GAINESVILLE (March 21) — The nine individual class finalists for the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball and Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school boys’ basketball coaches and prep media members.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in their class. The two winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
The nine finalists for the 2019 Mr. Basketball Award (area players in bold):
C.J. Walker, Senior, Forward, Oak Ridge, Class 9A Player of the Year
The University of Oregon signee helped his team to a 19-7 record and a spot in the regional finals by averaging 18.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.6 steals per game.
Max Fiedler, Senior, Center, Melbourne, Class 8A Player of the Year
The Rice University signee led his team to a 25-5 record by averaging 22.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.
Devin Carter, Junior, Guard, Doral Academy, Class 7A Player of the Year
Carter led his team to a 31-1 record by averaging 26.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He shot 81 percent at the free throw line and 39 percent from 3-point range.
Isaiah Adams, Junior, Forward, Paxon School (Jacksonville), Class 6A Player of the Year
Adams led his team to a 25-4 and a spot in the Final Four by averaging 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game.
Vernon Carey Jr., Senior, Forward, NSU University School, Class 5A Player of the Year
The Duke University signee and McDonald’s All-American led his team to a 25-4 record and a spot in the Final Four before being injured, averaging 21.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Carey won the 2018 Florida Mr. Basketball award.
Chase Johnston, Senior, Guard, Westminster Academy, Class 4A Player of the Year
Johnston led his squad to its third straight state title by averaging 26.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He finished his career with a national high school record 546 three-point field goals. He has signed to play college basketball at Purdue University-Ft. Wayne.
Michael Gavin, Senior, Guard, Lake Mary Prep, Class 3A Player of the Year
Gavin averaged 27.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.1 steals per game for his 16-11 district runnerup squad.
Jordan Preaster, Senior, Forward, Central Florida Christian Academy, Class 2A Player of the Year
The Bethune-Cookman University signee led his team to a 21-10 record and the state title by averaging 20.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Marcus Niblack, Junior, Guard, Wildwood, Class 1A Player of the Year
Niblack led his team to an 18-13 record and a state runnerup finish by averaging 24.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
The nine finalists for the 2019 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year (area coaches in bold):
Nathan Alexander, Osceola, Class 9A Coach of the Year
In his eighth year at the helm, Alexander led his squad to a 26-6 record and the Class 9A state championship. He has a 175-49 career record with another state title (2017) and a state runnerup finish (2015).
Melvin Randall, Blanche Ely, Class 8A Coach of the Year
Randall led his team to a 25-6 record and the Class 8A state championship, his seventh state title at Ely and his ninth overall (two at Deerfield Beach). In 18 years at Ely his record is 398-122. In 27 years overall he has a 576-175 mark.
Greg Watson, Crestview, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Watson led his squad to a 26-6 record and the Class 7A state title. In three years at Crestview he has posted a career record of 71-18.
Terrence Williams, Stranahan, Class 6A Coach of the Year
In his second year as the Stranahan head coach, Williams produced a 27-6 record and led his squad to the school’s first state championship. His overall record is 47-13.
Jim Carr, NSU University School, Class 5A Coach of the Year
In his first year as head coach, Carr led his squad to a 27-4 record and the school’s second straight Class 5A state title.
Ehren Wallhoff, Westminster Academy, Class 4A Coach of the Year
Wallhoff led his team to a 26-5 record and its third straight Class 4A state title. In 17 years at Westminster, he has an overall record of 331-124, including a state runnerup finish in 2016.
Titus Nixon, St. John Paul II, Class 3A Coach of the Year
In his fifth year at St. John Paul II, Nixon led his squad to a 28-5 record and the Class 3A state championship. His career record is 75-62.
Jonathan McClintock, Central Florida Christian Academy, Class 2A Coach of the Year
In his fifth year at CFCA, McClintock led his squad to a 21-10 record and the Class 2A state title. His career record is 109-39, including a Final Four appearance in 2018.
Allen Demps, Madison County, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Demps led his squad to a 26-3 record and the Class 1A state title. In seven years at Madison County he has posted a 137-55 record, with a Final Four appearance in 2018.
Final voting numbers by class (top three):
Class 9A
Player School Points
C.J. Walker Oak Ridge 117
Damari Monsanto Western 86
Linton Brown Wellington 62
Coach School Points
Nathan Alexander Osceola 132
Matt Colin Wellington 74
Lonza Morgan Evans 61
Class 8A
Player School Points
Max Fiedler Melbourne 94
Dallas Graziani Cooper City 69
Dakota Rivers Windermere 57
Coach School Points
Melvin Randall Blanche Ely 98
Jeremy Schiller Lakewood Ranch 91
Travis Chandler Fleming Island 89
Class 7A
Player School Points
Devin Carter Doral Academy 125
Diante Smith Choctawhatchee 83
Ahmad Johnson Punta Gorda Charlotte 61
Coach School Points
Greg Watson Crestview 135
Darryl Burrows Dillard 72
Kip Rhoten Port Charlotte 61
Class 6A
Player School Points
Isaiah Adams Paxon School 95
Izayel Louis Pierre Immokalee 87
Brian Dugazon Stranahan 82
Coach School Points
Terrence Williams Stranahan 124
Toby Frazier Paxon School 84
Anthony Lawrence Lakewood 58
Class 5A
Player School Points
Vernon Carey Jr. NSU University School 140
Tre Mann The Villages 104
Toumani Camara Chaminade Madonna 62
Coach School Points
Jim Carr NSU University School 114
James Collins Andrew Jackson 100
Colt McDowell The Villages 50
Class 4A
Player School Points
Chase Johnston Westminster Academy 122
Ahren Freeman Providence 102
Corey Walker Bishop Snyder 91
Coach School Points
Ehren Wallhoff Westminster Academy 131
Sam Moorer Seffner Christian 98
Keith Stroud University Christian 68
Class 3A
Player School Points
Michael Gavin Lake Mary Prep 112
Julio Rodriguez Champagnat 78
Allan Jeanne-Rose St. John Paul II 59
Coach School Points
Titus Nixon St. John Paul II 107
Treig Burke Orlando Christian Prep 97
Brian Mullican Jupiter Christian 59
Class 2A
Player School Points
Jordan Preaster Central Florida Christian Prep 121
Zack Stewart Meadowbrook 79
Diego Rivera Miami Christian 68
Coach School Points
Jonathan McClintock Central Florida Christian Prep 135
Stacey Poole Jr. No. Fla. Educational Institute 80
Steve Fitzgerald Victory Christian 45
Class 1A
Player School Points
Marcus Niblack Wildwood 141
Travis Jay Madison County 88
Jacob Crews Hilliard 66
Coach School Points
Allen Demps Madison County 141
Jeff Bradley Paxton 88
Marcus Hawkins Wildwood 66
