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Forest Basketball

@forestbasketball_

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3x final fours. 6x district champion. Back to back to back County champions. Head Coach Dewaine Lyals

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game @treycave3

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🚨 TEAM REVEAL #2 | FOREST WILDCATS 🐾🏀

Another Marion County program is headed to the Big South.

We’re excited to welcome the Forest Wildcats from Ocala, Florida, to the inaugural Big South Classic!

@forestbasketball_ has established itself as one of Marion County’s top programs and enters this season looking to build on an 18–9 campaign that included a trip to the Regional Semifinals.

With a talented group returning and plenty of local familiarity, the Wildcats add another competitive program—and a little hometown flavor—to an already loaded Big South Classic field.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 👀

⭐ Ethan Jackson | 6’0” G | 2028
⭐ Miguel Staff | 6’2” G | 2028
⭐ Treyton Cave | 5’11” PG | 2027
⭐ Walker Sanders | 6’5” F | 2028

📍 Ocala, Florida
📅 December 28–31, 2026
🏀 16 Teams. One Champion.

2 down. 14 to go. 👀

🚨 TEAM REVEAL #3 DROPS TOMORROW.

Who’s next?

#BigSouthClassic

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smooth operator @e2_gas

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Coming in at No. 13 in the I-94 Basketball Preseason Rankings are the Forest Wildcats.

Forest is coming off a strong 18-9 season, with their year ending against the Buchholz Bobcats in the regional semifinals. While the Wildcats proved they could compete at a high level last season, they enter this year with one major question:

How do you replace that much production?

Forest loses its leading scorer, Trey Chislom, who averaged 17.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. That isn’t just scoring walking out the door. That’s rebounding, playmaking and a player who impacted nearly every part of the game.

They also lose senior guard Chandler Davison, who averaged 15.7 points per game while shooting 47% from the field and was another major piece of the Wildcats’ offense.

Together, those departures leave a significant hole to fill.

NEW FACES. BIGGER ROLES.

The cupboard isn’t empty.

Treyton Cave and William Sanders return, while Ethan Jackson joins the mix. But the challenge is that these players will now be asked to step into much larger roles.

That’s why Forest lands at No. 13 for us. We know there’s talent. We just don’t know what the offense looks like yet.

Last year’s seniors weren’t only responsible for putting the ball in the basket. They contributed on the glass, created for teammates, defended and controlled large portions of the game. Replacing that level of all-around production isn’t something that happens automatically.

SEASON OUTLOOK

There has been growth throughout the offseason, and Forest has enough pieces to put together another good season. But we believe this year could be an uphill battle early while everyone settles into their new roles.

The biggest question isn’t whether these players can produce. It’s whether they can produce with the same efficiency and consistency Forest received from its veteran leaders last season.

If Cave, Sanders, Jackson and the rest of this group embrace those bigger responsibilities, No. 13 could end up being too low.

For now, though, Forest has something to prove.

I-94 PROJECTED WIN TOTAL: 14-15

PRESEASON RANKING: #13 🌲🐾🏀

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What we want to see this season 👀🏀🛣️

Some new. Some old. Some that just NEED to happen.

Gainesville & Ocala hoops, we got a wishlist. 📝🔥

What did we miss? 👀👇

THE CITY INVITATIONAL GOTTA HAPPEN. 🏆🛣️

8–12 teams. Maui Invitational style. Gainesville’s best all in one bracket.

Bring back the culture. Bring back the atmosphere. Bring back that feeling Gainesville basketball is supposed to have.

And when it’s all over, there’s no debate.

Crown a REAL city champion. 👑🏀

THE SHOT CLOCK HAS TO COME TO FLORIDA. ⏱️🏀

It’s simple: it’s real basketball.

Players are being prepared for the next level, and the next level plays with a shot clock. Why wait?

Speed the game up. Force teams to execute. Prepare players for what’s next.

Every team. Every gym. Shot clock. ⏱️🔥

BRING THE BIG GAMES BACK TO THE BIG STAGE. 🏀🏟️

Remember those old Eastside vs. GHS games? When everybody knew where they were gonna be because the high school gym simply wasn’t big enough?

If we KNOW a game is about to sell out, move it to Santa Fe College.

More seats. More families. More students. More atmosphere.

Let everybody AND their mama in the building. 😂🔥

BUCHHOLZ. YOU GOTTA TAKE THAT TRIP. 🛣️🐝

We’ve seen Buchholz vs. Hawthorne… but when are the Bobcats finally going to THE NEST?

Buchholz traveling out to Hawthorne. Packed gym. Small-town atmosphere. Everybody on top of the court.

No neutral site. No switching it up. Go to Hawthorne and play.

Why has this not happened yet?! 🔥

BOBCATS 🆚 HORNETS. AT THE NEST. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

RUN. IT. BACK. 🔁🏀

Last time Trenton and Williston shared the floor, a trip to the State Championship was on the line, and Williston ended Trenton’s run.

You KNOW Trenton hasn’t forgotten that one. 👀

So why wait? Game 1. Early season. Whenever.

Give us the rematch. Trenton 🆚 Williston. PART II. 🔥

THIS ONE HAS TO BECOME A TRADITION. 🐎🐻🏀

North Marion. South Marion. It’s literally written in the names.

North Marion has the history. South Marion is building theirs. What better way to start a new tradition than a game that happens EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.

NORTH 🆚 SOUTH. Make it a Marion County staple. 🔥

WHO RUNS OCALA?

Vanguard and F

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READ‼️

🏀 THE I-94 BASKETBALL AREA IS EXPANDING.

These are the 16 teams that I-94 Basketball will be covering throughout the 2026-27 season.

When we release our Top 15 team rankings, player rankings, position rankings, watchlists, and everything in between, this is the pool we will be pulling from.

Last season, we covered 10 teams. This year, we’ve expanded our coverage to 16 teams, giving us an even deeper look at the talent across the area.

So when you see an I-94 ranking this season, these are the teams and players that are eligible.

16 TEAMS. 1 AREA. ALL SEASON.

And now the fun starts. 👀

🔥 Be on the lookout Friday for the official I-94 Top 15 Preseason Rankings. Starting with number 15. And going one by one.

*unless there’s just a standout team or kid in the area that we are forced to cover

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C/O 28’, FHS Guard, Ethan Jackson (@e2_gas as) puts on an absolute show against Auburndale this weekend at the Bartow Fall Shootout. Ethan showed a poised performance, creating his own shots off the dribble. Going into his junior year, Ethan is going to suit up with Forest High School as they head into their season with high expectations. 📈❗️

🎥 : @flicsbytru
Cover : @flicsbytru | @redgydidthat
#SidelineExposure

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I think one of the most underrated forms of abundance is genuinely liking your own life.

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Ethan Jackson (@e2_gas) picked the perfect time to have his breakout game of the summer. After battling back from injury, the @forestbasketball_ guard looked like himself again during @fabchoops Live Period Session 2 in Gainesville. Jackson had defenders on skates with his handle and ability to change speeds. Once he got into the paint, he made the right read over and over, showing why he’s one of Forest’s best playmakers. When defenders backed off, he made them pay by knocking down shots from deep. The biggest takeaway wasn’t just the scoring, it was the confidence. Ethan controlled the pace, created opportunities for everyone around him, and looked like a guard that’s ready to take on a much bigger role this season. With a healthy Ethan Jackson back in the lineup, this Forest Wildcats team unlocked major weapon heading into the next season. This was the Ethan Jackson we’ve been waiting to see. Stay tuned, the best is still ahead. #FABC #Session2 #Forest #EthanJackson #HoopDreamz

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Showcase Standout: Trey Casto

Trey Casto of Forest High School brought energy and shot-making ability to the FABC Boys State Showcase.

5’11 SG | Class of 2027
IG: Twizzy_Trey5

#FABCHoops #FABCShowcase #FloridaBasketball

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Showcase Standout: Trey Cave

Trey Cave from Forest High School put together a strong showing from the guard spot at the FABC Boys State Showcase.

5’11 PG/SG | Class of 2027
IG: @treycave3 | X: @treycave3

#FABCHoops #FABCShowcase #NCAALivePeriod

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