After taking a look at some of the state’s top guards a week ago, this week we turn our attention to the best forwards returning for the 2022-23 Florida high school basketball season.
1 – Sean Stewart (Montverde Academy)
Stewart, the state’s top 2023 prospect, is one of Florida’s most notable offseason transfers on the hardwood, making the move from Windermere to national powerhouse Montverde Academy. The five-star Duke commit is considered a Top 10 player nationally in the 2023 class and is coming off a junior season in which he led the Wolverines in almost every statistical category, averaging 20.5 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 4.6 BPG, and 2.3 SPG in 27 contests.
2 – Kwame Evans Jr. (Montverde Academy)
A teammate of Stewart at Montverde Academy, Evans returns for the Eagles and is likely to play a larger role compared to a year ago. Evans, a five-star prospect, is considered a Top 15 player nationally in the 2023 class and is currently committed to Oregon.
3 – Jaime Kaiser (IMG Academy)
Coming in at No. 3 on this list of best Florida high school forwards is Kaiser, an offseason transfer addition for IMG Academy from Bishop Ireton High School in Virginia. A 6-foot, 6-inch wing, Kaiser is a four-star Maryland commit in the 2023 class who is likely to play a key role for the Ascenders this season.
4 – Eric Dailey (IMG Academy)
IMG Academy also lands its second name on our Top-10 list in Dailey, a versatile 6-foot, 7-inch, 215-pound forward who is rated a four-star prospect in the 2023 class.
5 – Sam Walters (The Villages Charter)
Walters, one of Florida high school basketball’s top returning scorers, returns for The Villages Charter after a junior campaign in which he averaged 24.6 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 1.9 BPG for the Buffalo. A versatile forward, Walters is rated a four-star prospect in the 2023 class and is currently committed to Alabama.
6 – Cameron Boozer (Miami Columbus)
Considered the state’s No. 1 overall player in the 2025 class, this sophomore could potentially be even higher on our list of top Florida high school forwards. Returning for defending Class 7A state champion Miami Columbus, Boozer is coming off an impressive freshman season in which he averaged 18.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 4 APG, and 2.2 BPG for the Explorers.
7 – Karter Knox (Tampa Catholic)
Knox, a five-star prospect and Top-10 national player, is considered the state’s No. 1 overall player in the 2024 class. The junior returns for Tampa Catholic after a sophomore campaign in which he averaged 20.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.6 BPG for the Crusaders.
8 – Dylan James (Winter Haven)
A four-star prospect in the 2023 class who is currently committed to Georgia, James comes in at No. 8 on this list. He’s set to take the court again for Winter Haven after averaging 15.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2 APG, and 3.4 BPG for the Blue Devils in 2021-22.
9 – Asa Newell (Montverde Academy)
The third Montverde Academy player on this list, Newell is also likely to play a significant role in an Eagles frontcourt that will be one of the nation’s most talented. Newell is considered a five-star prospect and Top-10 player nationally in the 2024 class.
10 – Bryson Tucker (IMG Academy)
Our list of Top-10 Florida high school forwards is completed by yet another offseason transfer. Tucker joins IMG Academy from Mount St. Joseph in Maryland and is likely to play a key role for the Ascenders in 2022-23. Tucker is rated a five-star prospect, as well as a Top 20 national player in the 2024 class.
