FHSAA boys basketball 7A semifinals preview: Can anyone stop nationally-ranked Dr. Phillips?
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 7A semifinals:
Class 7A semifinal No. 1: Seminole (Sanford) vs. Dr. Phillips - Friday at 12:30 p.m.
The first semifinal in Florida’s highest classification features an all Central Florida matchup between the Seminole (Sanford) Seminoles and the nationally-ranked Dr. Phillips Panthers.
The Seminoles have won seven consecutive games since suffering a 69-52 loss to Lake Brantley on Feb. 2. They're making their first Final Four appearance since 2020, when they finished as state runner-up.
How did Seminole get here? Defeated Apopka 57-51 in the regional quarterfinals, defeated Evans 61-58 in the regional semifinals and defeated Oak Ridge 67-62 in the regional final.
Players to watch for Seminole: Senior guard Uchenna Kellman (15.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game), freshman guard Gina-Paul Anderson (7.8 points per game) and junior guard Tyrique Lewis (6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game)
On the other side, the Dr. Phillips Panthers are coming in ranked No. 11 in our SBLive/SI Power 25 national rankings.
The Panthers are the reigning Class 7A state champions and are making their second consecutive appearance in the Final Four.
How did Dr. Phillips get here? Defeated Newsome 70-41 in the regional quarterfinals, defeated Olympia 81-49 in the regional semifinals and defeated Windermere 42-39 in the regional final.
Players to watch for Dr. Phillips: Senior guard Riley Kugel (Mississippi State signee) (16.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game), senior guard Denzel Aberdeen (Florida signee) (14.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game) and senior center Ernest Udeh (Kansas signee) (13.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game)
Prediction: Dr. Phillips
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Class 7A semifinal No. 2: Lake Worth vs Columbus - Friday at 2:30 p.m.
In the other 7A semifinal the Lake Worth Trojans will take on the Columbus (Miami) Explorers.
The Trojans have been road warriors throughout the postseason, after losing in the district championship game on Feb. 11 vs Wellington.
“We had doubters going into the playoffs and we are here to prove them wrong,” Lake Worth head coach Frank Baxley said.
The Trojans are two wins away from becoming the first Palm Beach County school to win a state championship since Wellington in 2015.
How did Lake Worth get here? Defeated Coral Springs 83-75 in the regional quarterfinal, defeated Forest Hill 78-71 in the regional semifinal and defeated Kissimmee Osceola 75-57 in the regional final.
Players to watch for Lake Worth: Junior guard Calvin Sirmans (17.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and three assists per game), junior forward Marvin Golf (14.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game) and senior forward Chancellor Wilson (10.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game)
On the other side, the Columbus Explorers are in the Final Four for the first time since 2011 when they lost 67-64 to Winter Park.
The Explorers are led by fourth-year head coach Andrew Moran and the Boozer twins - freshmen phenoms Cameron and Cayden.
The Explorers are coming into Lakeland on a 10-game winning streak that dates to January 19.
How did Columbus get here? Defeated Flanagan 78-36 in the regional quarterfinals, defeated Miami High 68-36 in the regional semifinals and defeated Cypress Bay 61-47.
Players to watch for Columbus: Freshman forward Cameron Boozer (19.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game), freshman forward Cayden Boozer (17.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game) and junior guard Garyn Bess (9.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game)
Prediction: Columbus
