A coaching giant is returning to the sidelines, this time southwest of the Duval County line.
Oakleaf announced the hiring of former Jackson coach James Collins as the Knights’ next boys basketball coach, bringing a Jacksonville hoops legend to Clay County.
He takes over from head coach Jason Price, who had led Oakleaf for 16 seasons and achieved numerous playoff appearances since the school opened its doors for the 2010-11 school year. Price compiled a 241-166 record with the Knights, including 14 consecutive seasons at or above .500.
Collins’ hiring closes an unusual coaching transition. In April, Oakleaf had initially announced the pending hire of Mark Lieberman, who coached Monsignor Pace to FHSAA titles in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2008.
Collins coached Jackson from 2009 to 2024, finishing above .500 in 14 of 15 seasons and revitalizing the Tigers’ still-active status as a Gateway Conference superpower. He steered the Tigers to the Florida High School Athletic Association final four in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
As a player, Collins still ranks among the all-time best to come out of Jacksonville. His 2,212 points in three varsity seasons from 1991-93 set a Gateway Conference record (subsequently surpassed by Fletcher’s Myron Anthony), and he led Jackson to an FHSAA championship in 1992-93 while winning the Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball award.
At Florida State, Collins ranks third all-time with 1,793 points, earning All-ACC honors three times. Drafted No. 37 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1997, he played 23 NBA games with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Oakleaf boys hoops finished 12-12 in 2025-26. For the next two years, the FHSAA has assigned the school to District 3-5A with Clay, Gainesville, Middleburg, Orange Park and Ridgeview.
Trinity’s Harris leads local draft prospects
With high school baseball’s regular season nearly in the books, four Northeast Florida players are currently listed in Perfect Game’s top 400 prospects for the MLB Draft.
Trinity Christian outfielder Brady Harris leads the Jacksonville-area contingent, currently listed at No. 63. Harris has committed to Florida.
The top 400 list also includes Bishop Snyder pitcher Cole Dennis at No. 158, Florida State catcher and former First Coast standout Hunter Carns at No. 235 and Trinity Christian infielder Parker Loew at No. 334.
The 2025 MLB Draft was exceptional for Northeast Florida, with former Fletcher pitcher Kyson Witherspoon (No. 15 overall) heading six area selections on the first day.
Solid spring for Trinity football
One week of spring football games is in the books for Northeast Florida, and if anyone still had doubts about whether Trinity Christian would be ready to contend in 2026, the Conquerors tackled those quickly.
Trinity made a springtime statement in a 25-9 victory over regional finalist Mandarin. Rising sophomore Micah Anderson, among the area’s rushers to watch this fall, scored one of Trinity’s four touchdowns and quarterback Hicks Zarah rushed for another.
The Conqueror defense, which includes two of the city’s top 2027 prospects in linebacker Terrell Pinkney and two-way lineman Adrian Williams, shapes up as one to watch in Class 1A for 2027.
Additional results of note from the first contests of the spring:
- Middleburg might have yet another name to add to the prospect list for the class of 2028. Receiver CJ Williams caught eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and also kicked four extra points in the Broncos’ 34-0 win at Palatka.
- Duval Charter and Providence both stood strong on defense in their three-team jamboree against Eagle’s View. Duval Charter won 20-0 and Providence 13-0 in their individual quarters against Eagle’s View, while Duval Charter and Providence played to a 0-0 deadlock.
- Columbia’s defensive front caused big problems for opponents in 2025, and there could be more of the same this year. Rising junior Mikel Morgan, whose college offer list is growing at a steady clip, scored on a fumble recovery as the Tigers topped Camden County.
- It won’t count in the records because of its exhibition status, but Fort White showed off big-time defensive production in its 19-10 win over Williston. Fort White forced 10 turnovers (nine interceptions, one fumble), as reported by the Lake City Reporter.
Ponte Vedra tops USA Lacrosse South poll
They’re the best in Florida, and now beyond.
Ponte Vedra boys lacrosse finished on top of USA Lacrosse’s regional rankings for the South, stretching from North Carolina all the way to Texas.
The Sharks topped the regional list ahead of Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin, Highland Park (Texas), Boca Raton St. Andrew’s, The Woodlands (Texas) and Roswell (Ga.).
Ponte Vedra closed the year on a 10-game winning streak and defeated St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 2A final to finish 21-2, earning the second FHSAA title in program history.
McCoy picked for All-America game
Four times a regional champion, Brooke McCoy is now getting the chance to shine on a national stage.
The Episcopal midfielder is among 12 players named in the third wave of girls selections for the New Balance All-America Lacrosse Senior Game.
The Senior All-America game takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Md. ESPNU will televise both the girls game and the boys game immediately afterward.
McCoy scored 67 goals and 18 assists as a senior, along with 33 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers. Signed with Duke, she recorded 217 goals and 78 assists with Episcopal.
Gateway recognizes Stanton tennis quartet
Gateway Conference champion Stanton fared well once more in the county’s All-Gateway tennis team.
Stanton’s Jay Deering and Henry Deering both earned boys All-Gateway recognition, while Angela Chen and Sofie Thakkar represented the Blue Devils on the girls side.
Boys selections also included Atlantic Coast’s Marko Stevanovic and Stefan Sisljagic, Fletcher’s Brayden Woods, Mandarin’s Johnny Lan and Wolfson’s Jack Miller and Max Berzsenyi.
The All-Gateway girls list included Atlantic Coast’s Lana Salvador, Fletcher’s Kaylee Munson, Paxon’s Sienna Jenkins and Brooklyn Reeves and Wolfson’s Luella Legene and Emma Mae Abernathy.
Paxon trio on Gateway flag squad
All-Gateway Conference flag football highlighted an excellent year for Paxon, which won the Gateway tournament and reached the FHSAA regional final.
Taniya Booker, Treasure Curry and Elyanna Perez represented the Golden Eagles on this year’s All-Gateway squad. Paxon overcame then-undefeated Mandarin in the conference final.
The annual list also included Atlantic Coast’s Stella Carter, Baldwin’s Shania Freeman and Memphis Perkins, Fletcher’s Rachael McCroy, Mandarin’s Justice Almon, Olivia Gamble and Akaylah Hewett, Ribault’s Jacorey Andrews, Jada Davis and Kamya Leroy, Sandalwood’s Kirsten Gudmalin and White’s Kyra Jackson and Makayla Jordan.
Curry, Gudmalin and University Christian’s MJ Bishop are also among the selections for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Classic, scheduled for May 22-23 at Mulberry in Polk County. Ponte Vedra’s Scott Conroy is on the coaching staff for the North team.
Around the area
Trinity Christian outside hitter Nova Hewlett committed to West Florida volleyball. … Ponte Vedra midfielder Brayden Sandoval committed to Colorado State-Pueblo men’s soccer. … Eagle’s View guard Anthony Austin committed to Carolina University men’s basketball. … Bishop Snyder recognized college signings for Gavin Beck (men’s basketball, Lynn), Faye Brooks (women’s cross country, Lander), Owen Conway (football, Trine), Shelby Gaines (women’s basketball, FSCJ), Aybree Gonzalez (twirl squad, Tennessee), Ilias Mamea (baseball, Santa Fe College) and Brecken Wright (football, Warner). … Middleburg’s Avery Rhoden signed with Tennessee Wesleyan men’s bowling. … Yulee’s Ruby Walker signed with New College of Florida women’s tennis. … Baker County outfielder Mallory Jackson reached 100 career hits. … Harvest Community hired James Dell as head basketball coach, with David Meddings stepping away from the court but remaining as athletic director. … Bolles’ Gianna Vasto finished 12th in the girls 1-meter final at the USA Diving World Junior Championships Trials in Coral Springs. … Creekside wing midfielder Luke Amann was called up to training camp for the Philippines’ Under-19 national soccer team. … The annual Baker’s Sports High School Media Day for football is scheduled for July 21 at the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Miller Electric Center.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Oakleaf High School boys basketball hires James Collins as coach
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