Meet The Ledger's 2023-24 All-County Boys Basketball Team
Polk County boasted two of the top boys basketball teams in the state this winter in Winter Haven and Victory Christian.
Winter Haven was ranked among the top three teams in Class 7A and reached the state semifinals. The Blue Devils were the first Polk County boys basketball team to reach the state tournament three years in a row since Lake Wales from 1993-95.
Victory Christian had its best season in school history and were ranked No. 1 in Class 2A at the beginning of the playoffs. And one of the hottest teams in the state was Bartow, which went 12-2 over its last 14 games and lost by just six points to eventual 6A runner-up Edgewater.
With those big seasons, here's a look at the players to make The Ledger's all-county teams in boys basketball.
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The Ledger Boys Basketball Player of the Year
Isaac Celiscar
Winter Haven, Senior
Forward
Celiscar wrapped up his high school career with the best season of his career. He averaged 21.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. With Winter Haven playing a national schedule against top competition, Celiscar was MVP of the Alpha Invitational and the King of the Sun tournament. He scored more than 30 points four times, including a season-high 39 points against Edgewater, and scored 28 points in his final high school game against Oak Ridge in the Class 7A state semifinals.
The Ledger Boys Basketball Coach of the Year
Steve Fitzgerald
Victory Christian
Fitzgerald led Victory Christian to their best season in school history. The Storm finished 25-5 and went into the postseason ranked No. 1 in Class 2A. The won the district title and were regional runners-up.
The Ledger Boys Basketball First Team
Jamie Phillips Jr.
Winter Haven, Senior
Guard
15.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.3 apg.
Lorenzo Cason Jr.
Victory Christian, Senior
Guard
24.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 6.4 apg, 2.5 spg.
Tate Darner
Santa Fe Catholic, Junior
Guard
17.7 ppg, 4.2 apg.
Darius Livingston
Discovery, Junior
Guard
21.8 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.0 spg.
Alex Sessoms
McKeel, Senior
Guard
17.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.7 apg.
The Ledger Boys Basketball Second Team
BJ. Allen: Lake Region, Senior, Guard
Mike Andino: Victory Christian, Senior, Guard
Diamant Blazi: Jordan Christian Prep, Senior, Forward
Rickjerlin Feliz: Bartow, Forward, Senior
Zay Mosley: Winter Haven, Junior, Center
Sevastian Rosado: Frostproof, Senior, Guard
THIRD TEAM
Shanard Clower: Lakeland, Junior, Guard
Kaimauri “Kai” Hodges: Mulberry, Senior, Guard
Jeremy Nixon: Kathleen, Junior, Forward
William Reyes: Jordan Christian Prep, Junior, Guard
Edward Wiggins: Bartow, Senior, Forward
Jameson Young: Lakeland, Senior, Guard
The Ledger Boys Basketball Honorable Mention
ALL SAINTS: PG Claudarius Bell, PG Ali Ebrahim, G Jaelen Randall.
AUBURNDALE: F Josh Clay, G Jordan Gunter.
BARTOW: F Dan Thompson, PG Jemirion Butler, PG Antwan Willis, PG Messiah Borders.
DAVENPORT: F Shakaii Richards, F Le’Quae Clark.
DISCOVERY: G Willie Wilson, G Lucson Jean, F Dontae Hines, G Trevin West:.
FORT MEADE: G Nasier Berrien, G Ryan Screen, F Omari Russell.
FROSTPROOF: F/C Daiveon Pittman, G Maurice Blakely.
GEORGE JENKINS: F Marcus Smothers.
KATHLEEN: G Jaziah Battle, G Jerome Groves, F Zion Williams.
JORDAN CHRISTIAN PREP: C Dan Pembele, G Vlad Yacamen, C Hans Dolers, G Gabby Rodriguez.
LAKE GIBSON: G Trey Rodman.
LAKE REGION: F Dwayne Lattimore, G Devin Booker, G Jodner Izenday, F Perry Wilkerson.
LAKE WALES: F Samurai Wilson, F/C Gabe Legrand, G Jeremy Willingham, G Devin Ossinac.
LAKELAND: G Trey Jackson, PF Jayren Dennis, C Ben Beymer.
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN: C Nate Carpenter, G Matthew Stephens, G DJ Howard.
MCKEEL: F Jackson Jonsson, F/C Axel Acevedo.
OASIS CHRISTIAN: F Cole Durden.
RIDGE COMMUNITY: PG Eddy Hyppolite, Jr.
SANTA FE CATHOLIC: F Hudson Dykhuizen, G Toby Lane, F Danilo Stankovic, G Malikai Broffitt, G Jayden McPherson.
TENOROC: F Xavier Quiles, F Marquis Kendle.
VICTORY CHRISTIAN: F Jordan Lanier, G Tucker Fox, F Thok Gol, G Quinton Wilson.
WINTER HAVEN: G Tyrese Mayo, G Troy Boswell, G Eric Dailey, G Gavin Hall.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: All-Polk County boys basketball teams for 2023-24
