PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jacobi Boykins, Lakewood (2014 wing)
Jacobi Boykins Lakewood High School Senior averaged 22 points per game and 7 rebounds. He shot 40% from the field and 75% from the foul line, scoring over 600 points this season.
Some players may have better stats, but not many play with the energy, possess the leadership ability and command the attention Boykins does. Whenever he was on the court, it was evident that he loved the game and played with a passion that was contagious. Through an up and down season, Boykins was the glue that kept the Spartans together and on the positive track. Their competition through out the season was stiff and in the toughest games, Boykins was at his best.
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Jacobi Boykins recovered from a neck injury that kept him out all last season. He was in a car accident two days prior to his junior season started and broke his neck. He recovered well enough to lead Lakewood to the 5A State Title game, earn BCP Player of the Year honors and will be heading to Louisiana Tech on a basketball scholarship in the fall.
Jacobi was one of the most exciting players to watch this season. He was a high flyer and could shoot from the parking lot. Few players in the area led their team to the final game of the state finals putting the team on his back the way Boykins did.
Lakewood finished the season 22-10 losing to American Heritage-Plantation in the 5A State Title Game. However, Boykins would not go down without a fight. In his last two games as a Lakewood Spartan, Boykins scored 12 points, grabbed 5 boards and 1 dime in the semi-final game versus Eastside (Gainesville) and versus Heritage he went bonkers racking up 28 points and 13 big rebounds. His final 8 quarters in the black and gold, Boykins dropped 40 points, 19 rebounds and 2 assists.
“I am extremely proud of Jacobi and his accomplishments. He was a hard worker and he showed everyone this year how to overcome and persevere. He came from having a broken neck last year to being player of the year this year. He was a great example to the other players on how to work hard a push yourself when you feel you can’t go anymore. He spent a lot of time in the gym when others were sitting home resting. I truly think he is going to have a huge impact when he steps on the court next year at Louisiana Tech.” – Anthony Lawrence, Lakewood Head Varsity Basketball Coach
COACH OF THE YEAR: Danny Gaddis, Lennard
In just his 5th season as a varsity head basketball coach, Lennard’s Danny Gaddis led his team to the biggest stage of the high school basketball season, The Lakeland Center Final Four. Lennard took down Blake, Chamberlain and Jefferson in the district tournament to win the school’s First Ever District Championship. Then the Longhorns scrapped past Mitchell, slipped past Largo and overcame Lehigh to advance to the 6A State Final Four. The Longhorn season would conclude with a loss to Lake Minneola finishing the season 26-5, best season in school history.
Gaddis team scored just under 2200 points this season, around 74 points a contest. They held their opponents to 57 points per game allowing 1700 points this year. The Longhorns shot over 40% from the field, 31 % from 3-point land and 60 % from the foul line. Under Gaddis, the Longhorns have been 9-8 District Quarterfinals, 11-9 District Quarterfinals, 10-14 District Semifinals, 17-8 District Runner-Up, Regional Quarterfinal and this season 26-5 District Champs, Regional Champs, State Semi-Finals. The Longhorns were Undefeated at home (11-0), Scored first 100 point game (W 104-84 against Clearwater Central Catholic) and First Playoff Win in School History (W Mitchell 54-51).
Stats from Maxpreps or team coaches. Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk County players considered. Heavy consideration: Production, competition, playoff run. THIS IS NOT A TOP PLAYER OR TALENT LIST.
KEY
PG – Point Guard
WG – Wing
F – Forward
C – Center
ppg – points per game
rpg – rebounds per game
asg – assist per game
spg – steals per game
bpg – blocks per game
FIRST TEAM
PG Derrick Brooks, Bartow 2014– 15 ppg, 7 apg, 7 rpg, 1.7 spg
PG Caelen Watts, Lennard 2014 – 18.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 spg
WG Troy Holston, Oldsmar Christian 2014 – 22 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg
WG Chivarsky Corbett, Tampa Catholic 2014 – 20.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3 bpg, 2.3 spg
WG Justin Gray, Berkeley Prep 2014 – 17.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg
F Dayon Griffin, St. Petersburg 2014 – 22 ppg, 6 apg, 5 rpg
F Anthony Lawrence, Lakewood 2015 – 20 ppg, 11 rpg, 8 apg
C Dan Manzi, Tampa Bay Christian 2014 – 24.1 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg
C Juwan Durham, Tampa Prep 2016 – 21.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 5.7 bpg
SECOND TEAM
PG Donavan Hale, Largo 2015 – 15.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg
PG Savonte Frazier, Lake Wales 2014 – 19 ppg, 3 rpg, 4 apg
WG Keshawn Ingram, Steinbrenner – 29.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.6 spg
WG Chance McSpadden, Winter Haven 2015 – 19.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.9 spg
WG Barry Brown, Gibbs 2015 – 20.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 3.2 spg
F Scott James, Tarpon Springs 2015 – 17.8 ppg, 11 rpg, 2.1 bpg
F Lawrence Watts, Mitchell 2015 – 15.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.6 apg
F Andrew Sanders, Plant 2015 – 17.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg
C Tony Bradley, Bartow 2016 – 18 ppg, 12 rpg
C Brandon Jones, Largo 2014 – 16.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.5 spg, 3.6 bpg
THIRD TEAM
PG Malik Channer, Strawberry Crest 2014 – 13.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.8 apg, 3.1 spg
PG Jonathan Jean, East Bay 2015 – 16 ppg, 4 rpg, 6 apg, 2 spg
WG Joe Pigozzo, Palm Harbor 2014 – 18.5 ppg, 2 apg, 3 rpg
WG Marco Mehori, Seminole 2015 – 19.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 5.2 apg, 4 spg
WG Corey Sanders, Kathleen 2015 – 15.9 ppg
F Railond Garrett, Lake Wales 2014 – 10 ppg, 9 rpg
F Derwin James, Haines City 2015 – 10.8 ppg, 10 rpg
C George Brammeier, Bloomingdale 2014 – 15.9 ppg, 9.5 rpg
C Roderick Davis, Brandon 2014 – 12.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.4 bpg