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Which big-name high school basketball players won't hit the courts in Palm Beach County?

emilee smarr, palm beach post
·4 min read

Three boys basketball players who forged postseason success in Palm Beach County last winter will be taking their talents to Fort Lauderdale for the 2023-24 season.

After defending the championship for 3A in 2022, powerhouse Calvary Christian knew it had to go back to the drawing board to return to its winning ways. A 7-15 finish competing independently last season meant redesigning a path to the FHSAA playoffs that happens to include stars from local teams Jupiter Christian, Somerset Academy-Canyons and Suncoast.

Stone Bureau, Sr., PG

The Suncoast Community High School Chargers hosted the William T. Dwyer High School Panthers in boys high school basketball action in Riviera Beach, Fla., on January 25, 2023. Dwyer won 46-45 over Suncoast.
The Suncoast Community High School Chargers hosted the William T. Dwyer High School Panthers in boys high school basketball action in Riviera Beach, Fla., on January 25, 2023. Dwyer won 46-45 over Suncoast.

Transferred from: Suncoast

This season already was going to be an adjusting period for Suncoast after losing the small forward of its high-scoring trinity, Nate Sasser, to graduation. Alas, the Chargers knew they'd return three seniors: 6-foot-9 Ian Smikle, shot-blocking point guard Stone Bureau and Jeremiah Police, who will be counted on to take an even bigger role at forward.

Police and Bureau both made offseason exits: Police to Westminster Academy, Bureau to Calvary.

Rest assured Suncoast will get the glue for its offense to put together another deep run through the playoffs in Class 5A, but it's hard to know whether it'll be as strong as Bureau. As a junior, he finished Suncoast's 22-6 season ranked No. 14 in the state in steals per game, averaging 4.3, and No. 25 in the assists per game, averaging 5.8 through 26 appearances.

The Eagles receive a quarterback, as well as a skilled defensive rebounder in Bureau, who came second on the roster behind Smikle with an average 7.2 per game.

Cayden Daughtry, Fr., G

Transferred from: Somerset Canyons

It's a miracle that Palm Beach County was able to keep a hidden gem like Bureau as long as it did. That being said, any fan who kept up with the Cougars of Somerset Academy-Canyons last winter knew that Cayden Daughtry wouldn't last long.

He may only be a freshman, but this winter at Calvary will be Daughtry's third season on varsity, coming off of an eighth-grade season spent averaging 21 points per game. Daughtry led Somerset to a 20-7 record and 4A region semifinals after upsetting second-seed Cardinal Gibbons in the first-round. That game, Daughtry dropped 28 points with an effective field goal percentage of .700.

If you thought that was the best game of his green career, think again. He went viral at the top of the season with this Cardinal Newman stat line: 41 points − seven three-pointers − seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals.

Backed up by the numbers, plus offers from Florida State and Arizona State, Daughtry is a big-time ball handler and a big-time get for Calvary, certain to be in control this winter with the 14 year-old phenom on the floor.

Collin Paul, So., SG

Jupiter Christian's Collin Paul goes up for a layup during the first half of the Eagles' regional quarterfinals win over Miami Christian. Paul led the team with 22 points in the victory (Feb. 16, 2023).
Jupiter Christian's Collin Paul goes up for a layup during the first half of the Eagles' regional quarterfinals win over Miami Christian. Paul led the team with 22 points in the victory (Feb. 16, 2023).

Transferred from: Jupiter Christian

Daughtry isn't the only young piece from Palm Beach that Calvary's rebuilding with. Sophomore shooting guard Collin Paul was supposed to be helping Jupiter Christian stay on its feet after graduating standout seniors Jeremiah Augustin, Matthew James and Aidan Walker.

Paul was second in scoring, averaging 11. 2 points per game, and the team's top passer, averaging 3.4 assists per game as Jupiter Christian navigated a 22-4 road to 2A region semifinals.

Now, it's the Eagles who feel safe and sound with the 6-6, 190-pound big body attacking the rim and the opposition while dominating the pass game.

The Post reached out to coaches at Suncoast, Somerset Canyons and Jupiter Christian for comment, but none were received.

More: Winter All-County 2023: Meet the best boys basketball players in Palm Beach County!

More noteworthy offseason transfers

Lake Worth forward Chancellor Wilson (23) contests a rebound against Forest Hill Mario McDonnough (3) to end the first quarter during the Class 7A Region 3 semi-final game between Forest Hill and host Lake Worth in Lake Worth Beach, FL, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Final score, Lake Worth 78, Forest Hill, 71.
Lake Worth forward Chancellor Wilson (23) contests a rebound against Forest Hill Mario McDonnough (3) to end the first quarter during the Class 7A Region 3 semi-final game between Forest Hill and host Lake Worth in Lake Worth Beach, FL, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Final score, Lake Worth 78, Forest Hill, 71.

Mason Alexander, Jr., G − Palm Beach Central to Dr. Joaquin Garcia

Ty'Rique Alty, So., G − Palm Beach Central to Inlet Grove

Ian Astiazarain, Jr., G − North Broward Prep to Saint John Paul II

Jermaine Council, Sr., PG − King's Academy to Cardinal Newman

Tommy Errico, Fr., G − Oxbridge to Saint Andrew's

Decarious Jenkins, Sr., G − Boynton Beach to Santaluces

Bryan Joseph, Sr., G − Boynton Beach to Palm Beach Central

Mario McDonnough, Sr., G − Forest Hill to Palm Beach Central

Gabe Nesmith, Fr., SF/SG − Oxbridge to Montverde Academy

Lawrence Noegel, Jr., F − Wellington to Cardinal Newman

Jeremiah Police, Sr., F − Suncoast to Westminster Academy

Tamari Reed, So., G − Pine School to Dwyer

Andrew Signorelli, Sr., PG − Cardinal Newman to King's

Sean Standifer, Jr., SG − Wellington to Lake Worth

Akeim Strahan, Sr., G − Saint John Paul II to Palm Beach Central

Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who are the biggest transfers among Palm Beach County high school basketball players?