Columbus (Miami, Fla.) is set to roll out a front line that is taller than any in the NBA next season as a pair of 7-foot international transfers join returning center Akol Nyok for the five-time defending state champions.
Czechia natives Martin Simko and Martin Sibal both recently announced their transfers to Columbus for their junior seasons. Both players are regarded as four-star prospects in the Class of 2028.
Sibal, a 7-foot-1 forward, debuted at No. 26 by 247Sports. Simko, a 7-0 forward, came in at No. 49 in the Class of 2028 player rankings.
Returning big man Nyok is also listed at 7-1 as the top 150 Class of 2027 center holds offers from Arkansas State, Detroit Mercy, Duquesne, Georgia, Marquette, Santa Clara, St. Louis, Tennessee, UAB, UC Santa Barbara and UNLV.
All three 7-footers started alongside each other for the Explorers in their run to the championship game in the Slam GRFX bracket of the Section 7 event held last month.
Along with their towering front-line, Columbus also added top 30 Class of 2028 prospect Tai Bell in the off-season. The son of former NBA veteran Raja Bell averaged 33.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest last season in an injury-shortened sophomore campaign.
The five-time reigning state champions in Florida’s highest classification will once again be among the teams to beat in high school basketball next season as MaxPreps Freshman All-America selection Cayden Gaskins and top 125 Class of 2028 prospect Jordan Fisher both return to the rotation alongside the influx of talent.
Behind two-time MaxPreps National Player of the Year Cameron Boozer and MaxPreps All-America selection Cayden Boozer, Columbus was able to set its foundation as a basketball powerhouse. The Explorers claimed the top spot in the final MaxPreps Top 25 in 2024-25 during the Boozer brothers’ senior season after finishing No. 2 in the national rankings the year prior.
Throughout their run of state championships, Columbus has finished the season ranked No. 18 or higher in the MaxPreps Top 25 each year with a record of 140-20 during that span.
