2009-10 boys basketball preview

TEAMS TO WATCH

Blake: The Yellow Jackets have a solid 1-2 punch with high-scoring junior guard Andre Smith and 6-foot-7 senior center Michael McFarland.

Newsome: The Wolves went 20-6 last season, and Samal Shepherd, Trent Mackey and Jake Hodges are formidable.

Sickles: One of the area's best teams last season, the Gryphons haven't missed the playoffs since 2004 and are led by Division I recruit and senior point guard Jordan Davis.

Tampa Prep: The Terrapins, who reached the state semifinals last season, could have four players averaging double figures with Jamal Cherry, Jay Bowie and standout sophomores Devontae Morgan and Quinci Mitchell.

Wharton: Tommy Tonelli, who resigned as coach in 2007, returns after two years working as USF's men's basketball director of operations. The Wildcats went 14-14 last season, but return top players senior guard Damian Dixon, junior guard AJ Astroth and junior forward Xavier Owens.

DISTRICT BREAKDOWN

CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 8

TEAMS: Alonso, Bloomingdale, Brandon, Plant, Wharton

OUTLOOK: Wharton returns three key starters from last season's 14-14 team - senior Damian Dixon, junior guard A.J. Astroth, who led the team in scoring as a sophomore, and junior forward Xavier Owens. Plant sophomore guard Michael Frazier, ranked by ESPN as one of the best sophomores in Florida, returns to lead Plant, which is coming off a 15-11 season.

TRIBUNE PICK, DISTRICT CHAMP: Wharton

RUNNER-UP: Plant

CLASS 5A- 8

TEAMS: Armwood, Durant, East Bay, Newsome, Plant City, Riverview, Tampa Bay Tech

OUTLOOK: Newsome lost one starter from last season's playoff team and return high-scoring forward Samal Shepherd. Other standout players in this district include Armwood's Demetrius Jackson, Durant's Andre Nation and Jeffrey Thomas, and TBT's LeCarlton Nelson.

TRIBUNE PICK: Newsome

RUNNER-UP: Durant

CLASS 5A-9

TEAMS: Chamberlain, Freedom, Gaither, Hillsborough, King, Leto, Sickles

OUTLOOK: Sickles has won four consecutive district titles and will be led by college recruit and senior point guard Jordan Davis and standout junior Rashawn Rembert. King, which reached the 5A state semifinals last season, returns three starters and should compete with Sickles for the district title.

TRIBUNE PICK: Sickles

RUNNER-UP: King

CLASS 4A-9

TEAMS: Blake, Jefferson, Jesuit, Lennard, Middleton, Robinson, Spoto, Steinbrenner, Strawberry Crest

OUTLOOK: Blake emerged as one of the top teams in the county last season on the play of then-sophomore Andre Smith. Smith will team with 6-7 forward Michael McFarland in hopes of winning a district title. Jesuit's Austin Schonbrun returns after leading the Tigers with 13.8 points last season.

TRIBUNE PICK: Blake

RUNNER-UP: Jesuit

CLASS 3A-10

TEAMS: Berkeley Prep, Clearwater Central Catholic, St. Petersburg Catholic, Tampa Catholic

OUTLOOK: Berkeley Prep saw its top three scorers from last season graduate, but it will rebuild with talented Nelson Agholor. Despite a losing record, Tampa Catholic reached the playoffs last season as district runner-up.

TRIBUNE PICK: Berkeley Prep

RUNNER-UP: Tampa Catholic

CLASS 2A-10

TEAMS: Bishop McLaughlin, Calvary Christian, Indian Rocks Christian, Tampa Prep

OUTLOOK: All-state selections and seniors Jay Bowie and Jamal Cherry led Tampa Prep to the state semifinals last season, and with rising sophomore Devontae Morgan ranked one of the best of his class in the nation, the Terrapins should reach the state tournament again.

TRIBUNE PICK: Tampa Prep

RUNNER-UP: Indian Rocks Christian

CLASS 1A-8

TEAMS: Bayshore Christian, Bradenton Christian, Citrus Park Christian, Hernando Christian, Seffner Christian

OUTLOOK: The No. 1 and 2 scorers in the county last season are in this district. Fred Lewis, a 6-5 senior forward, led Bayshore Christian with 22.1 points per game, while 6-3 senior guard Devin Paularinne led Seffner Christian to a district title with 21.4 points per game.

TRIBUNE PICK: Seffner Christian

RUNNER-UP: Bayshore Christian

CLASS 1A-9

TEAMS: Academy at the Lakes, Berean Academy, Cambridge, Canterbury, Carrollwood Day, Keswick Christian, Lakeside Christian, Tampa Bay Christian

OUTLOOK: Cambridge made its first playoff appearance since 2004 last year, led by Cameron Brown's 13.5 points per game. Brown returns for his junior season in hopes of leading the Lancers back to the playoffs.

TRIBUNE PICK: Cambridge

RUNNER-UP: Canterbury

PLAYERS TO WATCH

THE VISIONARY

JORDAN DAVIS

Sickles, 5-11, Sr., point guard

Ranked by several recruiting sites as one of the best point guards in Florida, Davis led Hillsborough County in assists last season with 7.4 per game.

THE ANKLE BREAKER

ANDRE SMITH

Blake, 5-8, Jr., point guard

This combo guard has moves galore and led the Yellow Jackets with 17.4 points and 3.9 assists per game as a sophomore.

SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE

JAMAL CHERRY

Tampa Prep, 6-4, Sr., guard

Cherry is one of the more fundamentally sound players in the county, and he helped guide Prep to the state semis last season with 14.4 points per game.

THIRSTY FOR MORE

SAMAL SHEPHERD

Newsome, 6-5, Sr., forward

Shepherd led Newsome to its first playoff berth last season. He likes to create points every time he touches the ball, as shown by the 19.5 he averaged last season.

THE FULL REPERTOIRE

JAY BOWIE

Tampa Prep, 6-5, Sr., power forward

Bowie, who is simply relentless on the court, led Tampa Prep in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocked shots and steals en route to the state final four last season.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Fred Lewis, Bayshore Chr.; Devin Paularinne, Seffner Chr.; Demetrius Jackson, Armwood; Michael Frazier, Plant; Devontae Morgan, Tampa Prep