Class 3A state runner-up The Villages begins on top
GAINESVILLE — The 2025-26 high school boys basketball season is underway, and the story remains the same for The Prep Zone Power Poll powered by Be Well Fitness.
Starting the new season at the top is the same team which ended last season at No. 1, The Villages.
The Buffalo, who finished the 2024-25 season as the state runner-up in Class 3A, are the number one team in the preseason poll. The Villages, which finished last season 26-6 and lost to Calvary Christian (Clearwater) by two points in the 3A state title game, received seven of the 10 first-place votes.
Right behind them is Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville). The Tigers, which finished 28-3, advanced to the state semifinals for the sixth time in seven years last March and were eliminated in Lakeland by The Villages.
Jackson had been number one most of the season but fell to 2nd after that loss. The Tigers received two first-place votes.
Another state semifinalist, Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine), starts the new season at No. 3. The Toros (27-4) advanced to their first final four, where they lost in the 6A semifinals to Evans (Orlando).
Ponte Vedra is 4th. The Sharks are back in the top five after another trip to the final four, where they lost the 5A championship game to Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach).
Last year’s rural classification state champion Hawthorne rounds out the top five.
The Hornets won their second state title in five years as they handled their semifinal and championship game opponents by a combined 46 points. Hawthorne, which finished last season 20-3, received the final first-place vote.
The second five is led by another state semifinalist, Class 1A Impact Christian (Jacksonville), followed by Ribault (Jacksonville), a 4A state semifinalist, at No. 7, and University Christian (Jacksonville), Eustis, and Leesburg rounding out the top 10.
All three of those teams advanced to the FHSAA state semifinals.
Bishop Kenny is the only team in the poll that wasn’t in last season’s final rankings. The Crusaders replace Oakleaf (Orange Park), which finished the 2024-25 season at No. 20.
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 Be Well Fitness.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2025-26 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #1 (PRESEASON POLL)
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, final 2024-25 record, and total voting points)
1. The Villages (3A) (7) (26-6) – 193
2. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (3A) (2) (28-3) – 188
3. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (27-4) – 166
4. Ponte Vedra (5A) (22-9) – 163
5. Hawthorne (Rural) (1) (20-3) – 144
6. Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (1A) (23-7) – 142
7. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (21-9) – 136
8. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (22-9) – 114
9. Eustis (4A) (21-9) – 98
10. Leesburg (5A) (17-8) – 96
11. Newberry (3A) (24-1) – 88
12. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (23-6) – 85
13. Gainesville (5A) (21-8) – 78
14T. Providence (Jacksonville) (2A) (16-13) – 64
14T. Williston (Rural) (16-12) – 64
16. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (22-6) – 54
17. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (19-8) – 34
18. Atlantic (Port Orange) (4A) (22-8) – 33
19T. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (18-11) – 28
19T. Fort White (Rural) (15-10) – 28
Also receiving votes: Lecanto (5A) (26-4) – 25; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (18-8) – 12; New Smyrna Beach (5A) (20-8) – 10; Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (12-14) – 8; Eagle’s View (Jacksonville) (1A) (20-8) – 7; Trenton (Rural) (15-12) – 7; San Jose Prep (Jacksonville) (2A) (8-17) – 4; Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (17-11) – 3; Chiefland (Rural) (15-10) -1; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6A) (21-6) – 1.
