With the regular season kicked off, Bay Area Hoops and Issa Bucket Productions now we can rank our Bi-Weekly Hillsborough County Top 15 Teams.  With a compiled list of videos and notes of the Top Hillsborough County programs, you’ll find our group by group breakdown of favorites and contenders.

Our Top 15 list is shaping up and the few weeks will give a much better outlook going into the holiday break.

Top 15 Teams

1. Berkeley Prep 

• The Buccaneers have made a few statements in their first four games.  Picking up a solid wins over IMG Academy (Blue), Lakewood Ranch and a huge conference win over Carrollwood Day School.  They should have solid run until they meet up with CDS again on the 17th of December.  Top performances by Chase Bars, Kegan Karnes, Ronnie Williams, CJ Hawkins and Varun Ajjarapu.
  

2. Wharton

• • Coach Tommy Tonelli and his team, grabbed a good win over Plant HS while beating teams by an average of 23.2 ppg.  As they sit at 5-0 overall and 4-0 in their respectful district, look for the Wildcats to increase their win count before the holiday break.  Darin Green, Carr Thiam and Gio Reyes have been the standouts.

3. Alonso

• • The Ravens are another team that are beating teams by a 20 plus difference.  This is our underrated but consistent team in this ranking.  The senior inside due of Kamalii Findlay and Sager Cavalier who have been forces and continue to make the difference for Coach Todd Price, Alonso sits at 5-0 overall and 1-0 in their district.  Their upcoming game schedule will get tough with the next 3 games coming against Newsom, Hillsborough and Riverview-Sarasota.
    

4. Tampa Bay Tech

• So far this team has been playing with a lot of grit.  Coach Adrian Johnson has his team at 4-1 and 2-0 in the district.  Johnson continues to play his aggressive strategy with his 3 guards David Cecil, Jamarcus Robertson and Ashtin Dore.  Gavin Antoine has been the impact player so far because of his dominance in transition and around the rim.  With 6 straight district games ahead, they have a legit chance to control their district. 
  

5. Hillsborough

• • Hillsborough who are sitting 4-1 overall and 1-0 in district play has been getting good minutes from 2019 F Joshua Gl0ster.  Holster is averaging 14 ppg and 11 rpg within this 5 game stretch.  Christian De Leon has been steady, providing the glue to get the best out of 6’8” F James Pursley and 6’5”  F Warren Mclymont.  The match up to watch will be against Alonso December 12th. 

6. Jesuit

• • You got to like what Coach Neal Goldman and the Tigers are doing this season.  As a whole, the Tigers have been competing and winning.  Most notable wins were over Adimarl Farragut and IMG Academy (Blue) and their big impact player has been 2019 6’6” F Jack Cooper, who is averaging 12.8 ppg along with 6.3 rpg. 

7. Tampa Prep

• • Coach Fenlon and the Terrapins are 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the district. 2019 Jaren Phillips is leading the way, averaging 18.3 ppg and 6.7 rpg. And has a whole, the team is shooting around 50% from the field.  Forward Gabriel Sharp and Guard Jaden Gray have been be a major.  

8. Tampa Catholic 

• • At 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the district, 2020 Kobe Knox, Isaiah Elmore and Alijah Harrison keep the Crusaders going.  2020 6’8” F Johni Broome has stood out by averaging 12.8 ppg and 9.8 rpg.  Pay attention to up coming games against Oviedo (Dec. 15th) and Tampa Prep (Dec. 21st).

9. Plant City 

• • Coach Billy Teeden’s has the Raider’s top of their competive district.   2019 6’7”  Justyn King is averaging 13.0 ppg along with 9.0 rpg.  Raiders are shooting 52% from the field with the help of Jadyn Strawder who is giving 13.3 ppg and 7.7 rpg also Strawder went 4-8 from the arc against Lennard with 24 pts.  2020 6’5” Drew Walden is playing well for Coach Teeden.  Look for a tough stretch of games including a rivalry game on Dec. 11th against Strawberry Crest.  

1o. Freedom

• • The Patriots are creeping up on teams.  With solid wins over Plant and Steinbrenner but a difficult lost against Wharton.  Coach Angel has this team working hard and guys like 2019 PG Kevin Rodriguez have started the season of well.

Bubble Teams:

11. Carrollwood Day School

• Coach Chris Senoga- Zake and his scoring trio of Malcolm Whitlow, Edgar Ziegler and Tony Livingston regrouped after loses to Berkeley Prep and Adimarl Farraguat by beating Lakeland 70-67 .  They’ll have a rematch December 17th against Berkeley Prep. 

12. Plant

• Coach Joe Willis team sits at 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the district. The Panthers took a few tough loses to Tampa Bay Tech, Wharton and Freedom HS.  Let’s see how Logan Morrissey and talented 2019 PG  Colin Sowada respond and put a string of wins together.

13. Strawberry Crest

• With early loses in OT to TBT and a shocking lose to Durant HS, the Chargers guard core of Jalen Brown, Romaire “Ro” Burke and CJ Crews have a challenge ahead of them to get into the Top 10.   Cornelius Giovenco and Chauncey Johnson will be factors the next 2 weeks.  

14. Blake

• Coach Sharp and his Freshman G Emanuel Sharp are making some noise.  Sharp is putting up numbers and showed that he is a impact for that team.

15. Sickles

The Gryphons are 3-1 overall and only loss coming by the hands of Wharton HS 70-36.  The match ups we are waiting for will be against Plant, Freedom and Lakeland starting December 12th.

Weekly Players to Watch (not listed on Top 15  list)

2019 6’0” PG Jose Romero, EastBay HS – Dropped 34 pts against Brandon HS

2019 6’0” PG Jeffery White, Durant HS – Had his 3 ball going and finished with 36 pts against Strawberry Crest

2020 6’1” G CJ Peterson, Lennard HS – Put in 27 pts in a lose against Strawberry Crest

2020 6’4” G Jaden Ramos, Riverview HS – Has been really aggressive starting this year, running the lanes and finishing