Palm Beach County boys basketball Fab 5

Hedrens Bartelus, F, Lake Worth High senior: Four-year starter averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, one assist per game; scored a game-winning basket to win district title; had multiple 30-point, 10 rebound games; also plays volleyball; has multiple D-1 offers.

Elyjah Freeman, G/Wing, Wellington senior: Two-year varsity member and Lincoln Memorial University commit is being counted on for big things this season after starring for the team in the postseason last year; said the best game of his life came in a 73-71 loss to Lake Worth where he had 15 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists for 20-6 Wolverines.

Matthew Puodziukaitis, C/PF/SF, Palm Beach Central senior: Two-year team captain averaged 13.3 points, 2.2 assists, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game; was fourth in 7A in double-doubles; led district in rebounds and double-doubles; most proud of averaging a double-double last season with a hurt wrist and heel.

Ian Smikle, PF/C, Suncoast senior: The recent Tulsa University signee averaged 17.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game; four-year varsity member and two-year captain said his career highlight was getting to experience a high level of basketball as early as he has, and it helped himself evaluate himself to set higher goals; will top 1,000 career points this year.

Brooklyn Vick, PG/SG,  St. Andrew’s senior: Team captain averaged 15.5 points per game, 3.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.8 steals per game for the district champion Scots last season; said his career highlight was going to St. Andrew’s to play basketball and then putting on the uniform for the very first time; will top 1,000 career points this year.

NEXT 5 TO WATCH

Jermaine Council, PG/SG, Cardinal Newman senior

Jeremy Innocent, F, Lake Worth senior

Jaelen Nelson, SG, Dwyer senior

Reginald Reinhardt, PG, Wellington senior

Ransom Soles, G, King’s Academy senior