Hardwood stars: How Jacksonville-area players fared in 2024-25 NCAA D-I men’s basketball

March Madness is in full swing, and this year, athletes from the First Coast have already made an impact.

After a relative down year in 2023-24 for Jacksonville-area players in NCAA men’s basketball, the new season saw multiple locals help teams into the NCAA Tournament, including Ross Candelino (Ponte Vedra) and Gyasi Powell (Bishop Snyder) at ASUN champion Lipscomb.

Among the newcomers to college hoops, perhaps the most dramatic impact came from Ribault’s Caleb Williams, a Patriot League All-Rookie team selection averaging double figures as a freshman guard at Lafayette.

Here’s how players from Jacksonville-area high schools fared in Division I men’s college hoops for 2024-25.

G Chris Arias

6-6, Fr., Jacksonville, Providence

Appeared in 32 games (four starts), averaging 6.3 points, 2.2 rebounds; on ASUN All-Freshman team.

G Anakin Brown

6-3, Fr., Jacksonville, Beachside

Played in one game.

G Ross Candelino

6-5, Jr., Lipscomb, Ponte Vedra

Played in 20 games, averaging 2.4 points after transfer from Wisconsin.

C Valentin Catt

6-9, Gr., Houston Christian, Potter’s House Christian

Did not play.

G Deebo Coleman

6-6, Sr., UCF, West Nassau

Averaged 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds in 33 games after transfer from Georgia Tech

F Deangelo Elisee

6-9, Sr.*, IPFW, North Florida Educational

Appeared in 31 games (eight starts) with averages of 1.9 points, 2.0 rebounds.

F Ben Ezeagu

6-7, Jr., Appalachian St., Potter’s House Christian

Played in six games.

G David Fonville

6-3, Fr., High Point, Providence

Played in five games for 29-win Big South champions.

G Kent Jackson

6-3, Fr., Jacksonville, Episcopal

Played in 31 games, averaging 2.6 points and converting 24 of 73 3-pointers.

G Lajae Jones

6-7, Jr., St. Bonaventure, Fletcher

Shot 40 percent from 3-point arc; averaged 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds in 33 games.

G Nari Jordan

6-8, Sr., Alabama A&M, Paxon

Did not play.

G J.T. Kelly

6-2, Jr., Notre Dame, Ponte Vedra

Appeared in three games.

G Mason Lee

6-7, So., North Florida, Providence

Appeared in 18 games, averaging 1.4 points.

F Elijah Mahi

6-7, Jr., Santa Clara, Potter’s House Christian

Averaged 11.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists in first year after transfer from West Valley College.

F James Morrow

6-8, So., S.C. State, Jackson

Averaged 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 30 games (four starts) for MEAC runners-up.

F Stephon Payne III

6-9, Jr., Jacksonville, Jackson

Averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds in 27 games (23 starts).

G Gyasi Powell

6-3, Sr., Lipscomb, Bishop Snyder

Started all 34 games after transferring from Jacksonville, averaging 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists.

C Christian Richardson

7-1, Jr., Long Beach St., Potter’s House Christian

Averaged 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 27 games after two years at Butler Community College.

G Pierce Shirk

6-4, So., Morgan St., Bolles

Transferred from Georgia Southern and appeared in 12 games; announced plans Monday to enter transfer portal.

G Taylor Thompson

5-11, Fr., North Florida, Impact Christian

Did not play.

F Corey Walker Jr.

6-8, Sr., USF, Bishop Snyder

Played in 10 games; suspended from team in January and no longer listed on roster.

G Caleb Williams

Fr., Lafayette, Ribault

Played all 33 games with 25 starts, averaging 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 34 percent from 3-point range; All-Rookie honoree in Patriot League.

G Simeon Womack

6-2, Jr., Bethune-Cookman, West Nassau

Played in six games.

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