Top-ranked Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) is one of four Duval County teams in the top five
Gainesville – Duval County is well represented in the Prep Zone Power Poll preseason basketball rankings.
A total of four Jacksonville teams are ranked in the top five.
Leading the way is unbeaten Bishop Kenny at No. 1. The Crusaders (11-0) are ranked second in the Class 5A state rankings and already have wins over four teams who are either ranked or receiving votes in the first regional rankings of the season – No. 11 Jackson (Jacksonville), No. 18 Oakleaf (Orange Park), No. 20 Creekside (St. Johns) & RV Ed White (Jacksonville).
Area rival Bolles is ranked second. The Bulldogs (8-1) are ranked No. 1 in the 4A state poll. They received one of the six first-place votes.
Gainesville High, which advanced to the 6A state title game last season, is ranked third. The Hurricanes (9-0) are ranked fourth in the 6A state poll and received one first-place vote. GHS has wins over No. 7 P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), ranked 10th in 3A, No. 10 Dunnellon, ranked 5th in 4A, & RV Buchholz (Gainesville).
Up next is defending 3A state champion Providence (Jacksonville). The Stallions (8-2), ranked 5th in the 3A state poll, received two first-place votes.
Rounding out the top five is unbeaten Wolfson (Jacksonville). The Wolfpack (11-0) are ranked 7th in the 5A state poll.
Volusia County schools Spruce Creek (Port Orange) and Deltona, who are ranked 6th and 8th respectively, each picked up one first-place vote. The Hawks (9-0) are ranked 8th in the 8A state poll while the Wolves (8-1) are ranked 7th in the 6A state poll.
The next poll will be released in early January.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball & softball 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 weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2015-16 BOYS’ BASKETBALL POLL #1 (PRESEASON RANKINGS)
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record through 12/15, final record last season, and total voting points)
1. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (11-0) (19-8) – 110
2. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (1) (8-1) (24-3) – 107
3. Gainesville (6A) (1) (9-0) (29-3) – 105
4. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (2) (8-2) (30-1) – 100
5. Wolfson (Jacksonville) (5A) (11-0) (26-4) – 96
6. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (1) (9-0) (14-11) – 91
7. PK Yonge (Gainesville) (3A) (9-1) (20-10) – 76
8. Deltona (6A) (1) (8-1) (23-5) – 72
9. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (8-1) (22-6) – 63
10. Dunnellon (4A) (7-1) (21-9) – 62
11. Jackson (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-3) (26-4) – 52
12. Hawthorne (1A) (7-1) (28-3) – 50
13. Nature Coast Tech (5A) (8-1) (19-9) – 47
14. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (8-2) (11-17) – 29
15. Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (11-0) (18-10) – 25
16. Hamilton County (Jasper) (1A) (6-2) (21-8) – 20
17. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (4-2) (16-13) – 19
18T Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (6-3) (16-11) – 17
18T Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (7-3) (16-9) – 17
20. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (7-3) (15-12) – 16
Also receiving votes: Lake Minneola (6A) (6-5) (24-5) – 14; Atlantic (Port Orange) (6A) (N/A) (19-9) – 12; Eastside (Gainesville) (5A) (4-1) (17-14) – 11; Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (6-3) (19-8) – 10; Eustis (5A) (5-5) (23-7) – 7; Mount Dora (4A) (7-4) (10-13) – 7; Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (5-4) (15-11) – 6; East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (6-2) (16-7) – 4; North Marion (Citra) (5A) (5-2) (6-17) – 3; University Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (7-2) (10-14) – 3; Episcopal (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-3) (23-5) – 3; Madison County (1A) (6-2) (15-11) – 3; Trinity Christian (Deltona) (2A) (7-1) (15-11) – 2; Taylor County (Perry) (4A) (5-1) (13-12) – 1.
