March Madness is right around the corner, with the first round of the men’s NCAA Division I Tournament tipping off on Thursday, March 20.
While you won’t find any Lakeland colleges on the men’s or women’s DI brackets, we’ll still be cheering loud and proud for these Polk County natives who will shoot their shot to advance their respective schools forward — and maybe even win the whole thing.
L.J. Cason — University of Michigan
This Lakelander helped lead Victory Christian Academy to back-to-back District 8 championships before being recruited to Michigan.
- Watch: No. 12 University of California San Diego vs. No. 5 Michigan | Thursday, March 20 | 10 p.m.
Isaac Celiscae earned back-to-back nods as the Polk County Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024.
Photo by Steve Musco via Yale University
Isaac Celiscar — Yale University
1,927. That’s how many points Isaac Celiscar scored at Winter Haven High School — the second-highest amount in the school’s history — before becoming a Bulldog.
- Watch: No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Texas A&M | Thursday, March 20 | 7:25 p.m.
Going from the Blue Devils to the Bulldogs seems like a common theme for Winter Haven boys basketball alumni.
Photo by Tony Walsh/UGAAA
Dylan James — University of Georgia
Speaking of Bulldogs, you’ll find this 6-foot-9-inch Winter Haven High alum also playing for a team of the same name, albeit a little further south. During his time as a Blue Devil, James secured 57 double-digit-scoring games + was named Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2022.
- Watch: No. 9 Georgia vs. No. 8 Gonzaga University | Thursday, March 20 | 4:35 p.m.
Sorry, Noles fans — this time we’ll have to cheer on the Gators to support Walter Clayton, Jr.
Photo by Maddie Washburn via University of Florida
Walter Clayton, Jr. — University of Florida
Before becoming a Gator, this Lake Wales native helped lead Bartow High School to two 6A state championships in 2020 and 2021.
- Watch: No. 16 Norfolk State vs. No. 1 Florida | Friday, March 21 | 6:50 p.m.
