Martin County boys basketball coach John Leon can only imagine if he still had 6-foot-4 shooting guard Elijah Duval returning for his senior year.

Martin County, which has won seven of the past 10 district titles, lost Duval to DME Academy in Daytona Beach, leaving a leadership and scoring void on the Tigers’ juggernaut.

With a new season on tap, Martin County will have to rely on two sophomores in Division I prospects Ari Smith and Brandon Brazell to lead them to Lakeland. Two years ago, Martin County won the FHSAA state championship. That goal may be out of reach without Duval, the reigning TC Palm Player of the Year.

“This is going to be my best coaching job yet that I plan to have,’’ Leon said. “With Duval leaving, it’s going to elevate some people who didn’t get a chance to shine last year so I’m excited."

Last season, in winning the District 8-6A title and finishing at 17-9, Duval dominated, averaging 21.8 points and six rebounds while shooting 51%. Duval has reclassified so he gets two years on the bigger recruiting stage of Daytona.

Duval’s brother, Trevon, played point guard at Duke and last season was with the Houston Rockets G League team before playing in the Dominican Republic.

“Dad wanted to get him in position to be Division I-ready," Leon said. “It was a great decision for him and his dad. We talked about it. At 6-4, he’s a really big guy for his size. He did everything for us."

Would Martin County be a state title contender again with Duval?

“Without a doubt yes,’’ Leon said. “When you don’t have one of the best players in the nation on your team, you’re not going to be as strong.  For now, we’ll be more of a team. With him averaging 20 points, he had the ball in his hands a lot. This year, it’s going to be more to how we won states. We moved the ball, shared it. We were probably a better team."

The Stuart school’s two stars are young but also the first Treasure County high schoolers to receive Division I offers — to Bethune Cookman.  Neither Smith nor Brazell averaged double figures as freshmen.

Smith is a 6-3 combo guard. “He’s strong and can do it all,’’ Leon said. “The only thing he lacks is experience. That’s the prognosis of our team. Our two best players are sophomores, although very talented, they haven’t really held the load in a game. But being recruited by Division I, they’re obviously talented. My two Division I recruits have to play well above their age level."

Leon will need big things out of seniors John Olivier and Krishawn Baggett, a football player joining the squad. “(John) is lightning quick and will make a huge impact to our success," Leon said.

Five Other Teams To Watch

Fort Pierce Central

Buoyed by the Maxon twins, Fort Pierce Central has the most returning talent in the Treasure Coast after posting a 21-8 record. FPC lost in the District 7-7A Finals to Centennial but will be heavily favored in 2023-24.

In fact, the Cobras would have returned their entire starting five if not for the ACL injury suffered by point guard Josh Banate at a June basketball camp.

The Maxon twins — Christian and Christopher — are better coming off screens but now are tasked with more ballhandling duties. The juniors have started since their freshman years for their father, Chris Maxon. The Maxons averaged a combined 27.6 points last season. Both are 6-2 and Christian will start at point guard.

What makes the Cobras so dangerous — aside from a snazzy nickname — is the skill level of its top six. Joseph Gayle, at 6-4, 185 pounds, is an up-and-coming junior who can play all three wing positions.

The lone senior, Derrick King, might be a transformative performer, a 6-6 power forward/center who averaged eight points and eight rebounds. “He’s going to have more of an inside presence so we can go inside and out," Maxon said. “We’re trying to make his senior year memorable. He’s got great skills, footwork. He has to improve his motor."

Caleb Clements, a 6-4 junior forward, and sophomore guard Terry Parks, their premier defender, round out a heady rotation.

Centennial

The Port St. Lucie large school lost 10 seniors from last season’s District 7-7A championship team that finished 22-6. Centennial lost in the regional quarterfinals to Windemere and many of their top players graduated.

Centennial’s top losses are all playing in college — Ty Owens (Polk State, JUCO), Joseph Lezeau (Division II Chowan State), Jaydon Washington (Lamar CC in Colorado) and Zach Brown (also Lamar CC).

The two returning rotation guys are Antawn Smith Jr. and Jayson Smith. The Smiths, no relation, are senior guards — athletic slashers who get to the basket and score from deep.

Eagles coach Chris Carannante expects his sophomore point guard Felix Buroz to have a strong season despite his age. Centennial boasts five seniors — three in the rotation — but they don’t have the veteran experience of FPC.

Morningside Academy

Two years ago, the Port St. Lucie Christian school won the District 13 2A championship with a 24-2 record. After a down year in which it lost in the district finals and posted an 11-15 record, coach John Montero’s team is ready to claim districts again.

The Eagles return one of the truest point guards in Florida in 5-9 Damon Folds, who has several partial scholarship offers. “He’s our heart and soul," Montero said.

Folds is joined in the backcourt by 6-1 guard Marvin Tidas, a lockdown defender who has improved his shooting. The hidden weapon to another district banner might be 6-4 transfer guard Elijah Bell, a sniper.

Treasure Coast

Treasure Coast lost in the district semifinals to Fort Pierce Central, 60-51, and lost leading scorer Remi Diejuste from an 18-7 squad. The team returns one star in point guard Tyson Wilson and he’s worth the price of admission. The Titans have enough returnees to contend for the district title. Other contributors will be seniors Bek Fleurissant and Tyler Shelton and junior Warren Sharry.

“Another year of experience will help us quite a bit,’’ coach Jason Wiggins said. “We had a lot of good offseason work as a team.’’

South Fork

The club looks loaded because of all its senior returnees. While 6-6 forward Loghan Downie is the best Division I prospect, Nick Chang was its most productive returnee from last season. Imarion Stanberry and Justin Beall, both third-team All-Treasure Coast, make for a formidable starting unit that should be easy to coach. After a 16-8 season, South Fork got stunned early in the district tournament.

Super Seven Players to Watch

The Maxon Twins (Fort Pierce Central)

Let us group the 6-2 junior guard duo together as one unit. It’s almost impossible to differentiate their value to FPC as both are high-IQ sharpshooters who will draw Division I interest. Christopher will inherit the PG duties after leading the team in assists (6.0) while averaging 11.8 points. His twin, Christian, is a more explosive scorer, averaging 15.8 points and breaking his own school record of 96 3-pointers. Christian also shot 90% from the free-throw line.

On coaching his sons, the elder Maxon said, “It was preparing them for good work habits. They’re the hardest-working kids in practice. If you’re going to coach your own kids, they have to be the hardest workers, carry the best habits and best attitude."

Brandon Brazell (Martin County)

With a scholarship offer to BCU, the sophomore 6-5 small forward likely will have double-digit offers by season’s end. He was flown into Atlanta last summer to play in a high-end AAU squad, the Georgia Stars. He didn’t average double digits, however, as a freshman but grabbed five rebounds and two blocks per game.

“He’s a long athletic forward who can pretty much do it all," Leon said.

Tyson Wilson (Treasure Coast)

Wilson is a bouncy point guard, mostly a slasher who can get to the rim at any time. He should be a 20-point-a-night player this season. He averaged 14 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

“In my opinion, he’s going to be the best point guard in the area,’’ his coach Wiggins said.

Loghan Downie (South Fork)

The 6-6 senior forward has an NAIA offer from Keiser. He’s tough around the rim and scored 17 points in a district game vs. Martin County.

Ari Smith (Martin County)

Like his teammate Brazell, Smith also played this summer on a high-powered AAU travel team: Florida Pro. “He can do it all,’’ Leon said.

Ryan Rodriguez (Port St. Lucie)

The guard is a silky scorer with a 20.4 scoring average as a junior. Rodriguez had 12 games with 25 points or more and shot 82% from the foul line.

Damon Folds (Morningside Academy)

He makes up for lack of size with a high IQ, making all his teammates better. “His passing skills are elite and his leadership is contagious,’ his coach Montero said.

Folds has roster promises from seven universities and still is searching for a full ride — which has become dicier in the transfer portal era.

2023 Florida High School Basketball: Key Dates

Regular season opens: Nov. 20

Final district seeding games: Jan. 27

Regular season ends: Feb. 2

District tournaments: Feb. 6

Regionals: Feb. 15

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: TCPalm's 2023 boys basketball preview: Teams, players you need to know