The good news last year was nine area teams reached the boys basketball regional tournament a year ago.
The bad news was only three won a game and none made it to the regional finals.
Booker High, Braden River High and Riverview High reached the regional semifinals before bowing out.
Sarasota Christian School, Bradenton Christian School, Cardinal Mooney Catholic, Bayshore High, North Port High and Sarasota High all qualified for the regionals but were bounced in the quarterfinal round.
No area team has made it to the Final 4 since 2019, when Lakewood Ranch High reached the Class 8A Championship game before losing to Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, 57-52.
Here are the top area boys basketball players to watch this season:
School: Booker
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Highlights: A varsity player since his freshman season, Behn averaged 6.7 points and grabbed two rebounds per game last season. Behn is electric on offense and a very strong defender. He can hit deep shots or finishing hard at the basket.
School: Parrish Community
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: A transfer from Braden River High, Beloney averaged eight points last year for the Pirates and should have a breakout year with the Bulls this year.
School: Sarasota
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: The 6-foot-4 Boyle, who was a Herald-Tribune All-Area selection last year, shot 45% from the 3-point line and averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds a game.
School: Bayshore
Year: Junior
Position: Forward/Center
Highlights: The 6-2, 210-pound Brace helped as sophomore but is expected to expand his role this season and be a top rebounder and post defender.
School: Lakewood Ranch
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Butler averaged 9.4 points and 4.6 rebounds last year for the Mustangs.
School: Southeast
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard/Forward
Highlights: Byrd was a varsity performer as a freshman. He is a well-rounded guard/forward that can do it all.
School: Sarasota
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: The 5-foot-10 Clark was injured most his junior year, averaging 2.9 points, after transferring from Bradenton Christian School.
School: Out-of-Door Academy
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Coach Alan Hamm: Also a football player, Clark is expected to make an impact on the hardwood this season.
School: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: Colten played with Parrish Community High School junior varsity last season.
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Cuffy moves over from Parrish Community, where he averaged 14.5 points, second on the team. One of the top point guards in the area, he can change speeds and make everyone on the floor better with his passing and basketball IQ. Can Score at all three levels and has great leadership abilities.
School: Manatee
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Fields averaged 14.6 points and had 101 steals and 76 assists last season. Keith is a dynamic guard that can score at all levels. Keith’s best side of his game is on the defensive side of the ball where he averages just over four steals a game.
School: Venice
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: A three-year starter, Fil had a season-high of 25 points against Lakewood Ranch in 2023. Led the team in assists last year with 50 and tied for the team lead in steals with 26.
School: Sarasota Christian School
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Frazzini was named a Herald-Tribune Honorable Mention All-Area selection last season and was the Holiday Classic Tournament MVP. Frazzini averaged 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists while serving as the primary ball handler.
School: North Port
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Highlights: A Port Charlotte High transfer, the 6-foot-4 Fullen averaged 5.3 points per game. Fullen can play inside and outside offensively and defends at a high level.
School: Riverview
Year: Senior
Position: Wing
Highlights: The 6-foot-4 wing, Gamble averaged 4.8 rebounds, second on the team, along with scoring 7.9 points per game. Gamble is a top returning defensive player who can play all five positions on the court. He has been a varsity player for four years and is ready to have a breakout senior season.
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: Another Parrish Community transfer, George averaged 4.4 points and 3 rebounds last year as a freshman. George is explosive off the bounce to the basket and has elite athleticism. Shoots a true jump shot and is a pure shooter and scorer. Can score the ball at all three levels.
School: Parrish Community
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Highlights: A 6-foot guard who is a returner from last year’s 16-9 team, Green averaged six points last season.
School: Manatee
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Guet shot 41% from beyond the arc last season while averaging 7.7 points per game. Jayden is a sharp shooter and has a grade-point average of 4.4.
School: Riverview
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Highlights: The 6-foot-3 guard led the Rams in scoring last season as a sophomore, averaging 12.7 points per game. Hariss is rated as one of the top guards in the state of Florida in the Class of 2026.
School: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Horn led the Falcons in steals (28) and was second in assists (43).
School: Southeast
Year: Freshman
Position: Point guard
Highlights: A newcomer to Southeast High, Coach Travaris Woodie calls Hornes a “natural leader and gritty defender.”
School: Imagine School at North Port
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: Jackson averaged 10.8 points and 3.5 rebounds as a freshman, third on the Sharks. Jackson is very athletic, great finisher at the rim, plays hard at both ends of the floor.
School: Out-of-Door Academy
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Kiritsis has been working all summer and is expected to be a solid contributor to the Thunder this season.
School: Imagine School at North Port
Year: Senior
Position: Guard/Forward
Highlights: Kirkus scored 5.6 points and grabbed 4.2 rebounds per game last year. He is a very physical player, attacking style of play, tough defender and rebounder for his size.
School: Sarasota
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: A Herald-Tribune Honorable Mention All-Area selection last season, the 6-foot-3 Lackaff shot 42% from the 3-point line and averaged 13 points a game.
School: Booker
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Highlights: A varsity player since his freshman year and co-captain last year as a sophomore. Top 3 in all major categories last season and is the leading returning scorer from last year’s district championship team. Lattimore is a tough player on offense and defense.
School: Braden River
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: Long is a 6-foot-2 athletic combo guard that gets downhill and has a really good mid-range game. Long averaged three points and nearly two rebounds per game last year as a freshman. He was selected as the #52 sophomore in Florida by The Hoop Vibe. He is ready to take on more of a leadership role with this team.
School: Sarasota Christian School
Year: Junior
Position: Guard/Forward
Highlights: Milliken has been a Herald-Tribune Honorable Mention All-Area selection the past two seasons along with being named to the Holiday Classic’s All-Tournament team twice. Milliken averaged 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists in his sophomore season. Milliken also has been the starting quarterback for the football team the past two seasons.
School: Bayshore
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: The 5-foot-11 Parhm averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals last season.
School: Palmetto
Class: Senior
Position: Wing
Highlights: The returning dynamic 6-foot-5 wing who does it all on both sides of the floor. Parrimon averaged 14.4 points per game, second on the team a year ago. A four-year varsity player who has been critical to the Tigers’ recent success.
School: North Port
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: As a freshman, Payton averaged 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds. The athletic guard played off the bench as a freshman last season on the senior loaded Bobcats team last year. Will look to have a bigger role this year.
School: Braden River
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: The five-foot-9 Polynice transferred from Southeast High where he started as a freshman. He is a tough point guard that leads, defends, and scores. He should be a solid contributor to the Pirates this year.
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Highlights: A 6-foot-8 forward, Reindel averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds. He runs the floor well and can shoot the three. Has a big upside and can also score in the paint and from mid-range.
School: Palmetto
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Highlights: The 6-foot-2 Roberts was a Herald-Tribune All-Area selection a year ago who averaged 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Extremely skilled player with high IQ who is looking to continue his tremendous impact on the program.
School: Manatee
Year: Senior
Position: Post
Highlights: A transfer from Bayshore High, Romo averaged 8.6 points and 6.4 rebounds. Romo is one of the hardest working post players in the area. He is a high energy player that looks to get rebound and play good defense.
School: Venice
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: A varsity starter as a freshman in 2023-2024, Settles averaged nine points per game as a freshman.
School: Southeast
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Highlights: A transfer from Palmetto High, Smith averaged 3.4 points as a freshman for the Tigers.
School: Manatee
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: A transfer from Braden River High, Spikes averaged 4 points, 5.4 assists per game, and took 54 charges. Spikes, who has a 4.3 GPA, has superior ball handling skills and averages less than two turnovers per game. He is an elite passer with over 70 assists last season. His best skill set is being able to guard the 84 feet against the best guards in the area.
School: Manatee
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Highlights: Steffensen averaged averaged 14.2 points along with 110 rebounds, 78 assists last season. Steffensen is an energetic guard who can shoot the three and score and finish with contact in the paint. Steffensen has a 4.3 GPA.
School: Braden River
Year: Senior
Position: Guard/Forward
Highlights: The 6-foot-3 Womack is the lone returner from last year’s regional semi-finalist team, when he averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game. He is poised to have a huge senior campaign for the Pirates.
School: Sarasota
Year: Junior
Position: Forward/Center
Highlights: The 6-foot-6 Young averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game last year at Lakewood Ranch High.