The preseason Prep Zone Power Poll for boys basketball showed plenty of parity among the top teams.
But three weeks into the season, Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) has shown once again there is no doubt who the No. 1 team in the regional rankings is at this point.
Jackson (6-0) picked up wins over then No. 16T Riverside (Jacksonville) and then-20th ranked University Christian (Jacksonville) and is one of only three undefeated teams in the top ten. The Tigers received all 10 first-place votes this week after the preseason poll first-place votes were split between Jackson, Ponte Vedra and Providence (Jacksonville).
Ponte Vedra moves up to second. The Sharks (7-1) went 5-0 the past two weeks with wins over RV (received votes) Nease (Ponte Vedra), University Christian and Bartram Trail (St. Johns)
Providence remains at No. 3. The Stallions (6-2) picked up wins against RV Eagle’s View (Jacksonville) and Bolles (Jacksonville) as well as then-No. 9 Raines (Jacksonville). Providence lost to Gateway Charter (Fort Myers) and Calvary Christian (Clearwater).
The next unbeaten team in the top 10 is fourth-ranked Ribault (Jacksonville). The Trojans (6-0) are up four spots from the preseason rankings. Ribault defeated Raines, RV Creekside (St. Johns) and then-No. 16 Riverside over the past two weeks.
The Villages round out the top five. The Buffalo (5-1) are up two positions and picked up wins over No. 10 Williston, St. Mary’s Prep (Michigan) and St. Petersburg, with their only loss coming against Tampa Catholic.
Eustis leads off the second five. The Panthers (6-1) defeated South Sumter (Bushnell) and then-RV Mount Dora Christian Academy with their loss coming to Master’s Academy (Oviedo).
Oakleaf (Orange Park) is No. 7, followed by No. 8 Gainesville. Oakleaf (5-1) is up nine spots from the preseason poll while Gainesville (4-1) moves up seven positions.
The biggest mover this week is ninth-ranked Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine). The Toros (7-0) were receiving votes in the preseason rankings but moved all the way up to the top 10 after defeating RV Buchholz (Gainesville) and Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) to stay unbeaten.
Two-time defending state champion Williston falls from No. 2 in the opening poll to 10th this week. The Red Devils (3-3) lost three straight games, but two of them were to ranked teams Gainesville and The Villages with a setback also coming to state-ranked Lakewood (St. Petersburg). Williston did pick up a win against then-No. 11 Leesburg.
The Mainstreet Daily News area team in the second 10 is Santa Fe (Alachua), who moves in this week at No. 20. Buchholz, Newberry, Trenton, Fort White and Columbia (Lake City) are receiving votes.
There are plenty of teams moving into the top 20 this week. Besides Tocoi Creek and Santa Fe, Fleming Island (Orange Park) is up to 15th. Undefeated Mandarin (Jacksonville) moves in at No. 16, and New Smyrna Beach and North Marion (Citra) are also new this week as the two teams are tied for 17th.
Dropping out from the preseason rankings are Mainland (Daytona Beach), Raines, Leesburg, Riverside, Fort White and University Christian.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2024-25 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #2
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current 2024-25 record through 12/10, and total voting points)
Teams in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area are in bold
1. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (3A) (10) (6-0) – 200
2. Ponte Vedra (5A) (7-1) – 179
3. Providence (Jacksonville) (2A)(6-2) – 176
4. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-0) – 172
5. The Villages (3A) (5-1) – 163
6. Eustis (4A) (6-1) – 138
7. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (5-1) – 117
8. Gainesville (5A) (4-1) – 111
9. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (7-0) – 103
10. Williston (Rural) (3-3) – 98
11. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (5-3) – 87
12. Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (1A) (4-2) – 73
13. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (5-1) – 66
14. Hilliard (Rural) (1-0) – 57
15. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (5-1) – 48
16. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6A) (6-0) – 45
17T. New Smyrna Beach (5A) (6-0) – 29
17T. North Marion (Citra) (4A) (4-1) – 29
19. Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (3-2) – 23
20. Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (5-1) – 21
Also receiving votes: Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6A) (2-5) – 19; Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (3-1) – 16; Newberry (3A) (1-0) – 16; Leesburg (5A) (2-3) – 15; Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (2-4) – 15; Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (2A) (4-2) – 13; Eagle’s View (Jacksonville) (1A) (5-2) – 13; Trenton (Rural) (4-1) – 11; Atlantic (Port Orange) (4A) (4-1) – 9; Fort White (Rural) (1-1) – 5; Columbia (Lake City) (5A) (2-4) – 4; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (3-3) – 3.
