Columbus HS (26‑6)
Miami, Fla.
Five-Time Reigning Florida FHSAA Class 7A State Champion
Top Players
- 7-0 SR Akol Nyok ... 247Sports-101
- 6-3 JR Tai Bell ... ESPN-20, 247Sports-27
- 7-2 JR Martin Sibal ... ESPN-32, 247Sports-25
- 7-1 JR Martin Simko ... 247Sports-48
- 6-7 JR Cayden Gaskins ... ESPN-5
Explorers At A Glance
HEAD COACH: Jorge Milo (305-487-1944) … EMAIL: jmilo@columbushs.com
Columbus continued its historic rule over Florida’s largest classification, even after the departure of the Boozer twins (Cameron & Cayden) to Duke and former coach Andrew Moran to the University of Miami, holding off Sarasota 53-50 to earn its record fifth-straight state title. Second-year head coach Jorge Milo now has built an unprecedented front line, as returning 7-0 SR Akol Nyok (6.7 ppg, 5.0 ppg, 1.5 blocks) is joined by Czech Republic transfers 7-2 JR Martin Sibal and 7-1 JR Martin Simko. But the firepower will come from a pair of nationally-touted underclassmen, high-profile transfer 6-3 JR Tai Bell (33.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.1 apg, 4.0 steals at Miami Mater Lakes) and 6-7 SOPH Cayden Gaskins (10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg as a freshman). … The Explorers are 11-4 during the past five City of Palms, beating seven-time champion Montverde Academy 59-57 to win the 2024 tournament title.