The 2025-26 high school boys basketball season is underway. And the story remains the same for The Prep Zone Power Poll.

Starting the new season at the top is the same team that ended last season at No.1, The Villages. The Buffalo finished the 2024-25 season as the state runner-up in Class 3A, and they are the No. 1 team in the pre-season poll. The Villages, who finished last season 26-6 and lost to Calvary Christian (Clearwater) by two points in the 3A state title game, received seven of the 10 first-place votes.

Right behind them is Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville). The Tigers advanced to the state semifinals for the sixth time in seven years last March and were eliminated in Lakeland by The Villages. Jackson had been No. 1 most of the season but fell to No. 2 after that loss. The Tigers received two first-place votes.

Another state semifinalist, Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) starts the new season at No. 3. The Toros advanced to their first Final Four, where they lost in the 6A semifinals to Evans (Orlando).

Ponte Vedra is at No. 4. The Sharks are back in the top five after another trip to the final four, where they lost the 5A championship game to Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach).

Last year’s rural classification state champion, Hawthorne, rounded out the top five. The Hornets won their second state title in five years as they handled their semifinal and championship game opponents by a combined 46 points. Hawthorne, who finished last season 20-3, received the final first-place vote.

The second five is led by another state semifinalist, Impact Christian (Jacksonville), from 1A. Ribault (Jacksonville), a 4A state semifinalist, comes in at No. 7, with University Christian (Jacksonville), Eustis, and Leesburg rounding out the top 10. All three of those teams advanced to the final four.

Among the Mainstreet Daily News teams in the second 10 are No. 11 Newberry, 13th-ranked Gainesville, Williston, who is tied for 14th with Providence (Jacksonville), and Fort White, who is tied for 19th with Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville).

Trenton, Santa Fe (Alachua) and Chiefland are receiving votes.

Bishop Kenny is the only team in the poll that wasn’t in last season’s final rankings. The Crusaders replace Oakleaf (Orange Park), who finished the 2024-25 season at No. 20.

The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.

THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2025-26 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #1 (PRESEASON POLL)

(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, final 2024-25 record, and total voting points)

Teams in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area are in bold

1. The Villages (3A) (7) (26-6) – 193

2. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (3A) (2) (28-3) – 188

3. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (27-4) – 166

4. Ponte Vedra (5A) (22-9) – 163

5. Hawthorne (Rural) (1) (20-3) – 144

6. Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (1A) (23-7) – 142

7. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (21-9) – 136

8. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (22-9) – 114

9. Eustis (4A) (21-9) – 98

10. Leesburg (5A) (17-8) – 96

11. Newberry (3A) (24-1) – 88

12. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (23-6) – 85

13. Gainesville (5A) (21-8) – 78

14T. Providence (Jacksonville) (2A) (16-13) – 64

14T. Williston (Rural) (16-12) – 64

16. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (22-6) – 54

17. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (19-8) – 34

18. Atlantic (Port Orange) (4A) (22-8) – 33

19T. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (18-11) – 28

19T. Fort White (Rural) (15-10) – 28

Also receiving votes: Lecanto (5A) (26-4) – 25; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (18-8) – 12; New Smyrna Beach (5A) (20-8) – 10; Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (12-14) – 8; Eagle’s View (Jacksonville) (1A) (20-8) – 7; Trenton (Rural) (15-12) – 7; San Jose Prep (Jacksonville) (2A) (8-17) – 4; Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (17-11) – 3; Chiefland (Rural) (15-10) -1; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6A) (21-6) – 1.