Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) still a unanimous No. 1
GAINESVILLE – Only a one-point loss separates the Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) boys basketball team from an unbeaten regular season.
The Tigers (14-1) maintained their hold on the top spot of The Prep Zone Power Poll by going 8-1 since the last rankings of 2024.
Their only loss was against No. 13 Fleming Island (Orange Park), 55-54, in the Battle on the Island championship game on Dec. 20.
Jackson, which moved up No. 4 overall in the new FHSAA rankings and No. 2 in Class 3A, had wins against current No. 3 Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine), 52-44, at No. 5 Ribault (Jacksonville), 65-52, and a 65-44 win at home against No. 8 Williston this past Friday night to remain No. 1 in the all-classification regional rankings.
They received all 10 first-place votes to finish ahead of The Villages, which moved up three spots to No. 2.
The Buffalo went 8-2 with their only losses coming to receiving votes University Christian (Jacksonville), 60-59, and to nationally ranked #63 Gibbs (St. Pete), 61-56, at the Sun Bash tournament in Tampa.
They also had wins at previously RV Buchholz (Gainesville), 81-50, and against No. 11 Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville), 80-62. They are ranked 10th overall in Florida, 3rd in 3A, and among the top teams in the country by MaxPreps (34th nationally).
Class 6A Tocoi Creek (14-1) moved up six spots to No. 3 following a 7-1 record. Their only loss was against top-ranked Jackson, 52-44, at the Fortegra High School 9:12 Invitational (Dec. 12).
Class 2A Providence (Jacksonville) (11-5) is ranked fourth, while Ribault (10-3) rounds out the top five.
Ponte Vedra (10-4) is ranked sixth, followed by Oakleaf (Orange Park), Williston, Gainesville, and Newberry in the top 10.
GHS, which is ranked 6th in Class 5A, lost a close one to Jackson, 53-50, at the Battle on the Island last month. The Hurricanes (11-5) moved up one spot to No. 9, while Newberry made the biggest jump from receiving votes to into the top 10.
The Panthers (10-0), who have yet to lose this season, defeated previously unbeaten Lecanto, which is receiving votes, 70-50, at the Florida Get Down Holiday Showcase on Dec. 27.
Atlantic (Port Orange) (12-3) is new to the rankings at No. 16, while Class 5A Columbia (Lake City) (10-6) moved into the rankings at No. 20 thanks to a current 5-game winning streak.
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 #3
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current 2024-25 record through 1/4, and total voting points)
1. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (3A) (10) (14-1) – 200
2. The Villages (3A) (14-3) – 179
3. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (14-1) – 162
4. Providence (Jacksonville) (2A) (11-5) – 160
5. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (10-3) – 159
6. Ponte Vedra (5A) (10-4) – 150
7. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (10-3) – 128
8. Williston (Rural) (10-6) – 119
9. Gainesville (5A) (11-5) – 109
10. Newberry (3A) (10-0) – 101
11. Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (1A) (8-4) – 89
12. Eustis (4A) (10-5) – 86
13. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (10-3) – 78
14. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (11-3) – 76
15. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6A) (11-3) – 57
16. Atlantic (Port Orange) (4A) (12-3) – 54
17. Hilliard (Rural) (7-3) – 36
18. North Marion (Citra) (4A) (10-3) – 34
19. New Smyrna Beach (5A) (9-3) – 19
20. Columbia (Lake City) (5A) (10-6) – 18
Also receiving votes: Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (8-7) – 17; Hawthorne (Rural) (4-0) – 15; Lecanto (5A) (10-1) – 12; Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (7-6) – 12; Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (10-4) – 12; St. Augustine (5A) (9-2) – 6; University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (7-7) – 4; Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-4) – 3; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (8-7) – 3; Leesburg (5A) (6-5) – 2.
