Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys basketball: Marvin Christie helped unlock championship version of Providence

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Long before Marvin Christie helped Providence end the area’s boys basketball championship drought, he was just trying to make the cut in his own household.

The 6-4 senior Stallions guard, the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX basketball player of the year, was on the receiving end of many front yard lessons, courtesy of two older brothers who saw his talent and tried to help him maximize it.

“I didn’t play when I was younger a lot, but being outside with my brothers, because I have a lot of brothers and we’ve always played outside in the front yard and we just went at it every day, literally,” he said. “And having the older brothers like banging me up and stuff, they definitely made me into a better player.”

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys basketball players of the year

If Marvin’s older brothers, Jacoby Youngblood and Noah Christie, delivered the lessons early in life, it was Marvin who soaked everything up. By late middle school and entering high school, Marvin said he could not only hang with his brothers but dish out his own type of success.

He followed his brother, Noah’s path to University Christian where he was a very good combo guard. Marvin averaged 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game as a junior as UC reached the final four.

When the offseason came, so, too, did an opportunity at Providence. The Stallions’ season had ended in the state playoffs, courtesy of Christie’s UC team.

“So, the move from UC to Providence, it was definitely a family decision,” he said. “A lot of people were telling me like Providence was like not a good place to go because there’s a system [in place] and they don’t know if I would fit in the system. And personally, I just wanted to see for myself. And I talked to God about it and, I had to make that decision, and I ended up going there. … Playing for Providence has been an honor.”

Christie turned out to be the spark that ignited Providence throughout the lineup. Packaged with guards Luke Mayberry and Ryan Gornto, the alignment allowed head coach Jim Martin to get three excellent shooters on the floor at once and keep leading scorer William Stewart as a wing-type player. Christie, a Jacksonville State signee, averaged 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game. Martin said several times how Christie’s play unlocked the best version of Providence. The Stallions were an un-Providence-like 16-13 last year.

When 6-8 center Nolan Nelson transferred back to Providence from SPIRE Academy in Ohio, the Stallions had their deepest starting five since its last championship in 2015. That squad, led by tall and physical frontcourt (Wyatt Walker, Ladarien Griffin and Jason Burnell) went 33-1. This year’s team went 29-3, with those losses by a combined eight points.

The capper was a 51-43 win over Miami Country Day in the Class 2A state championship at UNF where a heavy pro-Providence crowd provided a homecourt feel.

“Honestly, I don’t think that’s ever going to be able to sink in,” he said. “I mean, I really, I can’t believe that I’ve done it. And my teammates are just like, mind blown. Honestly, like it took a lot of hard work and everything. But I definitely think it was a great season and we pulled it off after all the blood, sweat and tears we had in practice and everything.”

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys basketball

Position, Player, School, Class, Notable

G Marvin Christie, Providence, Sr.

All-News4JAX player of the year. Helped lead Stallions to 29-3 season and first state championship by an area team since 2016. Averaged 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Signed with Jacksonville State.

G Ronald Clark, Impact Christian, Sr.

Four-year player for the Lions who helped Impact reach the state semifinals the last three years. Averaged 13 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game.

F Carson Crawford, Fleming Island, Jr.

Dynamic 6-7 wing had excellent season in what has been an extraordinary career. Scored 498 points and averaged 17.2 ppg and 9.8 rpg for the Class 5A state runner-up Golden Eagles. Has scored 1,403 points and pulled down 842 rebounds in three seasons. Had 14 double-doubles.

F Langston Hackworth, Jackson, Sr.

Led Tigers to Class 3A state semifinals with team-best 14.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg averages. Big guy (6-8, 230) who can shoot it from distance, too. Hit 37 of 94 3-pointers (39%). Has signed with Presbyterian College.

G Drew Jackson, Bishop Kenny, Jr.

Led Crusaders in scoring at 15.1 ppg and powered team to 26-4 record and berth in Class 4A state semifinals. Up to 749 points scored in his career.

G/F Maddox Palmer, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Four-year starter for the Sharks who had best season of his career. Averaged 19.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists to lead Sharks to 20-8 season.

Second team

Position, Player, School, Class, Notable

G Javion Davis, Jackson, Sr.

The 6-1 combo guard averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assist per game in his lone season with the Tigers. Helped Jackson go 28-2 and reach the Class 3A state semifinals. Headed to Florida State College at Jacksonville.

G/F King McFadden, Tocoi Creek, So.

The 6-3 scorer Toros in scoring at 19 points and 6.2 rebounds a game in 23-5 season. Is up to 894 points in two seasons. Led Toros to state semifinals as a freshman and has 50-9 record in two seasons.

G King McMillian, Hilliard, So.

The 6-5 combo guard had an elite season for the Red Flashes. Nearly doubled scoring average (from 8.9 to 17.2 ppg). Pulled down 5.4 rebounds, dished out 3.3 assists and added 2.9 steals a game for 18-6 Hilliard. Has scored 600 points in two seasons.

F Nolan Nelson, Providence, Jr.

The 6-8 four-star player started season at SPIRE Academy in Ohio before returning to Stallions. Averaged a double-double (13.5 points, 10.9 rebounds per game). Number of games here (13) is only reason he’s not a first-teamer. Huge reason Stallions ended area’s state title drought.

G Nolan Schwartz, Episcopal, Sr.

Led Eagles in scoring at 17.3 ppg and put up 502 points in career-best season for 22-8 Eagles. Shot 38% from the 3-point arc. Scored 835 points in his career.

F/G William Stewart, Providence, So.

Led the Class 2A state champions in scoring (14.5) and second in rebounding (6.1 pg) as Stallions went 29-3.

Third team

Position, Player, School, Class, Notable

G/F Joel Barnaby, Atlantic Coast, Sr.

The 6-5 wing was central in Stingrays’ massive turnaround. Averaged 10.9 points and pulled in 6.4 rebounds as Atlantic Coast went 21-7, won district and reached the regional semifinals. Headed to Florida State College at Jacksonville.

G Braylen Dirden, St. Augustine, Sr.

Combo guard boosted production across the board, scoring 15.5 points and averaging 5.8 rebounds and dishing out 3.2 assists per game.

G Luke Mayberry, Providence, Sr.

Made the state champion Stallions’ offense go. Averaged 9 points, 5.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds a game. Headed for Navy.

F/G Frandy Perez, Impact Christian, Sr.

Averaged career-best in points (12.2 ppg), rebounds (5.5 rpg), steals (1.8 spg) and assists (1.4 apg) as Lions reached Class 1A state semifinals and finished 27-5.

G Bryce Robinson, Fleming Island, Sr.

Along with first-teamer Carson Crawford, he was a major reason the Golden Eagles had the best season in school history. Averaged 10.3 points, 3.2 assists a game for 23-9, Class 5A state runner-up Fleming Island. Shot 43% from 3-point range.

G Jamal Scott, White, Jr.

One of the Gateway Conference’s top players, he averaged 21.1 points and 5.2 rebounds to help the Commanders finish 18-9.

Honorable mention

Position, Player, School, Class

F Tarik Auguste, Atlantic Coast, Jr.

F Marcus Bullock, Orange Park, So.

G Joel Carver, Baker County, So.

F/G Pether Castro, NFEI, Jr.

G Aaron Carr, Ridgeview, Jr.

G Justis Clements, Eagle’s View, Sr.

F McCarthy Crenshaw, Fletcher, Sr.

G/F Robiahro Dallas, Wolfson, Jr.

F Corenzes Dennard, Jackson, Sr.

G Jacory Donaldson, Westside, Jr.

G/F CJ Giles, Matanzas, So.

F/G Jamarion Goodman, Baker County, Sr.

G Ryan Gornto, Providence, Jr.

F Thomas Haen, Bishop Kenny, Jr.

G/F Zion Hall, Ribault, Sr.

G Anthony Hampton, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.

G Markell Holmes, University Christian, Jr.

F Maddox Hunstad, Beachside, Sr.

G Daniel Israel, Sandalwood, Sr.

G Jeremiah Jones, Impact Christian, Sr.

G Joe Joseph, Bishop Kenny, Jr.

G/F Sam Koko, San Jose Prep, Jr.

G Tyler Kroog, Ponte Vedra, So.

G Hogan Labyk, Bishop Kenny, Jr.

G Brennan Lee, Creekside, Sr.

G Kenny Matty, Fletcher, Sr.

G Nathan McCartney, Harvest Community, Sr.

G Brandon McCoy, Ribault, Jr.

G/F Jayden McCoy, Matanzas, So.

G Taden McGhee, Bishop Snyder, Sr.

G Julian Melendez, Atlantic Coast, So.

G Dylan Merkitch, Fernandina Beach, Sr.

F Marc Mitchell, Tocoi Creek, Sr.

G Ben Newby, Yulee, So.

F Mechack Olungu, Impact Christian, Sr.

G Nate Perry, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.

F Chase Phifer, Nease, Jr.

G Max Porter, Wolfson, Jr.

G Kareem Preston Jr., Menendez, Sr.

G Javares Rickerson, Tocoi Creek, Sr.

G Christian Ricks, Paxon, Sr.

G Bryce Robinson, Fleming Island, Sr.

C Will Rydzewski, Episcopal, Jr.

G King Sanders, Jackson, Sr.

G Dylan Scheets, Creekside, Jr.

G Garrison Smith, Union County, So.

G Ryan Speace, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

G Austin Triggs, Orange Park, Fr.

G Ryan Turner, Fleming Island, Sr.

C Aumari Walton, Raines, Jr.

G Shaheed White, Columbia, Jr.

F Chase Williams-Pierce, Westside, So.

F/G Darian Wright, Bartram Trail, Sr.

F Tian Wyche, Mandarin, Sr.

G Gavin Youmans, Raines, Fr.

G Denoris Young, San Jose Prep, Sr.