Florida Mr. Basketball: Paxon star Isaiah Adams earns 2020 title

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Jacksonville Paxon School’s Isaiah Adams was crowned the Florida Dairy Farmers 2020 Mr. Basketball on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-6 Adams — a UCF signee — was the Class 4A Player of the Year. The Paxon star averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks in helping the Golden Eagles reach the state tournament as a senior.

Adams received 10 first-place votes and 125 overall points. Tarpon Springs East Lake guard Dionte Bostick (Murray State recruit) finished runner-up with six first-place votes and 91 points. Adams and Bostick were the only finalists to receive more than one first-place vote.

Wildwood guard Marcus Niblack (Ole Miss) finished third in the voting.

Duke freshman Vernon Carey Jr. had won the award the previous two years while starring at University School in Davie. Carey led the Sharks to back-to-back FHSAA Class 5A state titles and GEICO Nationals appearances.

Adams & Co. went 25-6 under coach Toby Frazier. The Golden Eagles lost to Stranahan, 59-54, in the state semifinals. Adams earned All-State honors in Lakeland, shooting 10 of 21 from the field during a 29-point, 9-rebound, 3-block performance.

Asked where UCF sees him on the next level, Adams told me: “They want me to come in like right away and be a play-maker like how I am now. Get it off the rebound, like a [No.] 3-4, and push it up the floor and be a play-maker for everybody else, but still able to get my shot. So, just be able to make plays without running the offense.”

Adams said he took a huge step in his progression last summer while playing on the travel circuit with Team Parsons.

“Playing in the summer, and playing against good competition, that helped a lot,” Adams said. “With me being hurt the previous two summers and me coming back and playing this full summer it helped a lot seeing where I am as a player and seeing what I need to work on to get better.”

Adams said he picked UCF over Wake Forest and Virginia Tech.

PAT LAMMER’S 2020 FLORIDA MR. BASKETBALL BALLOT

1st — Isaiah Adams, Paxon

2nd — Yussif Basa-Ama, St. Andrew’s

3rd — Marcus Niblack, Wildwood

If you have high school or travel basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer at PatALammer@Gmail.com