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Here are 17 of the top Polk County boys basketball players to watch in 2023-24

Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger
·4 min read

Five of last season's top 18 high school basketball players in Polk County graduated, including first-team, all-county selections Kjei Parker (FAMU) and Dylan James (Georgia) from Winter Haven and Lakeland’s Rolijah Hardy (Navy for football). A sixth player, Haines City’s Jesse Nimmo opted out of his senior year after flirting with transferring to Winter Haven and is trying his hand at pro ball overseas.

Still, with Winter Haven’s 1-2 punch of Isaac Celiscar and Jamie Phillips Jr. along with Victory Christian’s LJ Cason leading the way, Polk County boasts a deep roster of basketball talent that was bolstered by the out-of-county transfers of Darius Livingston (Wekiva to Discovery) and Kevin Mason (Lake Placid to Fort Meade) and the addition of foreign-born players at Jordan Christian in Diamant Blaze (France) and Danilo Sankovic (Montenegro).

Winter Haven High School's Isaac Celiscar (4) goes up for a basket against Miami Columbus during their FHSAA Boys 7A Championship basketball game at The RP Funding Center in Lakeland Saturday. March 4, 2023.
Winter Haven High School's Isaac Celiscar (4) goes up for a basket against Miami Columbus during their FHSAA Boys 7A Championship basketball game at The RP Funding Center in Lakeland Saturday. March 4, 2023.

17 Polk high school basketball players to watch in 2023-24

ISAAC CELISCAR, Winter Haven: The Ledger’s reigning player of the year, Celiscar, who has signed with Yale, has been an impact player since his freshman season. He averaged 15.9 points on a balanced team but can easily drop 25 when needed. He also averaged 9.0 rebounds and can dominate on the boards in the game if that’s what’s needed.

LORENZO CASON JR., Victory Christian: Cason, who has signed with Florida Atlantic, is one of the best pure scorers in the state and one of the best in Polk this century. He averaged 27.6 points and scored a career-high 57 points in a game last season.

Victory Christian's LJ Cason goes up for a shot against Olympia on Saturday at the Mosaic 2023 Stinger Shootout at Bartow High School.
Victory Christian's LJ Cason goes up for a shot against Olympia on Saturday at the Mosaic 2023 Stinger Shootout at Bartow High School.

JAMIE PHILLIPS JR., Winter Haven: Phillips is a versatile player who can play inside and outside. He’ll be the primary ballhandler. A smart player, Phillips has a knack for getting teammates involved and then taking over the scoring for spurts when the offense needs points.

ZAY MOSLEY, Winter Haven: Mosley, a junior, played for Jordan Christian Prep the past two seasons. He’ll help offset the loss of scoring with the graduation of Kjei Parker and Dylan James as well as pick up the rebounding with the loss of James.

Winter Haven (0) Jamie Phillips Jr. drives to the basket over Oak Ridge during the 7A FHSSAA Semi final game at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland Fl Friday March 3,2023. Winter Haven won 61-58 to advance to the state 7A title game. Ernst Peters/The Ledger
Winter Haven (0) Jamie Phillips Jr. drives to the basket over Oak Ridge during the 7A FHSSAA Semi final game at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland Fl Friday March 3,2023. Winter Haven won 61-58 to advance to the state 7A title game. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

SEVASTIAN ROSADO, Frostproof: Rosado was ineligible for the first half of the season at Lake Wales but is the best pure scorer in the county after Cason. Just 5-foot-6, Cason averaged 26.4 points. Lake Wales was 1-8 without him then went 7-7 and nearly upset Auburndale in the district tournament.

DERIJAH HARDY, Lakeland: Hardy is recovering from a football injury and is the Dreadnaughts top returning player. A defensive standout, Hardy averaged 10.4 points.

ALEX SESSOMS, McKeel: This is Sessoms fourth season on varsity and his role has increased each year. After averaging 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.9 steals as a sophomore, his numbers last year were 17.3/6.3/3.4/2.3.

TATE DARNER, Santa Fe Catholic: The son of former Florida Southern coach Linc Darner, Tate, one of the top juniors in the county, is expected to be a bigger scorer for the Crimson Hawks after averaging 13.2 points last season.

DIAMANT BLAZI, Jordan Christian Prep: A 6-foot-8 forward, Blazi is from France and already attracted interest from major colleges.

MIKE ANDINO, Victory Christian: Andino was Victory’s No. 2 option after Cason, averaging 16.0 points. He showed his ability to come through in the clutch when he sank a buzzer-beater against Central Florida Christian in the playoffs last spring.

JAY’SON WILLIAMS, Bartow: A football standout who was a Super 16 selection, Williams returns as Bartow’s top basketball player. He averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds last season.

QUENTION WILSON, Victory Christian: Wilson is just an eighth-grader but will make an immediate impact to help take the load off Cason, Andino and Jordan Lanier.

JORDAN LANIER, Victory Christian: Lanier is another returning player who averaged 12.0 points and 5.1 rebounds.

WILLIAM REYES, Jordan Christian Prep: Reyes was the No. 2 threat after Mosley the past two seasons. He’ll be key player for the Seahawks again but will have to blend in with some talented newcomers.

TRE JACKSON, Lakeland: A transfer from Auburndale, Jackson will be counted on for points for the rebuilding Dreadnaughts. He averaged 9.2 points last season.

BJ MCKINNEY, Lake Region: One of the top football players for Lake Region, McKinney was the leading scorer for the Thunder’s basketball team that went 21-4 last year.

WILLIE WILSON, Discovery: Wilson led the Spartans with 14.7 points.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Here are 17 Polk County boys basketball players to watch in 2023-24