JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Ribault dad and a Raines mom. As many students in the Northwest Jacksonville community know all too well when it comes to that decision, Caleb Williams was conflicted.
Williams grew up going to Raines football games on Friday nights and cheering on the Vikings. He thought that he could be headed to his mom, Joi Brinson’s, alma mater.
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Then, things changed. When Williams, the All-News4JAX basketball player of the year, was in eighth grade, his stepfather, coach Charles Showers, left his head coaching job at Raines for the same job at Ribault. Showers is a Ribault grad.
The allegiance had shifted to the other side of the road. While the Vikings have the more recent state championship of the two (back-to-back crowns in 2003-04), the overall basketball tradition at Ribault is arguably the deepest of any public school sports program in the area.
“So, when he went there, I had to watch them, watch how they practiced, watch how they played watch how they coach us up, watch how they carry themselves because at Ribault, you’ve got to carry yourself in certain type of way,” Williams said. “And knowing that when you put on that jersey you have to win.”
Williams won a lot. Scored a lot. Put up excellent grades in the classroom and was a fixture on the Florida High School Athletic Association’s 16-person student-athlete advisory committee. Williams put a bow on his career with a scholarship with NCAA Division I Lafayette College.
Yes, Williams, who thought he could be a Raines player during his middle school days, became as identifiable with the Trojans as the team’s black, white and light blue colors. A 6-foot guard, Williams averaged a career-high 23.6 points per game and became the face of Ribault over his four seasons.
“Just knowing that the Raines-Ribault [football] game like the whole week it would be like a pep rally, it’d be parade, it’d be everything,” Williams said. “And then with the basketball side, everything just building up. Like the you know, the whole environment is crazy. You know, people on the side, people [screaming] ‘you suck, go Ribault, go Raines!’ It’d be crazy. And I just loved it.”
The Raines-Ribault rivalry is something that you’d have to understand to fully appreciate. Imagine Florida and Florida State or Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman University. Now, imagine those schools were separated by less than a mile, like the Trojans and Vikings are. Only Moncrief Road splits the two. The schools have a friendly, yet intense and storied rivalry. It’s very common to see one parent who attended Raines and the other who attended Ribault.
When Williams knew he’d be attending Ribault, he studied the Trojans and their history, mentioning a player like point guard William Easton as one of the more memorable players he remembered watching growing up. Once he got on the court for the Trojans, it was almost like he was born to play for the “Running Gunning Trojans,” a phrase that was born during the Bernard Wilkes era.
Williams’ final season at Ribault was far different than his previous three. For starters, the school itself, built in 1957, is largely being torn down and renovated. The new Ribault will open next year. That meant no games in the storied gym that had been home to the Wilkes and Al Austin basketball legends, with games shifted to nearby Ribault Middle.
The Trojans won their final home game at Austin-Wilkes Gym on Feb. 24, 2023, a regional championship that sent them to the state semifinals. Williams said that game, a 91-53 blowout of Bishop Kenny, remains one of the most memorable games in his career because of how electric the environment felt.
“We felt like all the people that played there was there and we felt the whole atmosphere go crazy,” he said.
The other part of the change was in personnel. Raines hired former Ribault assistant Torien Moore as its head coach. There were graduation losses, and losses of players to transfer. So, Showers and the Trojans needed more from Williams.
They got. It. Williams boosted his scoring from 13.9 points to nearly 24 a game. He averaged 6.3 assists and 4.1 steals per game.
“Just really just knowing that my team needed more, they needed more scoring, they needed more leadership,” Williams said. “And you know all the students that left, you know, I was the only player on my team that stayed and it was just a whole new team besides me. So, just knowing that I got to have leadership and knowing that I had to do more for us to win.”
All-News4JAX boys basketball
First team
Position, Player, School, Class
G Chris Arias, Providence, Sr.
A 6-6 point guard, Arias averaged 13.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in his final season. Shot 43% from the 3-point arc as a junior and averaged 11.9 ppg in his career. Surpassed 1,000 career points this season. Second team All-News4JAX selection last year. Signed with Jacksonville University.
G Anakin Brown, Beachside, Sr.
Transferred from Bolles and averaged 21.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3 steals per game for Barracudas. Son of former NBA Slam Dunk champion, Dee. Has signed with Jacksonville University. Second team All-News4JAX selection last season.
G Ronald Durham, Jackson, Sr.
Such an integral player in everything the Tigers did. In Jackson’s balanced lineup, Durham averaged 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Led Tigers to Gateway Conference title and Class 4A state championship game. Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection last year.
G Kent Jackson, Episcopal, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Best season of his excellent career. Averaged 19.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3 assists per game for 24-5 regional finalist Eagles. Career 16.7 ppg average. Scored 1,350 points in three seasons and shot nearly 40% from 3-point arc in his career. Signed with Jacksonville University.
G Sam Ritchie, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Led Sharks to Class 6A state semifinals and 23-8 record. Averaged 14.4 points, 3.4 rebounds per game. Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection last year.
G Caleb Williams, Ribault, Sr.
All-News4JAX player of the year. Two-time All-News4JAX first-team pick. Scored 1,509 career points. Averaged career-best 23.6 points as a senior. Added 6.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds per game this season for 21-8 Trojans. Signed with Lafayette College.
Second team
Position, Player, School, Class
F/G Carson Crawford, Fleming Island, Fr.
Superb debut season for the 6-6 wing. Had 19 double-doubles en route to averages of 16.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
G Ta’Veon Dunbar, Raines, Jr.
Vikings went from 7-18 in 2023 to 21-8 this season and Dunbar was the catalyst for that. Averaged 15.7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Shot 46% from 3-point arc.
G Dameon Jones, Paxon, Sr.
Doubled his scoring average (from 5.2 to 10.1 ppg) from his junior season. Added 3.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game for 21-4 Golden Eagles.
G Caleb McAbee, Providence, Sr.
Doubled his scoring output (5.9 to 11.8 ppg) from junior to senior season for the final four Stallions. Added 3.8 rpg for 24-6 Providence.
G Aaron Rivers, Oakleaf, Sr.
Averaged 15.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Finished his career fifth all-time in single season scoring for the Knights behind only two seasons apiece from, Jon Bryant and Nassir Little. Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection last year.
F Grady Schwartz, Episcopal, Sr.
Big final season for the Eagles, averaging a career-best 17.6 points and pulled in 5.3 rebounds per game. Signed with University of Tampa. Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection last year.
Third team
Position, Player, School, Class
G Camden Cooper, St. Johns Country Day, 8th
The 6-4 scorer wrapped up his third year on varsity with career-best 21 ppg average. Has scored 1,069 points in his career. Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection the last two years.
G Darian Frazier, Wolfson, Sr.
Averaged 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in his final season. Finished Wolfpack career with 1,226 points. Second team All-News4JAX selection as a junior.
G CJ Hall, Hilliard, Jr.
The Red Flashes played for the Class 1A state title during a 25-3 season and the 6-4 Hall was a major reason why. Averaged 15.6 points and career-best 7.2 rebounds per game. Is closing in on 1,000 career points.
F Dylan McLeod, Mandarin, Sr.
Averaged 14.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for 17-8 Mustangs. Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection last year.
G/F Henry Robinson Jr., Matanzas, Fr.
Excellent debut season for the 6-7 wing. Bright spot in an 11-15 season for Pirates. Averaged 20.8 points, 9.5 rebounds per game. Career-high 39 points came in first game of the season.
G Taylor Thompson, Impact Christian, Sr.
Four-year player for the Lions. Averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game as Impact reached the state final four for the second time in his four seasons. Recent commit to UNF.
Honorable mention
Position, Player, School, Class
G Maximiliano Antunez, NFEI, Sr.
F Jesse Basse, Fernandina Beach, Sr.
F Ganyon Beckstead, Menendez, Jr.
G/F Delvin Bell Jr., Paxon, Sr.
G BJ Boykin, University Christian, Sr.
G Alexander Brown, Clay, So.
F/C Isaiah Bunso, Harvest Community, Sr.
F Cameron Carpenter, Temple Christian, Sr.
G Bryson Castillo, Tocoi Creek, Sr.
G Ronald Clark, Impact Christian, Jr.
F Alex Collier, Creekside, Sr.
C Raza Cottey, Stanton, Sr.
F Tyler Cowan, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
G/F Wilmer DeJesus, Impact Christian, Sr.
G Jacob Delos Santos, Paxon, Sr.
G Brandon DeMartino, Fort White, Sr.
F/G Jaylen Dopson, Jackson, Sr.
G Ty Duncan, Tocoi Creek, So.
G Adam Enoch, Bishop Kenny, Jr.
F/G Aidan Farber, Middleburg, Sr.
G Kaden Ferguson, Bolles, Jr.
G David Fonville, Providence, Sr.
G/F Israel Gaines, First Coast, Sr.
F Taeshaun Gelsey, Riverside, Jr.
G Landon Geren, Bartram Trail, Jr.
G Arterrian Godfrey, Palatka, Sr.
G Ryan Gornto, Nease, Fr.
F/G Deiontaye Grant, San Jose Prep, Sr.
F Jackson Hadden, Christ’s Church, Sr.
G/F Israel Hart, Fort White, Jr.
F/G Gavin Jenkins, Union County, Jr.
F Troy Jenkins, Temple Christian, Sr.
G Suliman Koko, San Jose Prep, Sr.
G/F Albert Laguerre, Jackson, Sr.
G Chase Landtroop, Fernandina Beach, Sr.
G Jordan Martinez, Trinity Christian, So.
G Tafari Moe, Fort White, Jr.
F Nolan Nelson, Creekside, Fr.
G Dawson Norman, Baker County, Sr.
G Tyler Owens, Oakleaf, Jr.
G Brady Patterson, Providence, Sr.
G Josue Rivera, Global Outreach, Sr.
G Noah Salazar, Beaches Chapel, So.
G Jamal Scott, White, Fr.
G David Sanchez Barrera, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
G Brandyn Seldomridge, Hilliard, Sr.
F/C Jack Sullivan, Nease, Sr.
F Kevin Thomas, Hilliard, Sr.
G Kaden Toure, Sandalwood, Jr.
G Archieve Triggs III, Orange Park, Sr.
G Ethan Tucker, Creekside, Sr.
G Bryson Utter, Nease, Sr.
G Adrian Walker, Harvest Community, Sr.
G Malcolm Warthen, Hilliard, Sr.
F Garrett Watterson, Bolles, Sr.
F/C Jaquan Wells, Riverside, Sr.
G/F Cornell Wheeler, Wolfson, Jr.
G Jeremiah White, Raines, Sr.
G Jayden Williams, Eagle’s View, Jr.
G Thomas Williams, Union County, Sr.
F Trenton Williams, Palatka, Sr.
G Somourian Wingo, St. Augustine, So.
F Brysan Yearby, Paxon, Sr.