Transfers Jase, Jaxon Richardson make Columbus clear Florida Class 7A state favorite in 2023-24
They say the rich get richer and the news on Monday night lived up to that sentiment for Columbus High School’s boys basketball team.
News broke Monday that Jase and Jaxon Richardson have transferred from Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School to Columbus High School (Miami, Florida). The pair are sons of former NBA star shooting guard Jason Richardson, who won two NBA Slam Dunk competitions and is most remembered for his time with the Golden State Warriors.
The brothers transferring down to the Sunshine State, forming a star studded cast along with the twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer, both Class of 2025 talents, make the Explorers arguably the team to beat in Class 7A.
There’s plenty of reasons to like this Columbus team to win it again in 2023-2024 and raising the trophy at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Cameron, who is arguably the top nation's prospect in 2025, was named to the SBLive Sports Florida boys basketball 2022-2023 Player of the Year and helped lead the Explorers to the Class 7A state championship over Winter Haven earlier this year. Having the state’s top player helps your odds being able to start off as the classification’s favorite to win it all.
SBLive Sports Florida's 2022-23 Boys Basketball First and Second Team All-State
Jase will be a senior this upcoming 2023-2024 season and already holds offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Florida, Kansas, San Diego State, Stanford and Washington. The 6-foot-2 combo guard is ranked the No. 47 player in the country of the 2024 class.
Jaxon is coming off an impressive freshman campaign for the Gaels and plays at the small forward position. Standing at 6-foot-5, will likely play a lot more in the front court with Cameron. Heading into his sophomore season, Jaxon holds an offer from UNLV.
Throw in the returning role talent that Columbus has like players Malik Abdullahi and Benny Fragela back, with only four seniors graduating from last year’s squad. It makes for an easy transition for this upcoming group, that continues to show why they’re one of the best teams in the country.
The team that looks to be Columbus’ biggest contender in Class 7A remains Winter Haven, which finished as the state runner-up to the Explorers. Losing just 50-48 has the Blue Devils right within the Explorers talent atmosphere and they have their fair share of talent forming a strong trio in Polk County.
The three-headed attack of Isaac Celiscar, Jamie Phillips and Zay Mosley have been impressive during summer league play. Winter Haven is Central Florida’s top team in the region and pose the top threat to Columbus repeating as state champions.
Andrew West, The News-Press, USA TODAY NETWORK
It’s only July right now and high school football practices haven’t even begun, but transfers coming into the Sunshine State from other states are alive and well.
Columbus has become the beneficiary with the Richardson duo coming down to the 305 and that makes the Explorers not only the prohibitive favorites to win it all in 7A, but creating the argument as possibly the best in the nation.
Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.
