Mike Ridaught
For the second consecutive year, Hawthorne junior guard C.J. Ingram and Williston boys basketball coach Jim Ervin have been recognized as the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, following balloting by a statewide panel of high school boys’ basketball coaches and prep media members.
Every finalist in each of the seven Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) classifications was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in their class.
The two overall winners for Mr. Basketball and Coach of the Year will be announced next week following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
Ingram won the award as a sophomore after leading the Hornets back to the state semifinals by averaging 21.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game.
“During his transition from sophomore to junior year, CJ significantly expanded his leadership responsibilities,” said Hawthorne coach Greg Bowie. “Building upon his exemplary demonstration of leadership in the previous season, he not only continued to lead by example but also became notably more vocal and assertive this year. In addition to being a leader, he improved in several statistical categories.”
Although the Hornets (16-5) lost at Fort White, 56-51, in a Class 1A-Region 3 Semifinal last month, Ingram repeated after averaging 24 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
“He increased his scoring average from 21 points per game to 24 points per game and also raised his free throw and three-point percentages,” Bowie said. “His numbers also went up in assists, steals, and blocks. He was a crucial asset to the team this year, not only as a leader both on and off the court but also as a standout performer who greatly contributed to our success.”
Williston senior forward Kyler Lamb finished second in the voting (118-101).
Lamb helped lead the Red Devils (29-2) to their second straight Class 1A state title by averaging 16.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game.
“He’s probably the most versatile player, I think, in the state of Florida,” Ervin said. “He can defend, he can play offense. On the offensive end he can handle the ball and become a playmaker, he can score for us, and on the defensive end he can defend basically 2-5 for us when we needed him to so that’s how versatile he is on both ends of the court. I haven’t coached that many players that are that productive on both ends of the court.”
Ervin repeated as the 1A Coach of the Year.
“It’s an award that is handed out usually to the guy that wins the most games and wins the state title,” he said. “I’ll take the award but it’s more about my team. Without those young men there wouldn’t be any awards for me. I’m happy to get it, no doubt about it, back-to-back state titles and recognized as Coach of the Year two years in a row also, but that just says what your program is about, not only your kids but your entire program.”
In four years at Williston, Ervin has compiled an 84-26 record and has a 27-year career mark of 428-203.
Williston, which won its first state title in program history last year, became the first area boys’ basketball team to win back-to-back since Gainesville High won consecutive 5A titles in 1999 and 2000.
Fort White’s Elven Sheppard finished third in the voting for 1A Coach of the Year behind Ervin and Myron Saunders of state runner-up Hilliard.
The Indians (17-7) lost to eventual district champion Hawthorne, 69-57, in the 1A-District 6 semifinals but they defeated the Hornets in the opening round of the 1A state playoffs.
Final voting numbers for Class 1A (top three):
Class 1A Player of the Year
C.J. Ingram, Hawthorne,118
Kyler Lamb, Williston,101
C.J. Hall, Hilliard, 60
Class 1A Coach of the Year
Jim Ervin, Williston, 112
Myron Saunders, Hilliard, 93
Elven Sheppard, Fort White, 29
Here are the seven finalists for the 2024 Mr. Basketball Award:
Cameron Boozer, Junior, Forward, Columbus, Class 7A Player of the Year
The 2023 Florida Mr. Basketball led his team to a 27-4 record and the Class 7A championship by averaging 22.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.6 steals per game.
Josh Harris, Senior, Forward, Pembroke Pines Charter, Class 6A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 25-4 record and the Class 6A state championship by averaging 19.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. Signed with the University of North Florida.
Marcus Allen, Senior, Guard/Forward, Norland, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 21-10 record and the Class 5A state championship by averaging 18.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Signed with the University of Missouri.
Jacob Daniels, Junior, Guard, Gibbs, Class 4A Player of the Year
Led his squad to a 27-5 record and the Class 4A state championship by averaging 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
Dante Allen, Junior, Guard, Riviera Prep, Class 3A Player-of-the-Year
Led his team to a 25-9 record and a second straight Class 3A state title by averaging 21.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.4 steals per game.
Lorenzo Cason, Senior, Guard, Victory Christian, Class 2A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 25-5 record and a spot in the regional final by averaging 24.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Signed with Florida Atlantic University.
C.J. Ingram, Junior, Guard, Hawthorne, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 16-5 record by averaging 24.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
Here are the seven finalists for the 2024 Boys’ Basketball Coach-of-the-Year Award:
Andrew Moran, Columbus, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 27-4 record and the Class 7A state championship. In five years at Columbus, he has posted a 114-31 record with another state title in 2022 and a state runner-up finish in 2023.
Dave Roca, Pembroke Pines Charter, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-4 record and the Class 6A state championship. In 15 years at Pembroke Pines, Roca has compiled a 255-107 record with another state title in 2021 and a state runner-up finish in 2020.
Lawton Williams, Norland, Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 21-10 record and the Class 5A state championship. It was Norland’s seventh state title under Williams, and its first since winning four straight from 2012-15. Williams matched former Blanche Ely coach Melvin Randall for the most state titles and is the first coach to win seven titles at one school. His career record is 463-148.
Larry Murphy, Gibbs, Class 4A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 27-5 record and the Class 4A state title, the school’s first state championship since 1969. Gibbs was a Final Four team in 2022 and 2023 and avenged a 2022 semifinal loss to Jackson in this year’s state final.
Anthony Shahbaz, Riviera Prep, Class 3A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-8 record and a second straight Class 3A state championship. In five years, Shahbaz has posted a 141-54 record, including a state runner-up finish in 2022.
David Roe, Sagemont, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-6 record and a second straight Class 2A state title. In seven years, Roe has a 135-56 record at Sagemont, including a state runner-up finish in 2022.
Jim Ervin, Williston, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 29-2 record and a second straight Class 1A state title. In four years at Williston, Ervin has compiled an 84-26 record and has a 27-year career mark of 428-203.