13-04-2025
Columbus' Moran and Riviera Prep's Shahbaz are Dade Boys' Basketball Coaches of the Year
At Columbus, Andrew Moran supervised not just the extension of one of the dominant state championship stretches ever by a Miami-Dade County team, but a historic run to a national championship as well.
And at Riviera Prep, challenges to their own state championship streak emerged long before they even first stepped on the court to prepare for the 2024-25 season.
Bulldogs coach Anthony Shahbaz kept them on course and helped them reach the pinnacle once again.
And so, Moran and Shahbaz are once again the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade County Boys' Basketball Coaches of the Year.
Moran earns the honors for Classes 7A-5A after leading the Explorers to their fourth consecutive state championship.
Columbus is only the second Miami-Dade County team to ever accomplish that feat, joining Miami Norland and stands one title away from tying the state record for longest state championship streak.
The Explorers made history less than a month later, though, becoming the first South Florida school to win the Chipotle Nationals tournament and claim a national championship.
Moran led the Explorers to a 145-34 record during his six seasons at Columbus and earned Naismith National Coach of the Year honors this past season.
After guiding one of the most dominant squads in county history, featured by Duke signees Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Moran was officially introduced this past week as one of the new assistant coaches at the University of Miami.
Shahbaz, meanwhile, led Riviera Prep to its third consecutive state title. Months earlier, though, Shahbaz was faced with the challenge of adjusting without his top player, Dante Allen, a four-star prospect who transferred to Montverde Academy. Then the Bulldogs had to overcome multiple injuries including the loss of 7-foot center Gus Guimaraes.
Led by sibling guards Myles and Mason Fuentes and sophomore prospect Jeremy Jenkins, Riviera Prep navigated through its tough region and back to Lakeland to keep its title streak alive. With the aforementioned trio returning next season, the Bulldogs have a great chance to extend their streak to four.
