The eight individual class finalists for the 2026 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball and Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school boys’ basketball coaches and prep media members.

One of those finalists is Anthony Washington of Branford, who was named the Rural Class Player of the Year.

Washington finished his senior campaign averaging 24.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 3.2 steals per game, leading the Bucs (12-14) in points, rebounds and assists.

“On behalf of Anthony and myself, I want to say thank you for even considering him for this award,” said Branford coach Marcel Thomas, whose team lost in the Rural-District 5 championship game to Hilliard and did not make the postseason. “We are excited.”

Washington, who has interest from Ottawa University, Davis and Elkins, and Robert Morris University, will be participating in Saturday’s The Prep Zone All-Star Showcase, where he will put his high school uniform on one last time.

“Anthony has played for me for four years, so I had the chance to watch him grow on and off the court,” Thomas said. “He has become an exceptional young and really great player. He was the leader on our team this season, verbally and physically through his play on the court.”

With 71 points, he edged Jabari Boahen of Crossroad Academy (67 points) and Tanner Mandell of Jay (60).

Williston coach Jim Ervin finished second in the voting for the Rural Coach of the Year after leading the Red Devils back to the state championship game.

They lost to Crossroad Academy (Quincy), 61-56 in overtime, in the FHSAA Rural state championship game at the University of Florida in Jacksonville on Friday, Feb. 27.

It was their third state championship game appearance in the last four years, which included back-to-back state titles in 2023, their first in program history, and 2024.

“It’s hard to accept considering we felt we were the best team in the state last year, and had a lot of injuries down the stretch, and felt if we wouldn’t have been hurt, we would have won a state title last year,” Ervin said. “Obviously, with a young group, we had an opportunity to win it this year and didn’t get it done, but what a run by these kids. What a group of young men that they’re going to come back for many years now and compete for state titles every year.”

Ervin (80 points) finished behind Crossroad Academy coach Brandon Shingles (125) but ahead of Trenton coach Eric Bullis (44 points).

It was the first final four in program history for Trenton High School (25-5), which defeated Hilliard, 67-51, in the Rural-Region 3 Final to advance.

“This season was an amazing ride for all players and coaches in our program,” Bullis said. “It has truly been a team effort, with all our coaches and players collaborating to get the most out of the season. It has been a 4-year process since I took over, full of wins and losses, successes and adversity—an experience I would not trade for the world.”

Williston defeated Trenton, 60-52, in the state semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at UNF Arena.

“Having the opportunity to help lead our program to the first state final four in school history is a memory I will cherish forever,” Bullis said. “As we discuss regularly, individual awards and recognition result from team success and a team-first mentality and culture. Our kids have embraced that and several of them and myself are now being recognized for that shared success. It is an honor and privilege to coach at Trenton High School, and I look for many more successful seasons to come.”

Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in his class. The two winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.

The eight finalists for the 2026 Mr. Basketball Award:

Caleb Gaskins, Miami Columbus, Senior, Forward, Class 7A Player of the Year

The McDonald’s All-America led his team to a 26-6 record and a fifth straight Class 7A state championship by averaging 23.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Signed with the University of Miami.

Drake (DJ) Sandi, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), Senior, Guard, Class 6A Player of the Year

Led his team to a 28-4 record and the Class 6A state championship by averaging 11.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 3.6 steals per game. Committed to American University.

Carson Crawford, Fleming Island (Orange Park), Junior, Forward, Class 5A Player of the Year

Led his team to a 23-9 record and a Class 5A state runner-up finish by averaging 17.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

Tai Bell, Mater Lakes Academy (Miami), Sophomore, Guard, Class 4A Player of the Year

Led his team to an 18-10 record by averaging 33.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 4.0 steals per game.

Cayden Daughtry, Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale), Junior, Guard, Class 3A Player-of-the-Year

Led his team to a 25-1 record and the Class 3A state title by averaging 26.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game.

D.J. Gaines, Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale), Junior, Guard, Class 2A Player of the Year

Averaged 30.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

Kevin Thomas, Sagemont Prep (Weston), Senior, Guard, Class 1A Player of the Year

Led his team to a 24-6 record and the Class 1A state title by averaging 15.5 points, 4.2 rebounds,

2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Signed with Louisiana State University.

Anthony Washington, Branford, Senior, Guard, Rural Class Player of the Year

Averaged 24.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.2 steals per game.

The eight finalists for the 2026 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year:

BJ Ivey, Sarasota, Class 7A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 25-7 record and a state runner-up finish, dropping the state title game, 53-50, to Miami Columbus, which claimed its fifth straight championship. In five years at Sarasota, Ivey has posted a 103-39 record, including a 98-19 record the past four years after going 5-20 in his first season at the school.

Julius Sandi, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), Class 6A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 28-4 record and a second straight Class 6A state championship. In six seasons at Aquinas, Sandi has compiled a 137-29 record.

Dave Roca, Pembroke Pines Charter, Class 5A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 22-6 record and the Class 5A state championship, the school’s third state title in the past six years (2021-24-26).

Jason Powell, Suncoast (Riviera Beach), Class 4A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 25-5 record and the Class 4A state title, the school’s first state championship in 36 years. In 18 years at Suncoast, Powell has posted a 304-135 record.

Cilk Mcsweeney, Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale), Class 3A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 24-1 record and a second straight Class 3A state title. In 12 years at Calvary, he has posted a 205-87 record while winning five state championships (2017-21-22-25-26).

Jim Martin, Providence (Jacksonville), Class 2A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 29-3 record and the Class 2A state title, his fourth championship at Providence, but the first since winning three titles in a six-year span (2010-13-15). In 26 years at Providence he has posted a 664-124 record.

David Roe, Sagemont Prep (Weston), Class 1A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 24-6 record and a fourth straight state title. In nine years, Roe has a 181-70 record at Sagemont, including a state runner-up finish in 2022.

Brandon Shingles, Crossroad Academy (Quincy), Rural Class Coach of the Year

In his first year as head coach, Shingles led his squad to a 21-3 record and the Rural Class state title.

Final voting numbers by class (top three):

Class 7A

Player School Points

Caleb Gaskins Miami Columbus 174

Johnny Lackaff Sarasota 88

Donovan Williams Oak Ridge 63

Coach School Points

BJ Ivey Sarasota 125

Jorge Milo Columbus 89

Sidarious Roundtree Lake Mary 75

Class 6A

Player School Points

DJ Sandi St. Thomas Aquinas 129

AJ Jenkins Wiregrass Ranch 92

Evan Roberts Parrish Community 47

Coach School Points

Julius Sandi St. Thomas Aquinas 129

Lonza Morgan Evans 80

Mike Weaving Sickles 49

Class 5A

Player School Points

Carson Crawford Fleming Island 70

Braylon Moore Lecanto 66

Robert Guishard Pembroke Pines Charter 66

Coach School Points

Dave Roca Pembroke Pines Charter 114

Traavis Chandler Fleming Island 91

Frank Vilardi Lecanto 52

Class 4A

Player School Points

Tai Bell Mater Lakes Academy 116

Jaden Staten Godby 75

Drew Jackson Bishop Kenny 39

Coach School Points

Jason Powell Suncoast 137

Travis Norfolk Atlantic 73

Jerry Buckley Bishop Kenny 63

Class 3A

Player School Points

Cayden Daughtry Calvary Christian 148

Brandon Bass Jr. Windermere Prep 100

Herley Brutus The Villages 37

Coach School Points

Cilk Mcsweeney Calvary Christian 97

Colt McDowell The Villages 87

Ben Fratrik Lake Highland Prep 76

Class 2A

Player School Points

D.J. Gaines Westminster Academy 98

Marvin Christie Providence 86

Toby Lane Santa Fe Catholic 55

Coach School Points

Jim Martin Providence 170

Ralph Mata Miami Country Day 64

Mike Blicher Santa Fe Catholic 55

Class 1A

Player School Points

Kevin Thomas Sagemont Prep 132

Tucker Fox Victory Christian 46

Grant Cook Keswick Christian 42

Coach School Points

David Roe Sagemont Prep 129

Steve Fitzgerald Victory Christian 93

Albert Settles Central Florida Christian 49

Rural Class

Player School Points

Anthony Washington Branford 71

Jabari Boahen Crossroad Academy 67

Tanner Mandell Jay 60

Coach School Points

Brandon Shingles Crossroad Academy 125

Jim Ervin Williston 80

Eric Bullis Trenton 44