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Bryant earns second player of year nod

Clay Today All County Boys Basketball

Randy Lefko
Posted 3/22/17

OAKLEAF - Oakleaf High senior forward Jonathan Bryant II played with one of the biggest targets on his back this season as his presence from last year as one of the strongest offensive forces in …

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Bryant earns second player of year nod

Clay Today All County Boys Basketball


Posted

OAKLEAF - Oakleaf High senior forward Jonathan Bryant II played with one of the biggest targets on his back this season as his presence from last year as one of the strongest offensive forces in north Florida and also one of the more athletic players on the court was very much well known by opposing teams.

"To have everyone in the gym know you need to score and perform well and still do it is special," said Oakleaf High coach Jason Price. "Jon also helped our young players to take more prominent roles.'

Despite his aforementioned reputation and the attention of numerous defensive sets to slow him down, Bryant still excelled on the court for the Knights while writing an entire chapter in the school record book for Oakleaf High School.

For that, Bryant becomes the first two-time Clay Today boys basketball player of the year. Bryant punched up 18.0 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 27 steals and three 30-plus point games for the Knights.

Price, who lost Bryant's wingman from 2016, Nassir Little, to Orlando Christian Prep's 3A state champion team, and had to restructure his lineup around that hole in the roster, cited school records for career points (1,381), rebounds (454), steals (116), three-point shots attempted and made, free throws attempted and made, field goals attempted and made and also fourth in career shots blocked.

"Jonathan was everything we asked him to be and you would want from a senior captain," said Price. "The energy and patience it takes to play versus box and one and double teams and junk defense and to stay focused and still have little dropoff in performance speaks volumes."

Though the Knights did not repeat as the district 2-8A champions, falling in the semifinals to Creekside, the Knights finished a topsy-turvy season as probably one of the more unpredictable teams in north Florida capable of greatness on a whim.

Bryant earned a Most Valuable Player while leading Oakleaf to the Bozard Ford St. Augustine Holiday Tournament, and made a handful of Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) all state and all state academic teams in a very rugged Class 8A, Region 6 lineup of teams.

For the Clay Today All County boys basketball team, at guard, Eric Collins, a senior for Fleming Island High, is joined by Orange Park High senior Jalen Oliver to offer a tandem of high-energy playmakers that orchestrated their respective teams offenses.

Collins, a slasher with enough muscle to battle under the boards, averaged 11.4 points per game with near four rebounds and assists as well.

"Played fearless, as he went, so did the team," said Fleming Island coach Traavis Chandler, who finishes his first year at the helm with Collins setting the standard for the attack-mode philosophy for future Golden Eagle teams. "Eric played with a lot of passion and was a main catalyst in leading Fleming to an additional 10 wins from the previous season. Began the season with seven consecutive double digit scoring games."

Oliver, one of the handful of fast-moving guards on coach Derek Kurnitsky frenzied attack, was able to slide under the basket on his baseline assaults to average 12 points and four rebounds while dishing for three assists per game. Oliver, with Bryant, both played in Saturday's Florida Athletic Coaches Association All State All Star game at Orange Park High School.

On the front line, Oakleaf High freshman Chantz Williams was a welcomed face for Knights' fans to easily forget about Little as he obliterated the school shot block season record with an amazing 106 blocks (4.4 per game) that made his presence in the paint a daunting defensive shield against opposing attempts to drive to the hoop.

"One of the best defensive players in northeast Florida," said Price, who owned the sixth rated defensive unit in north Florida. "His ability to change entire games by his defensive presence makes him a very special talent."

Williams was also a FACA all stater and all state academic nominee.

At one forward, Clay High' Ajay Belanger converted his leaping and hands abilities to basketball after football season and instantly put the Blue Devils on the map as one of more dangerous teams to turn a second half of a season around.

"Arguably the best player for this year's Clay squad that had it's first winning season in over a 10 year span," said Clay coach Jared Moses. "Long, athletic and versatile player."

Belanger averaged 11.1 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game.

The fifth first teamer is a rugged battler for the Chandler in senior forward Daniel Sanborn who, time after time, came up with the big rebound, big layup or big steal in the aggressive defensive pressure that the Golden Eagles tried to put against enemy offenses.

Sanborn, at 6'-6", was one of the more athletic players on the Golden Eagle squad with endless energy to create opportunity at both ends of the court for four quarters.

"Daniel was, at times, the most consistent scoring option for the Golden Eagles down the stretch," said Chandler. "A tough bruiser inside the paint, Sanborn also scored in double figures in 18 games and scored 20 or more points in five games."

Second team

1, Deonte Sherwood, junior guard, Oakleaf, 11.9 points per game, 3.5 rebounds. 3.0 assists per game. 1.8 steals per game. three 20-plus point games. Price: "Deonte was a catalyst for a lot of big wins."

2. Colin Wilson, senior forward, Clay, 9.8 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, 2.5 steals per game. Jared Moses: "Four year varsity starter for Clay High. Physical presence tells you all you need to know about the multi-sport star. Integral piece for the growth of the Clay program."

3. Blake Partin, senior guard, Orange Park, 11 points per game, five rebounds per game. Kurnitsky: "A gamechanger when his three pointer is on."

4. Warren Miller, senior forward, Fleming Island, 7.8 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, 2.2 steals per game. Chandler: "Miller was instrumental for the Golden Eagles defensively with his energy, hustle, and shot blocking. His length and athleticism caused problems for opponents as he usually played the top of the 1-3-1 attack Fleming played later in the season."

5. Orlando Wimberly, senior guard, Middleburg, 18.1 points per game, six rebounds per game, three steals per game. Tristan (MHS coach): "Orlando has been key in the culture for the team here at MHS from the classroom to the gym, he is a leader. He has a 3.6 GPA and is enrolled in multiple advanced classes."

Honorable Mention

CHS: Cameren McHenry, Guard 8.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 blocks. Moses: "Huge move in from Wisconsin and pick up for the Blue Devils. Very athletic and skilled post player! Fit in nicely with this year's Clay team and style."

OHS: Dominique Mitchell, senior forward, Jacari Cicero, senior center

RHS: Josh Deleon, guard 14.6 ppg, 44 three pointers; Damien Toney, 25 three-pointers, Montel Twyman, 7.3 ppg.

MHS: Terron Allen, senior guard

OPHS: John Abate (sophomore, 11 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 assists), Ty McBride, Darrell Vann

FIHS: Brandon Olsen, Conner Sebastian, Christian Young