Palm Beach County's best basketball programs are set to enter district playoffs as the road to Jacksonville officially gets under way.
The Palm Beach County basketball season is quickly drawing to a close, and with it, the stakes are the highest they've been all year.
Following a 2025 high school season that featured a state champion and a state runner-up in basketball, Palm Beach County is once again home to a special group of programs eyeing state glory.
The district playoffs are rapidly approaching, setting the stage for the 2026 postseason. These knockout tournaments begin the long journey to the FHSAA state championships in Jacksonville.
District champions will clinch one of four automatic bids in eight-team regions while the remaining four at-large bids are given to teams based on their finish in the final FHSAA state rankings via MaxPreps.
Grandview Prep, Somerset Canyons girls back and better than ever
Ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the state, respectively, Grandview Prep and Somerset Canyons are set to begin their playoff runs in district play, though each has much bigger fish to fry.
Grandview Prep is coming off of a state title win after spending all last season as the team to beat in Class 1A and the Pride will expect a cake-walk through a lenient district. Somerset Canyons, meanwhile, missed out on the program's first-ever basketball state title but are poised for a return.
Of course, teams must defeat the team in front of them each round, and for both girls powerhouse programs, staying hot is just as important as the wins themselves.
Eyes will turn to Grandview Prep's Jasleen Green in district play, with the point guard averaging over 17 points per game this season. If the senior can keep her momentum going, she has the opportunity to be one of Florida's best scoring threats this year.
Alana Pinnock will draw the eyes in district play. Freshly-armed with a University of Florida offer, the sophomore has continued to be among the top sophomore in the county, and she led the Cougars in a shock victory over Grandview Prep in the regular season finale.
Yes, there may be bigger fish to fry, but district tournaments offer another chance for both of Palm Beach County's top girls programs to dazzle local basketball fans.
Suncoast boys the cream of the crop in 4A
Last year, Suncoast basketball legends of the Charger Rapid Transit — the 1980s championship-winning teams — were celebrated in the new gym as the banners were officially hung. "Seeing the banners come down, it's inspiring," Aaron Horton said after watching the ceremony. "It makes me want it more."
Horton and Co. have since created quite the buzz on this year's team, catapulting to the top of Class 4A and holding on tight, winning games against the likes of Palm Beach Central, Wellington, and Dwyer as they steam forward into district play. In fact, the Chargers have not lost a single game against any local opponent and are two one-point losses from being 20-1 on the year.
It's the kind of dominant year that harkens back to the magical decade of the Charger Rapid Transit, and if the current Chargers keep on chugging, they may need to start looking for a new nickname.
Can St. Andrew's boys navigate brutal 3A run?
St. Andrew's boys basketball is Palm Beach County's top-ranked boys basketball program, but they have one of the hardest roads to Jacksonville.
The tough-luck draw comes with being part of a dominant Class 3A field. Out of the top 20 teams in the state of Florida, nine are 3A squads (with four in the top 10). So, despite the Scots' stellar 20-3 record amid a difficult schedule and their lofty No. 11 state ranking, it does not come as a shock that the Palm Beach County titans are eyeing a few teams above them.
Calvary Christian Academy and North Broward Prep, the latter of which has defeated St. Andrew's in a close game, are both in the same region as the Scots.
Xander Gerard has been a man on a mission, with the senior topping the local charts in points scored per game as the paces the Scots offense.
It's players like Gerard that will hope to guide St. Andrew's past a grueling field in search of the program's first state title since 2020.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County basketball programs begin playoffs eyeing state glory
Category: General Sports
