Meet the All-Gainesville Area Big School Boys Basketball Team and Player of the Year

The Walton name is synonymous with athletic excellence in Gainesville.

It starts at the top with Tim Walton, coach of the Gators softball team since 2005 and winner of two Women’s College World Series in 2014 and 2015.

Then, it moves down to him and Samantha’s children – Brooks and Camden – both of whom starred at Buchholz.

But the youngest of the family – Palmer, a star in boys basketball – mostly stood in the background for his first three years as GHS controlled the local scene in Class 6A.

That all changed this season. Under new coach Elliot Harris, the ‘Cats orchestrated their best season in years and advanced to the 6A-Region 1 Semifinals behind Walton’s on and off court leadership.

Now, the “baby” of the Walton family is ready to receive his flowers.

Palmer is the 2023-24 Gainesville Sun All-Area Big School Boys Basketball Player of the Year. He averaged 17 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 1.0 BPG.

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The senior is currently deciding between schools for a basketball life post high school, but one thing is for certain:

Thanks in part to Walton, the Bobcats are back on the Gainesville area HS basketball circuit.

Below is the full All-Gainesville Area Big School Boys Basketball team. The first and second team, with five players each, comes from seven schools across Classes 3A-6A. The small school team, Classes 2A and 1A, will be released next week.

Congrats to all the players!

First Team

Guard: Anthony Leivonen, GHS, Senior – 12.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.0 APG (22^nd in 6A), 0.4 charges per game (27^th in 6A), 70 made free throws (44^th in 6A).

Guard: Kelvin Baker, Eastside, Junior – 14.1 PPG (59^th in 4A), 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 53 made free throws (70^th in 4A).

Guard/Forward: Jantzen Griffin, PK Yonge, Junior – 11.4 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 91 made FGs, 35 made 3FGs (95^th in 3A), 17.1 PT/32 (57^th in Florida, 13^th in 3A)

Forward: Palmer Walton, Buchholz – 17.0 PPG (24^th in 6A), 6.1 RPG (77^th in 6A), 1.0 BPG, 128 made FGs (58^th in 6A), 90 made free throws (19^th in 6A), 61 made 3FGs (18^th in 6A)

Forward: Cornelius White, GHS, Senior – 14.1 PPG (64^th in 6A), 7.6 RPG (34^th in 6A), 76 made FTs (31^st in 6A), 156 made FGs (24^th in 6A), 17.1 PT/32 (55^th in Florida, 3^rd in 6A)

Second Team

Guard: Marlin Haywood, Columbia, Junior – 9.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.9 SPG (87^th in 5A), 96 made FGs (98^th in 5A), 46 made 3FGs (34^th in 5A)

Guard: Braylon Guyden, Santa Fe, Senior – 14.8 PPG, 29 percent shooting from three, 40 perfect FG shooting.

Guard/Forward: Zamarion Jones, Columbia, Junior – 8.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.1 APG (21^st in 5A), 2.1 SPG (70^th in 5A) 86 made FGs, 24 made 3FGs

Forward: Colin Dunmore, Buchholz, Junior – 6.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 BPG, 55 made FGs

Forward: Garrison Teague, Keystone Heights, Senior – 8.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG (15^th in 4A), 1.5 APG, 1.1 BPG (36^th in 4A), six double doubles (24^th in 4A)

Coach of the Year: Elliot Harris, Buchholz

Elliot Harris retired after his Santa Fe Raiders suffered a heartbreaking double OT loss in the 2021 Class 4A State Championship.

Buchholz AD Ron Brooks coaxed Harris out of retirement. The move turned out to be a great success for the Bobcat faithful and Gainesville area HS hoops.

Harris led the Bobcats to the Class 6A-District 2 title game and the 6A-Region 1 Semifinals.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Buchholz's Palmer Walton is the Big School Boys Basketball Player of the Year