Super slam: Northeast Florida 2022-23 locals in NCAA Division I men's basketball
This year, Jacksonville-area players scored from the perimeter to the rim.
From the outside-shooting feats of Georgia Tech's Deebo Coleman to the occasional rim-rattling dunk from Florida's Alex Fudge, athletes from the First Coast lined up across almost two dozen NCAA Division I men's basketball teams during the 2022-23 season.
The Times-Union lists the First Coast's players across its annual Division I men’s basketball team. Players must have played at, graduated from or gone in a prep school capacity at a local school to be considered at that program. Redshirts are indicated by an *.
Note that this list only includes players who were on a team roster during the season. For example, Hilliard's Jacob Crews signed to transfer to UT-Martin in November, but will not join the roster until the 2023-24 season.
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F Isaiah Adams
6-6, Jr., Buffalo, Paxon
Started all 32 games after transfer from UCF, averaging 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds.
G Ross Candelino
6-5, Fr., Wisconsin, Ponte Vedra
Appeared in five games.
G Deebo Coleman
6-6, So., Georgia Tech, West Nassau
Averaged 9.5 points, 2.9 rebounds while starting a team-high 31 games; shot 32.6 percent from 3-point range.
F Deangelo Elisee
6-9, Jr., IPFW, NFEI
Did not play.
G Mark Flakus
6-1, Fr., North Florida, Episcopal
Appeared in eight games.
F Ahren Freeman
6-7, Jr., UT-Rio Grande Valley, Providence
Started 21 of 28 games, averaging 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds.
F Alex Fudge
6-9, So., Florida, Lee
LSU transfer played 32 games with 11 starts in Gators' frontcourt; averaged 5.8 points, 4.5 boards.
G Max Hrdlicka
6-6, Fr., North Florida, Glynn Academy
Averaged 2.3 points in eight games.
G Lajae Jones
6-7, Fr., Tarleton St., Fletcher
Averaged 3.6 points in 10 games.
C Melian Martinez
6-10, Fr., St. Bonaventure, NFEI
Did not play.
G Jalen Nesmith
6-0, Jr.*, Jacksonville, Bishop Snyder
Appeared in 19 games, with 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
F Wheza Panzo
6-7, Sr., Stetson, Potter's House
Averaged 8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 30 games, starting 29.
C Stephon Payne
6-9, Fr., Incarnate Word, Jackson
Worked into starting lineup with 30 games, 16 starts; averaged 6.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks.
G Gyasi Powell
6-3, So.*, Jacksonville, Bishop Snyder
Versatile guard started 24 games, averaging 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists.
G Brandon Rasmussen
6-4, So., North Florida, Potter's House
Played in six games.
C James Lee Repass
6-10, So., Furman, Providence
Did not play.
G Josiah Sabino
6-4, Fr., Jacksonville, Orange Park
Did not play during redshirt year.
C Osborn Shema
7-0, Sr., Iona, Glove Prep
Averaged 7.0 points, 4.7 rebounds in 34 games (29 starts) as interior presence for Northeast Conference champions.
G Jordan Smith
6-6, Fr., Queens, Sandalwood
Did not play.
F Corey Walker Jr.
6-8, So., USF, Bishop Snyder
Averaged 3.5 points, 4.0 rebounds in 30 games (two starts) following transfer from Tennessee.
G Simeon Womack
6-2, Fr., Bethune-Cookman, West Nassau
Appeared in eight games.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: College basketball: Jacksonville-area players in 2023 NCAA Division I
