Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys basketball: Patience pays off for Jackson star Jahari Simmons

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jahari Simmons was ready. He’d spent as long as he can remember waiting for it at Jackson High School.

So it was only fitting that when Jackson basketball coach Byron Shemwell needed someone to take the reins and lead the new-look Tigers by words and actions, he called on Simmons, the All-News4JAX boys basketball player of the year.

It was a match that was meant to be. Family history stretches deep at Jackson for Simmons.

His grandfather is the iconic coach Jackie Simmons Sr. Jahari’s father, his uncle and his oldest brother all played for the Tigers, too. Jahari had spent more time than he can remember in the Jackson gym growing up. And even if he wasn’t always the most vocal, he was constantly taking everything in, making mental notes and analyzing just what it meant to be a Jackson basketball player.

“When I was a kid when they used to win the games to go to the final four, I used to be in the locker room, the locker room parties, stuff like that, the locker room celebrations,” he said. “And just seeing those guys learn how to win, I always kept it with me so I’d be ready when it was my turn.”

His time came this season.

All-News4JAX boys basketball players of the year

Jackson underwent a big change this year, with longtime head coach James Collins resigning after 15 years with his alma mater. Collins led Jackson to its last state championship during his final season as a player in 1993. As a coach, he took the Tigers to four title games. Simmons said the expectation that Jackson was going to regress without Collins was a quiet shot of disrespect that players took personally.

“Yes, it definitely did make us laugh, and say, take us lightly if you want to because we know how hard we work,” he said. “You know, we put trust to our coaching staff. We put trust into each other as players, so it just made us want to beat teams by even more and dominate every night.”

When Shemwell entered the Tigers program, he needed a leader. Naturally, Simmons was it. But could he actually handle everything that came along with being the guy?

Jackson didn’t need as much offense from Simmons last year, so he focused on running the offense and scoring when it was needed. Four of its five top scorers were seniors, and Simmons was far more integral as the point guard.

Jackson not only needed Simmons to remain the point guard, but it needed him to score, delegate, be vocal and assertive.

Those latter two traits were the more challenging to come by.

Simmons was good as a junior in his role (5.6 points, 2.1 assists per game), but Simmons was elite in his final year.

Not only did his scoring average nearly triple (16 ppg), but Simmons boosted his distribution (5.6 assists per game) and defense (2.4 steals per game). It was impossible to watch a Jackson game and not see Simmons doing something special.

In the state semifinals against the Villages Charter, Simmons had a spin move to leave a defender going backwards before spotting up and nailing an open 3. Before that, he whipped a no-look pass to a teammate in the paint.

“A lot of the guys were probably JV or they didn’t play a lot, so they didn’t really have a lot of experience. So, me playing in some of these big games, you know me talking to them might just ease up the nerves a little bit,” he said.

“You never know what you can do with your teammates [by talking to and encouraging them]. You know you talk to them differently, encourage them and just keep them at their highest point at all times.”

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys basketball team

Position, Player, School, Class

C Carson Crawford, Fleming Island, So.

Averaged a double-double (16.8 ppg, 10 rpg) as arguably best two-way force in the area. The 6-7 wing is positioned to surpass 1,000 career points early next season.

W Tyson Gilbert, Tocoi Creek, Sr.

The 6-6 wing helped lead Toros to state semifinals for the first time as major part of team that went 27-4. Second on team with 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds a game.

C/W Nolan Nelson, Creekside, So.

Averaged 15 points, 11.4 rebounds a game as powerful two-way star for the Knights. Closing in on 1,000 career points.

G David Sanchez Barrera, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Sharks got hot at the right time, ripping off nine straight wins to reach the 5A state championship game and he was a big reason why. Point guard averaged 12.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game. Shot 36% from 3-point arc.

G Jahari Simmons, Jackson, Sr.

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX player of the year averaged 16 points, 5.6 assists a game for area’s top team. Helped Tigers go 28-3 and reach the Class 3A state semifinals. Nearly tripled output from last year (5.6 ppg). Headed to Santa Fe College.

G Kaden Toure, Ribault, Sr.

The 6-2 combo guard led Trojans to state semifinals with 16.7 ppg. Averaged 4.7 rpg for Gateway Conference champs.

Second team

Position, Player, School, Class, Notable

F Adalbert Allotey, University Christian, Sr.

Big 6-10 defensive presence was a game changer for the Christians and big reason why they reached the state semifinals. Averaged 10 rebounds, 7.8 points, 3.8 blocks this season. Had 10 double-doubles and his 113 blocks were the most in Class 2A.

G Ronald Clark, Impact Christian, Jr.

Bumped up scoring from 8.4 points to 14.1 per game. Still an excellent distributor with the ball, too (3 assists per game) as Lions went to the Class 1A state semifinals.

G CJ Hall, Hilliard, Sr.

Excellent final season for the 6-4 star. Averaged 19.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.1 assists per game. Also a menace near the rim for opponents (1.7 blocks per game).

G Jamian Jackson, Ribault, Sr.

The 6-4 Benedict College signee averaged 14.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3.1 assists a game for Class 4A state semifinalists and Gateway Conference champs.

G Somourian Wingo, St. Augustine, Jr.

Major football talent was star on the basketball court. Averaged 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 steals, all career highs, for 18-8 Yellow Jackets.

G Jelani Wright, Oakleaf, Sr.

Averaged 14 ppg and shot 40% from the 3-point arc. Set program marks for career 3s and 3s made in a season. Hit a 3 in 24 consecutive games as Knights went 18-8.

Third team

Position, Player, School, Class, Notable

W Camden Cooper, St. Johns Country Day, Fr.

Averaged 18.2 points, 3.9 rebounds a game and surpassed 1,000 career points in his fourth season of varsity ball.

G Ta’veon Dunbar, Hilliard, Sr.

The 6-1 transfer from Raines averaged 21 points, 3.3 rebounds a game for the Red Flashes. That was a big jump in production from junior season with the Vikings (14.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg).

G Ty Duncan, University Christian, So.

Led Christians in scoring (13.6 ppg) and was lethal from the 3-point arc (43%) to help lead Christians to Class 2A state semis.

G Kaden Ferguson, Bolles, Sr.

The 6-1 shooter was 40% from the 3-point arc and averaged career-best 15 ppg. Three-year starter also had 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game average. Headed to Sewanee.

G/F Maddox Palmer, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

Career-best season. He led the Sharks with 13.7 points, 5 rebounds a game to help team reach the Class 5A state championship game. Committed to Jacksonville University.

G David Wilson, Jackson, Sr.

The 6-2 player was one of the most integral parts of the ferocious Tigers system. Averaged 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game. Signed with Florida Gateway College.

Honorable mention

Position, Player, School, Class

G Jake Aronowitz, Fernandina Beach, Sr.

C Augustine Ayelyine, University Christian, Sr.

G Ryan Bailey, Fletcher, Sr.

G Jesse Basse, Fernandina Beach, Sr.

G/F Finley Bredehoeft, Bolles, Sr.

G Johnny Breen, Covenant School of Jacksonville, Jr.

G Chase Cannone, Yulee, So.

C/F Jackson Carver, Baker County, Sr.

G Jordan Cason, Bradford, So.

G Marcus Carter Jr., Eagle’s View, Sr.

G Marvin Christie, University Christian, Jr.

G Justin Clements, Eagle’s View, Jr.

G Maliki Cobarris, Bradford, So.

F/C Zavian Douglas, Columbia, Sr.

G David Ellis Jr., First Coast Christian, Sr.

G Adam Enoch, Bishop Kenny, Sr.

F Dan Footman, Oakleaf, Sr.

G Landon Geren, Bartram Trail, Sr.

G Ryan Gornto, Providence, So.

G JaCere Green, Temple Christian, Jr.

F/G/C Langston Hackworth, Nease, Jr.

G Anthony Hampton, Flagler Palm Coast, Jr.

G Markel Holmes, University Christian, So.

G Danny Huffman, Oakleaf, Sr.

F Maddox Hunstad, Beachside, Jr.

G Chris Jackson, Impact Christian, Sr.

G Drew Jackson, Bishop Kenny, So.

G Jayden Jackson, Fort White, Jr.

G Michael Jativa, Christ’s Church, Jr.

G Jeremiah Jones, Impact Christian, Jr.

F Carter Kirchner, Yulee, Jr.

F Bennett Krause, Paxon, Sr.

G Adam Lawson, Harvest Community, Sr.

F Tay’vion Lawson, Jackson, Sr.

G Kaleb McDuffie, Ribault, Sr.

G King McFadden, Tocoi Creek, Fr.

C Jaylen Mitchell, Westside, Sr.

G Marc Mitchell, Tocoi Creek, Jr.

G Tafari Moe, Fort White, Sr.

G Will Moore, Episcopal, Sr.

F Connor Neill, Bishop Snyder, Sr.

C Colton Nuualiitia, Providence, Fr.

G Sammy Oliver, Beachside, Jr.

C/F Jackson Olson, Christ’s Church, Jr.

G Tyler Owens, Oakleaf, Sr.

G Jaden Pearson, Atlantic Coast, Sr.

G Kareem Preston, Menendez, Jr.

F Ryan Pritchard, Harvest Community, Jr.

G Jesus Rice, Raines, Sr.

G Javares Rickerson, Tocoi Creek, Jr.

G Christian Ricks, Paxon, Jr.

G DJ Rivera, Fletcher, Sr.

G Derek Rivers, Creekside, Sr.

G Noah Salazar, Beaches Chapel, Jr.

G Jael Scarver, Paxon, So.

G Nolan Schwartz, Episcopal, Jr.

G Mike Shaw II, St. Joseph, Sr.

C/F David Souza, Bartram Trail, Sr.

F William Stewart, Providence, Fr.

F Braydon Taylor, West Nassau, Fr.

G Brady Thrift, West Nassau, Jr.

G Miles Townsend, Fernandina Beach, Sr.

G Terrance Walker, Raines, So.

G Deshawn Washington, Mandarin, Sr.

F Trace Westercamp, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

G Christian Williams, First Coast, Sr.

C/F Amari Walton, First Coast, So.

G Josh Wolff, St. Joseph, Sr.

G Tian Wyche, Mandarin, Jr.

G Josh Xiang, Bishop Snyder, Sr.