Storylines from 2023 FHSAA Boys Basketball state finals

LAKELAND — We now can reflect on a successful high school season with the confetti cleared from the RP Funding Center floor. Seven new champions were crowned, and a few legacies were stamped last month.

The underclassmen staked their claim as one of the most talented groups in the state. Columbus took 7A’s first back-to-back since Blanche Ely’s second repeat in 2015 and 2016.

Dwyer capped off its stellar season by giving their coach a milestone fourth championship. Miami shows why it's the best metro area for basketball in the state.

We discuss all of this and more as we break down all the action from Lakeland. Strap in. We’re going down memory lane one more time, and it has a lot of important stops along the way.

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Miami goes undefeated

Miami is a gauntlet of basketball talent. Every high school class in Florida’s most talented metro area has major college prospects and state title intentions.

They showed it in Lakeland, going 12-0 in the Final Four semifinals and finals. That’s six state championships for one city.

It’s the first time in the modern era that one area has cleaned shop like this. A metro last accomplished this feat in 1946 when Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Pompano Beach swept the podium. Again all Miami area schools.

Miami teams went 6-0 against Orlando, 3-0 against Tampa, and 3-0 against Jacksonville teams. They captured 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A state championships.

Just getting to state is a battle. Talented teams such as Westminster Academy and Norland didn’t make it out of regionals. Countless other teams sharpened Miami’s six state champions along the way.

Youth leads the way

Nationally, the 2023 recruiting class isn’t receiving high marks. Statewide we have a fair share of studs, but underclassmen pilot some of the state’s best teams.

Columbus, 7A state champions, started three sophomores. Its finals opponent, Winter Haven, started three juniors. Riviera Prep started two sophomores, a freshman and an eighth-grader.

Do you see a theme here? The strength of the state is in our younger players. What makes things sweeter is that the best of our top prospects are young.

This isn’t a knock on the 2023 class because it had plenty of high-level players, who played significant roles in their team’s success. But these younger classes have demigods.

The Boozers (brothers Cameron and Cayden) are considered two of the best players in the national Class of 2025. Dante Allen has high major offers up to his neck, and more will come for the humble young star. Windermere Prep and The Villages have freshmen trios that could drive trips to Lakeland for the next three years.

The average age for title teams is 16 - or a high school junior. The average experience level was a sophomore. If you were worried about the future of basketball in Florida, it wouldn’t be the sophomore and freshman classes that come to mind.

I smell a dynasty

Columbus came to Lakeland with one thing on its mind - a second state championship. The team drove to the arena with back-to-back 2023 champion signs.

Yet it wasn’t an overzealous move for the nationally ranked team. After a season full of top 25 matchups in the FHSAA playoffs, the Explorers were more battle-tested than any team leading to the final. They beat opponents by an average of 30 points.

They escaped the the Winter Haven Blue Devils’ clutches with a game-sealing steal and assist from Malik Abdullahi to senior guard Gerryn Bes on a fast break for a layup. It was the first time Columbus won by single digits since beating Bronny James and Sierra Canyon on January 16th in a nationally televised game.

For the Explorers, that’s two state titles in two years. I and other high school basketball fans around the state are ready to say we’re looking at the north of a dynasty.

Columbus head coach Andrew Moran wants to take their success one game at a time. His thinking makes sense. Not too often do we see teams with this much talent stick together for more than a few seasons.

Its young core has already put together a storybook resume. Cameron Boozer has outplayed a McDonald’s All-American and SEC big man on the state’s biggest stage. Cayden Boozer continues to produce against teams with backcourts with Division 1 players and looks unfazed. We’ve already sung Abdullahi’s praises, but this isn’t his first time making a big play in the state final.

“We’re going to enjoy right now, but we’ll see about that later,” Moran said. “Right now, we just want to enjoy tonight’s victory and celebrate with each other.”

In the last 10 years, there have been three back-to-back champions. With their big three coming back, a ton of role players that can fill gaps, and the options of transfers adding to their riches, we could be looking at the first three-peat since Miami Norland won four consecutive titles from 2012-15.

For Cameron Boozer, it’s the second time he’s played a top 100 senior at his position and outplayed him. He has emerged as the best prospect regardless of class this season. He’s the first sophomore to win Gatorade National Player of the Year since Eastern Michigan star Emoni Bates held the trophy in 2020.

So much history was made

Each state title run is different every year. What makes the 2023 finals different is the amount of history made over four days.

SLAM Tampa and Franklin County made their first Final Four in school history. It was SLAM’s inaugural season with the FHSAA.

Mater Lakes Academy and Riviera Prep won their first FHSAA titles. Mater Lakes was founded in 2006, and Riviera Prep in 1950. 2023 will go down as the year of firsts for several FHSAA teams.

The Villages made its first final’s appearance in school history after making the Final Four in 2019 and 2017. Alabama commit Sam Walters piloted the Buffalo, leaving behind a trio of freshmen with their minds set on overcoming the hump.

Dwyer captured its fourth state title in school history. Head coach Fred Ross was at the helm for each. He’s one of the longest-tenured basketball coaches and one of seven coaches to win four or more state titles.

“I think back to the first principal we had, Doug Long; he brought me in and told me I was in the right place,” Ross said. “It would work out for me. Just stay with it. We’ve been blessed to have really talented players that believe in the system.”

Riviera Prep held Windermere Prep to 27 points to make the finals. It was the lowest-scoring game in the state final since 1950.

“We prided ourselves on defense all year,” Riviera head coach Anthony Shabazz said after the shock wore off. “Out of the 33 games we played this year, we held 27 teams to their season low, so this has been a staple for us all year.”

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Reflecting on Florida boys high school state basketball championships