- December 26, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The boys high school basketball season in West Orange and Southwest Orange is quickly approaching, with practices officially kicking off at the end of October.
If you take a peek around the area’s teams, yet again, it appears that high school hoops fans are in for another season of high-level basketball, as the area looks filled with quality teams loaded with talented players.
Whether it’s state runners-up Windermere Prep returning their exciting young core, The First Academy and its new coach looking to take its program to the next level, the next era of Olympia High basketball with its new coach, or Windermere High and its star big man looking to build off a great 2023-24 campaign; this upcoming season is going to be a whole lot of fun.
To get you ready for the basketball season, here are some of the area’s top players to watch for the 2024-25 season.
Editor’s note: Players are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Junior | Wing
A 6-foot-5, 185-pound dead-eye shooter, Bass Jr. led the Lakers in scoring last season with 20.6 points per game, while adding five rebounds a night. His elite scoring ability, great size and athleticism combo and improvement as an on-ball defender are reasons why the junior with NBA bloodlines is such a highly coveted prospect.
Bass Jr. is a four-star prospect and is ranked by 247Sports as the 10th-best 2026 recruit in Florida, and On3 ranks him as the 48th-best junior prospect in the country. He currently holds offers from UCF, USC, St. John’s, Houston, Purdue and more.
Freshman | Wing
Despite being just a freshman, the 6-foot-6 wing is expected to play a big role for the Royals and their new coach, Tarrik Mabon. With a smooth stroke, Byrd can hit the outside jumper and utilize his length to finish around the basket.
Although he has a lot of development ahead of him, his raw talent and physical gifts make him an interesting player to watch this season.
Senior | Forward
After leading the Wolverines to a 20-9 record — with averages of 19.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks a game — in 23-24, the 6-foot-8 Liberty commit will be the only returning player of Windermere’s top four scorers.
Despite multiple additions to the 24-25 edition of the Wolverines, expect coach Mark Griseck to lean heavily on his star big on both sides of the ball.
Junior | Wing
At 6-foot-5 and with a stroke as smooth as butter, the Panthers' junior swingman is ready to build on an outstanding sophomore campaign that saw him not only average 10.1 points and five rebounds a game while shooting 43% from beyond the arch but also break a 30-plus-year-old DP record by sinking nine three-pointers in a single game.
Beyond his sniper-like accuracy from three-land, Hatch has developed an ability to create his own shot off the dribble.
On the defensive side of the ball, his length, coupled with his physicality, allows him to defend a variety of positions. His coach, Antonio Cunningham, also raves about his vocal leadership on and off the court, saying he'll be a big part of this young group's success.
Senior | Wing
With a new coach in Sharrod Williams and four of its five top scorers graduating from its 23-24 team that finished 16-11, Foundation boys basketball is going to look a whole lot different this season. That’s why Michels, a 6-foot-6 wing with college offers, should play a big role for this season.
He is both Foundation’s top returning scorer and rebounder — averaging 12 points per game and 5.2 rebounds, to go along with his two assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks a game. Michels brings superb floor-spacing with NBA range three balls and some serious bounce that makes for ridiculous dunks at the cup.
Senior | Guard
Perry should bring a lot to an Olympia Titans team that not only has a new coach in Justin Shipp — who took over for longtime coach Rob Gordon — but lost a sizable chunk of its roster from the 23-24 season.
At 6-foot-3, the combo guard brings a tight handle that allows him to get to his spots when looking for a bucket, but his biggest value will be as an on-ball defender. Perry is a pest for opposing ball-handlers to deal with, constantly poking at the ball and forcing turnovers.
Senior | Guard
In his first season for Windermere Prep — after transferring from Lowndes High in Georgia — Shoptaw quickly became the driver of the Lakers offense, averaging six assists a game.
The South Alabama commit also contributed 9.7 points a game and 6.6 rebounds for the 23-24 Windermere Prep team that finished with a 24-8 record.
Junior | Guard
As a sophomore, Simmons was the Royals’ second-leading scorer and the top returning scorer this season, averaging 14.8 points per game with 3.1 boards and 2.2 assists.
At 6-foot-1, he is a combo guard who can shoot the lights out of the ball while bringing grittiness to the defensive side. It’ll be interesting to see how he fits in new coach Tarrik Mabon’s system.
