Sizing Up Florida’s Class 5A Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Thomas Aquinas enters the new season as the team to beat in Class 5A after moving down from 6A, but the Raiders may have their sights set on an even bigger prize. With the introduction of the Open Division, Florida's top eight teams will compete across classifications for an overall state championship. If STA can secure its place among that group, the traditional Class 5A race could look very different. Meanwhile, several other programs will look to take advantage of the opportunity and establish themselves as contenders in the classification. Here's a look at the contenders:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Teams to watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Thomas Aquinas</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2025–26 record: 22–8 | Class 6A state champion</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Thomas Aquinas moves into Class 5A as the clear team to beat after capturing the 6A state championship last season. The Raiders graduate a couple of contributors but return major pieces and add plenty of talent to an already strong roster. With one of the top juniors in the country leading the way, STA will have its sights set on an Open Division berth and the opportunity to compete for an overall state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1092442' first='London' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='248374' first='Catalina' last='LaFreniere'], [player_tooltip player_id='1361790' first='Tyla' last='Mori'], [player_tooltip player_id='514970' first='Laila' last='Barnett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1613578' first='Anaya' last='Phillips'], [player_tooltip player_id='1806977' first='Bryanna' last='Baker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1574294' first='Jate' last='Hicks']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lake Howell</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2025–26 record: 23–6</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Howell looks positioned for another strong season after winning 23 games last year. The Silver Hawks will have to account for departures through graduation and transfers, but they also bring in transfers of their own while retaining key pieces. Another 20-win campaign is within reach, with a potential trip to Jacksonville serving as the ultimate goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: [player_tooltip player_id='743524' first='Skii' last='Fournier'], [player_tooltip player_id='1232619' first='Jules' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1824563' first='Emma' last='Andrulonis']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sunlake</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2025–26 record: 23–5</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunlake enters the season with a chance to establish itself as one of the premier programs in the Tampa Bay area. The Seahawks lose a couple of players to graduation but return major contributors and add one of the state's top freshmen. That combination of proven production and incoming talent gives Sunlake a strong foundation to compete for a Class 5A title and potentially emerge as the area's top team overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1235868' first='Jessi' last='Saffold'], [player_tooltip player_id='1835692' first='AC' last='Rice'], [player_tooltip player_id='1873354' first='Jailenne' last='Breton']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sebastian River</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2025–26 record: 21–4</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sebastian River brings back its entire group after a 21-win season, giving the Sharks valuable continuity and experience heading into the new year. With size throughout the roster and no need to replace key contributors, Sebastian River has the potential to build on last season's success. With Blanche Ely no longer standing in its way within the classification, the Sharks will have their sights set on reaching Jacksonville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1756910' first='Ka'Lynn' last='Pound'], [player_tooltip player_id='515051' first='Ekklesia' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='874205' first='E'Mani' last='Pryor'], [player_tooltip player_id='1235213' first='Avonti' last='Jennings'], [player_tooltip player_id='1124186' first='Destiny' last='Pickard']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ponte Vedra</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2025–26 record: 23–7</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ponte Vedra returns a strong core after another successful season, despite losing one player to a transfer. The Sharks have established themselves as a leading program in the Jacksonville area, with their guard play serving as a major strength. If the returning group continues to develop, Ponte Vedra has the pieces to challenge for a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: [player_tooltip player_id='708144' first='Jocelyn' last='Hoffmann'], [player_tooltip player_id='1363115' first='Chloe' last='Spencer-Gardner'], [player_tooltip player_id='1444837' first='Cami' last='Felsing'], [player_tooltip player_id='515065' first='Ella' last='Spencer-Gardner'], [player_tooltip player_id='1235885' first='Julia' last='Conroy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1867765' first='MJ' last='Cole']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Oak Ridge</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2025–26 record: 20–7</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Ridge remains a program to watch in the Orlando area after another 20-win season. The Pioneers lose one contributor to graduation but return much of their roster, providing a solid base for another competitive campaign. With continuity and an established program behind them, Oak Ridge has the potential to make noise in this Class 5A field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch: [player_tooltip player_id='973915' first='Sarah' last='Jean'], [player_tooltip player_id='1264086' first='Genneve' last='Carrion'], [player_tooltip player_id='1264090' first='Kaniya' last='Dumas']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other teams to watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beyond the primary contenders, <strong>Wekiva, Niceville, </strong>and<strong> JW Mitchell</strong> are three additional programs worth monitoring as the season unfolds. Each has an opportunity to establish itself within the classification, and early-season results could help determine whether any emerge as legitimate postseason threats. Who else will be looking to shock me and the rest of the state?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->