Jacksonville schools Andrew Jackson and Providence hold top spots
GAINESVILLE — As the high school basketball regular season wraps up this week and FHSAA district tournaments get underway next Tuesday, a few teams have set themselves apart from the rest of the field in The Prep Zone Boys Power Poll.
But Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) remains on cruise control and extends their lead in the top spot of the all-classification regional rankings heading into the postseason.
The Tigers finished the regular season 23-1, as they defeated Ribault (Jacksonville), University Christian (Jacksonville), and Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) over the past few weeks.
Jackson finished their regular season on a 13-game winning streak, with their only loss all the way back on December 16, 62-60, to No. 3 Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville). The Tigers received 10 of the 11 first-place votes, just missing out on being a unanimous No. 1 team.
Providence (Jacksonville) switches spots with Impact Christian as the Stallions moved into the No. 2 position.
They have won nine in a row, with their losses coming to Andrew Jackson, Olympia (Orlando), and Grayson (GA). Providence (20-3) has wins against No. 10 Ponte Vedra, state-ranked Coral Glades (Coral Springs), and state-ranked Bartow over the last two weeks.
Providence (20-3) closes its regular season Friday in a home matchup with Impact Christian.
Impact Christian dropped a spot to No. 3 but does pick up the other first-place vote. The Lions dropped a 61-59 decision to state-ranked Tampa Catholic, but did beat RV San Jose Prep (Jacksonville), 86-64.
Mainland (Daytona Beach) continued its climb up the rankings, moving up five more spots to 4th.
The Bucs (18-2) defeated No. 8 North Marion (Citra), Timber Creek (Orlando) and Spruce Creek (Port Orange) over the past few weeks. Their only losses so far this season were by three-point setbacks to Andrew Jackson and Dr. Phillips (Orlando).
Newberry again rounds out the top five. Despite a loss at No. 17 Buchholz (Gainesville), the Panthers (15-2) picked up wins over No. 18 Williston and RV Eastside (Gainesville).
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) leads off the second five at No. 6. The Crusaders (19-3) stay put at 6th after defeating Orange Park and RV Episcopal (Jacksonville) over the last two weeks.
They are followed by The Villages at No. 7, 8th-ranked North Marion, Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) at No. 9 and Ponte Vedra rounds out the top 10.
Trenton, which is ranked No. 4 in the FHSAA’s Rural classification rankings, is new to the poll at No. 19, while Buchholz moved back into the top 20 after being there earlier in the season but dropping out in the last poll.
San Jose Prep and Episcopal dropped out from the previous poll.
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 of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2025-26 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #4
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record through Jan. 26, and total voting points)
1. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (3A) (10) (23-1) – 219
2. Providence (Jacksonville) (2A) (20-3) – 206
3. Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (1A) (1) (19-3) – 199
4. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (18-2) – 170
5. Newberry (3A) (15-2) – 163
6. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (19-3) – 162
7. The Villages (3A) (14-7) – 154
8. North Marion (Citra) (4A) (17-3) – 146
9. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (18-4) – 145
10. Ponte Vedra (5A) (15-6) – 98
11. Wildwood (Rural) (21-3) – 84
12. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (16-6) – 76
13. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (15-8) – 73
14. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6A) (16-5) – 67
15. Bradford (Starke) (3A) (15-2) – 62
16. New Smyrna Beach (5A) (19-3) – 54
17. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (15-6) – 42
18. Williston (Rural) (15-6) – 41
19. Trenton (Rural) (18-4) – 33
20. Eustis (4A) (14-6) – 32
Also receiving votes: Atlantic (Port Orange) (4A) (16-7) – 18; Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (18-5) – 14; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (4A) (21-2) – 11; Lecanto (5A) (17-5) – 9; Vanguard (Ocala) (5A) (15-7) – 8; Gainesville (5A) (12-11) – 6; San Jose Prep (Jacksonville) (2A) (15-7) – 6; St. Augustine (5A) (13-6) – 5; Eastside (Gainesville) (4A) (11-7) – 4; Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (5A) (18-5) – 4; Columbia (Lake City) (5A) (13-10) – 2.
