7 game winning streak, Providence is one of the hottest teams in the area. With wins over Episcopal and Impact locally, J. Lee Repass and the Stallions have impact wins over good teams. They’ve also put together victories over very good teams throughout the state as well.
2 Andrew Jackson (8-3) (Preseason Ranking #1) – The Tigers are undefeated locally and there’s a reason for that. This team is physical, deep and confident especially after a win during the holidays over Lee. They also have wins over NFEI and Paxon. After a 3 game losing streak over Edgewater, Dr Phillips and Olympia, they got back on the winning track versus Potter’s House.
3 Ponte Vedra (14-1) (Preseason Unranked) – The best boys basketball record locally is held by the Sharks of Ponte Vedra. With only one loss, Ponte Vedra has wins over Bolles, Fletcher, and Nease. They’ll have their toughest test of the season this week against Providence.
4 Bishop Snyder (10-3) (Preseason Rank #9) – One of the most athletic teams in the area has shown why good teams don’t want to play them. NFEI, Impact and Episcopal have all fallen to the Cardinals. Their toughest local test comes this week against Jackson.
5 Lee (6-5) (Preseason Ranking # 4) – The Generals are navigating a tough schedule having lost 5 games in a row heading into the MLK tournament this weekend. Still, wins over Bolles, Episcopal, and Bishop Snyder are reasons why LSU commit Alex Fudge and company are in the top 5.
6 North Florida Educational Institute NFEI (6-8) (Preseason Ranking # 10) – The Eagles have scheduled some of the toughest teams in the state. They’ve still managed wins over Paxon and Westside, two very tough teams. Providence and Lee are still up on the schedule.
7 Paxon (10-3) (Preseason Unranked) – No Isaiah Adams, no problem as Paxon continues to show that they are still a team to be reckoned with in 2020-2021. Jakobe Williams (SR), Quinnton Jackson (SR), and Bruce Gee III (JR) all average double digits for the Golden Eagles.
8 Episcopal (11-3) (Preseason Unranked) – Episcopal comes to the Top 10 after wins over Bolles, West Nassau and Fletcher. Their losses were all to Top 5 teams in Lee, Providence and Bishop Snyder. They’ll face Paxon in another high flying test this week.
9 Bolles (9-3) (Preseason Rankings #5) – The Bulldog’s Bobby Crouch is on fire averaging 20 points per game. Sam Knauff, Ben McGraw, and Richie Rosenblum all average double digits as well for Bolles. They need a signature win over a Top 10 opponent to move up in the rankings.
10 First Coast (6-2) (Preseason Unranked) – Rounding out the Top 10 are the Buccaneers. A signature win over Lee shows exactly what they’re potential can be. However, close losses to Nease and Fletcher are reminders that they aren’t quite there yet. De’Marucs Allen leads them averaging 16.8 ppg.
Outside Looking In: Terry Parker (4-0), Columbia (6-3), Fletcher (7-6), Fleming Island (7-6), Orange Park (8-4).
Falling out of Preseason Top 10: Impact Christian Academy (6-8), Bishop Kenny (5-3), University Christian (5-5)
