FHSAA boys basketball 3A semifinals preview: Will Riviera Prep and Tampa Catholic advance to championship game?

We have reached the Final Four across all seven classifications in the 2022 Florida high school athletic association (FHSAA) boys basketball playoffs.

Starting Wednesday and continuing through Saturday, 21 games will take place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland (Home of the NBA G-League’s Lakeland Magic). SBLive is previewing all seven semifinals matchups.

Here’s a look at the Class 3A semifinals:

Class 3A semifinal No. 1: Holy Trinity Episcopal (Melbourne) vs. Riviera Prep - Wednesday at 2 p.m.

In the first semifinal of the 2022 Florida high school boys basketball Class 3A state tournament, the Holy Trinity Episcopal Tigers (19-11) take on the Riviera Prep Bulldogs (23-7).

The Tigers come into Lakeland riding a five-game winning streak and are looking to become the first Treasure Coast school to reach the state championship game since Florida Prep in 2017.

“We are really excited to represent the 321,” Holy Trinity Episcopal head coach Steve Henderson said after their regional final win last week.

If the Tigers can pull off the semifinal win, they will reach the state championship game for the first time since 2016 when they lost to Jacksonville Bolles 46-39.

Players to watch for Holy Trinity Episcopal: Senior forward Theophilus Mansell (18 points and 9 rebounds per game), senior guard Eric Parnell (10.6 points per game) and 8th grader Caleb Gaskins (10.8 points per game)

On the other side, the Riviera Prep Bulldogs challenged themselves this season playing 7A semifinalists Dr. Phillips and Columbus, as well as 2A semifinalist Sagemont, 6A semifinalist Martin County and many others.

The Bulldogs are led by fifth-year head coach Anthony Shahbaz, who is making his first Final Four appearance.

Coming into Lakeland, the Bulldogs are on a six-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 11 games.

Players to watch for Riviera Prep: Senior guard Esteban Lluberes (18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game), freshman forward Dante Allen (12.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game) and senior forward Edward Nnamoko (9.7 points and 11 rebounds per game)

Prediction: Riviera Prep

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Class 3A semifinal No. 2: Florida State University High (Tallahassee) vs Tampa Catholic - Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The other 3A semifinal features multiple future college prospects led by Tre Donaldson (Auburn football commit) for the Seminoles and Karter Knox (younger brother of Atlanta Hawks forward Kevin Knox II) of the Crusaders.

The Seminoles had their girls’ program also reach the state semifinals last week before losing to Westminster Academy.

The Seminoles (22-7) come into Lakeland on a 10-game winning streak that dates to January 22 when they lost to 2A semifinalist Orlando Christian Prep.

With a win, the Seminoles would be the first Tallahassee school to reach the state championship game since Rickards in 2020.

Players to watch for Florida High: Senior guard Tre Donaldson (16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game), junior guard Anthony Robinson II (15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game) and junior guard Thaddeus Burns (9.7 points per game)

On the other side, the Tampa Catholic Crusaders are back in the Final Four for the sixth time in the last eight years. The Crusaders are led by head coach Don Dziagwa, who is finishing his 30th season in charge.

The Crusaders are looking to get back into the state championship for the second time in the last three seasons (they lost to Stranahan 70-64 in 2020).

“It was a challenging season for sure, as we had to play all our games on the road,” Dziagwa said last week.

After starting the season 9-7, the Crusaders have won 12 consecutive games.

Players to watch for Tampa Catholic: Sophomore forward Karter Knox (20.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game), junior forward Eddrin Bronson (13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game; has not played since January 11) Junior guard Karmello Branch (10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game) and freshman guard Isaiah Campbell-Finch (10.3 points per game)

Prediction: Tampa Catholic