These student-athletes are destined for remarkable individual accomplishments and team success this winter as another exciting sports season arrives in Central Florida.

Brandon Bass Jr., Windermere Prep Boys Basketball

Bass, a junior shooting guard, has led the Lakers in scoring each of the past two seasons as they reached the 3A state championship game in both years. He already has 1,244 career points with two seasons to go and is being recruited by some of the top college programs in the country.

OFM: Your team is coming off two straight remarkable seasons. How are you feeling heading into this one?
BB: I’m feeling pretty confident. We’re rebuilding a little bit, but we’re still pretty good.

OFM: Are you hungry after playing in two straight state finals to get back to that level?
BB: Oh yeah, for sure. I’m trying to win it all this year. I use that as motivation when I’m training to get better.

OFM: Is there anything in particular you have tried to improve during the offseason?
BB: I’m really focused on everything. I feel like I can get better in multiple things, not just one thing. If I work on everything, I’ll become a better player.

OFM: Do you have any individual goals for yourself this season?
BB: Just winning as much as possible and having a better record than last year.

OFM: You have proven that you can score, and your rebounding got better last year. Is it important to you to be a well-rounded player and contribute in a lot of ways?
BB: Oh yeah. I’m going to try to get way more rebounds, way more assists. I’m going to try to be completely better than last year when it comes to that.

OFM: What’s it like to be one of the older guys on the team now? Are you taking on more of a leadership role?
BB: For sure. I have to step up and have a way bigger role than last year. 

OFM: What do you like about going to school at Windermere Prep?
BB: I’ve been here for all of my life, basically, so this is what I’m used to. I started here in fourth grade.

OFM: Do you have a favorite teacher?
BB: Miss [Kim] Knowles is my favorite teacher. She teaches sixth-grade math. I like how she makes math fun. She creates games in class and it’s fun.

OFM: How is the recruiting process going?
BB: We have coaches coming in a lot and watching my practices. I’m probably going to go on visits soon. I’m enjoying it.

OFM: What are you looking for in a school?
BB: Just a school that loves me and loves my game, and feels like I can help their team win.

OFM: Is your dad pushing for LSU, where he played?
BB: Nah, he doesn’t care. He wants whatever school that best fits me. It’s on the list, though.

OFM: I know you get asked a lot about your dad, but obviously he played a long time in the NBA and you’re playing the same sport. Has he had a big influence on your game?
BB: Yeah. He’s my dad but he’s also a mentor too, and he’s basically my coach.

OFM: Do you remember him as a player?
BB: I was 9 or 10, so I remember when he was in the league.

OFM: Do you two ever play one on one?
BB: Sometimes, and I beat him sometimes too.

OFM: Do you feel like you have a similar game to him?
BB: Not really. We almost have completely different games. He teaches me some of his moves—I use his post moves sometimes—but we have completely different games. He was a power forward and I’m a shooting guard.

OFM: Is getting to the NBA someday a goal of yours?
BB: That’s my main goal, to get there. It’s going to take hard work and dedication. It’s a long journey that I’m willing to take.

OFM: What are your other hobbies away from basketball?
BB: Fishing, playing video games—those are my two favorite things outside of basketball. I like to play NBA2K and Call of Duty, games like that.

OFM: Who is the 2K team you like to play with?
BB: Right now, probably the Warriors. That’s not my favorite team, it’s just because they have a bunch of shooters.

OFM: Do you have a favorite team?
BB: My favorite team to watch this year is probably going to be the Timberwolves.

OFM: What do you like about growing up in Central Florida?
BB: Being close to so many amusement parks and having so much to do. You don’t really get bored when you’re in Orlando.

Matias Montenegro, Windermere Boys Soccer

A 6-foot-3 senior center back, Montenegro is not only the anchor of Windermere’s defense but can also make things happen on offense occasionally as well. A Division I recruit, he helped the Wolves capture a region title and reach the 7A state semifinals last year.

OFM: Are you excited for your final high school season?
MM: I am very excited. After everything that we were able to accomplish last year for the first time—winning regionals, making it to states—it’s exciting to head into this year with that motivation and that desire to accomplish what we couldn’t last year, which was to win states.

OFM: Do you feel that this team has the same potential?
MM: I do, especially since we have a lot of players coming in from JV who I have played with in my club. I’m excited to see how they’re going to perform this year. I’ve been playing with them throughout the summer and throughout the fall, so I know that we have a good squad and we can accomplish even more than we did last year.

OFM: Have you always been a defender?
MM: Yes, I’ve always been a defender. I started off as left back and then moved to center back. I’ve been playing center back for a long time now, and you’re really a leader for the defense. You have to communicate with everyone in front of you; you see the whole field from the back, and you’re in charge of essentially the whole defense. You try to take charge of the team as a whole during games and call out different things. It’s important.

OFM: Your size is certainly an asset. Do you like to play physical?
MM: Of course. That’s why I love playing defense, because you get to be a little more physical than other positions on the field and you get to more encounters where you have to be physical. I love it.

OFM: How did you get into soccer in the first place?
MM: I started very young. I was really born into a soccer family, with my dad being from Argentina. I don’t want to say that I didn’t have a choice, because I obviously did, but I got a soccer ball when I was young and I never looked back. I started playing when I was around 4 and stopped playing for a year or two when I was 6, but I went back when I was 8 years old and I’ve been playing consistently since then.

OFM: In your dad’s home country, soccer must be a way of life.
MM: Oh yeah, the passion for soccer in Argentina is unmatched. You don’t see it as much here in America, but it’s something more than a sport in Argentina. They live by it, whether it’s playing it, gathering with all of your friends and family to watch your favorite team, or supporting the national team. For example, during the World Cup we all got together here in Orlando—the small Argentine community that’s here—and we all watched the games. It was awesome.

OFM: Have you ever visited Argentina?
MM: I have. It’s been a while—the last time I went was 2018, but I went a few other times when I was younger. … The culture there, the food, the atmosphere, it’s all very nice.

OFM: What do you like about growing up here in Orlando?
MM: Mainly what I’ve been able to experience is how diverse everyone is here. I have friends who are Brazilian, Venezuelan, Colombian, Puerto Rican. There’s just a lot of different people from different parts of the world, especially South America. That’s something that I enjoy about Orlando, and also its proximity to everything. I love being out on the water, going to the beach, and that’s something cool about Orlando: You’re an hour or an hour and a half from the nearest beaches. That’s great too.

OFM: What are your hobbies outside of soccer?
MM: With the little free time I have, I would say spending time with friends and family. I was also able to have a job at Aquatica and that was something I really enjoyed, just being outside and working as a lifeguard. I made a lot of friends through that as well. Being outside and enjoying the sun, working at a water park in the summer was a lot of fun. I also like to play pool with my mom, my dad and my sister. That’s something we’ll do on Sundays, or anytime we’re together and not doing anything. The pool table was one of my birthday presents and it’s been really nice. Not a lot of my friends play pool, so it’s something I can show off a little bit.

OFM: How is the recruiting process going for you?
MM: It’s going really good so far. I’ve gone to several ID camps here in Florida and a few in North Carolina as well. I’ve been in contact with a few schools in New York, North Carolina and Florida, and I’m open to being recruited still. I’m looking at all of my options and seeing what I can get academically and athletically from a university.

OFM: Do you have anything specific you’re looking for in a college?
MM: I do have more interest in smaller or medium-sized schools rather than a large state school. I like smaller classroom sizes where you might be able to have more contact with the professor or be more engaged in the student life and activities around the school. I’m looking into study abroad programs—that’s something my mom did when she was in college, so that’s something I’ve always wanted to do. She was able to go to Spain during one of her semesters. So I’m looking into that, and my intended major is finance, so I’m looking into which schools have the better finance programs.

OFM: Your high school has not been around very long, but what do you like about going to school there and helping to establish the soccer program?
MM: Windermere has always sort of been an area in Central Florida that is a center for soccer. These past few years that I’ve been a part of the program, especially this past year with a new coaching staff … they really helped to maximize Windermere’s potential and helped us achieve what I always thought was possible. I think that’s been really good for Windermere. We’ve also gone out and done some community service around Windermere with the Very Gary Foundation. We’ve been able to go do Toys for Tots and collect toys and take them to the Very Gary Foundation for distribution. That’s something good that we’ve done as a team.

Holland Harris, Montverde Academy Girls Basketball

Harris, a 6-foot-1 senior wing, transferred to Montverde last year and made an immediate impact with her shooting and defense to help the Eagles go 24-4 and claim their third straight national championship. The Orlando native has high hopes for her final season before moving on to Clemson University.

OFM: After a remarkable season last year, are the expectations the same heading into this one, to compete for a national title?
HH: Yeah, of course. I want to lead this team to our fourth national championship by being the best teammate and leader on and off the court. I understand what it takes to win at the highest high school level thanks to my coaches here at Montverde. They have helped me along the way a lot.

OFM: I know the team lost some key players to graduation. Do you expect to play a bigger role?
HH: Now that I’m a senior, I just want to lead more and I think that will definitely help a lot. Vocally, physically, on and off the court. 

OFM: How have you prepared for this season?
HH: We’ve been doing a lot of weights and getting shots up and having morning workouts at 6 a.m., and then we also go at night sometimes. It’s definitely helped.

OFM: Are there any specific parts of your game that you’ve been working on?
HH: I would say my ball handling. I’ve been working a lot on that and just getting stronger.

OFM: Have you always been a shooter since you started playing?
HH: Yeah, I would say so. 

OFM: With your height, I would imagine you played in the paint a lot growing up. When did you start to extend your range and become a perimeter player?
HH: I didn’t start playing that long ago, so I’ve always been working on my 3 and trying to be more consistent.

OFM: When did you start playing basketball?
HH: My freshman year of high school. I was a tennis player, but I didn’t really like that tennis was an individual sport. I liked the team concept, so I switched to basketball my freshman year. I kept the tennis schedule, which was five hours a day—I just switched the ball and the court. I worked with my trainer every day because I knew I started late and I had to catch up to the elite girls. That was my goal.

OFM: Do you miss tennis at all?
HH: No.

OFM: What do you like about going to school at Montverde?
HH: Montverde has a winning tradition both with basketball and academics. The classes are challenging and I’ve made so many new friends from all over the world. It’s a very diverse school and it’s great that our girls’ national team is an elite program.

OFM: What do you like about growing up in Central Florida?
HH: The weather is always really nice year round. It doesn’t get too cold.

OFM: What are your hobbies away from basketball?
HH: I like to spend time with my family and hang out with my friends. I like watching scary movies and I also enjoy listening to music.

OFM: Do you have certain music you listen to in order to get hyped for a big game?
HH: I really like Drake. 

OFM: What did you like about the basketball program and the school to make you commit to Clemson?
HH: My relationship with the head coach was the most important part of my decision. I have a great relationship with coach [Shawn] Poppie and I truly believe in his vision to make Clemson women’s basketball a powerhouse program. I also really liked the campus.

OFM: Do you know what you want to study?
HH: Communications or broadcasting.

OFM: How far do you want to take basketball?
HH: I want to play after college in the WNBA or overseas.

OFM: Women’s basketball has really grown in popularity recently. Do you feel like it’s about time the sport is starting to get more attention?
HH: Yeah, it’s amazing.

OFM: Do you have a favorite player?
HH: I really like Breanna Stewart.

OFM: What can you tell me about your experience with USA Basketball this past summer?
HH: It was tryouts for the [U17] national team. It was a great experience, getting to play against players from all over the country, who are the best players in their states. I learned so many things from it, just focusing on the little things and the details of the game.

Josh Sabbia, Oviedo Wrestling

A 113-pound senior, Sabbia is coming off a memorable junior season in which he earned his 100th career win, secured his first region championship and reached the semifinals at 3A states before finishing fourth. He is looking to cap off his career with a state title.

OFM: Are you looking forward to your final season of high school wrestling?
JS: Yeah, I’m pretty excited. I’ve definitely been waiting for this season for a while now. I’m just going to have fun with it since it’s my last go.

OFM: What stands out when you look back on last season? Was your run in the state tournament something you expected?
JS: No, it definitely took me by surprise. I wanted to place, for sure, but I didn’t know how well I would do. I thought of myself as being in the lower half of that placement, but taking fourth was really unexpected and I was really proud of myself in that moment. It boosted my confidence knowing that I’m competing out there and making a name for myself.

OFM: What did it mean to you to win regions for the first time?
JS: Sophomore year I took second, so it was a big deal to win and I was really happy for it.

OFM: Do you know what weight class you’re going to wrestle at this year?
JS: I’m going to try to wrestle at 113 again because I really want to get that state title, but we’ll see how it goes.

OFM: Is it hard to maintain that weight?
JS: It gets harder every year, that’s for sure. But I think once the season rolls around, it will be a lot easier because we’ll have more practices and I’ll be consistently working out.

OFM: How do you feel about the new rule changes coming to high school wrestling, including three points for a takedown instead of two?
JS: I’m very excited for that. I really like the new rules and I think it gives you more opportunities. You can be more aggressive.

OFM: How long have you been wrestling?
JS: I started my freshman year. I’ve always done martial arts: I’ve done kickboxing, Taekwondo and jiu-jitsu. When I got to high school, I wanted to pick up a sport and a lot of people were telling me that wrestling was a good option because of [my background in martial arts]. So I tried it out and I fell in love with it.

OFM: It’s certainly one of the most demanding sports. Is it rewarding when you see the hard work pay off?
JS: For sure. One of the things that keeps me going is that reward and the glory of it. At the end of the day, it makes me want to keep working hard and keep winning.

OFM: What was it like to celebrate your 100th win last year?
JS: My team actually made me a poster and everything, and for me that was a big deal, especially getting it as a junior. I was super excited about that. I was trying to get it in my final match at districts but that match didn’t go my way, so I had to get it at my first match at regions. Then I ended up winning regions, so that made it even sweeter.

OFM: What are the prospects for the team this year?
JS: We lost a lot of seniors last year—at least half of our team was seniors—so we’re doing some rebuilding. We have a lot of incoming juniors who have great potential, but they just haven’t been on the varsity level. We just have to bring them up to that level. … If you want to be good, you just have to show up and do the things we’re telling you to do. I just want the team to grow—even when I’m gone, I want the team to be as good as they can be.

OFM: Do you know what you’re doing next year?
JS: My options are open right now. I might just go to college at a Florida school, but if I get any scholarship offers for a wrestling school, I would love that.

OFM: I saw that you’re a journalist for the Oviedo school newspaper. Is that something you would like to do in the future?
JS: Possibly. I love writing, that’s one of my hobbies, so if there are any opportunities for that, I would love to take them. I really enjoy telling people’s stories, like you do all the time in your magazine. … I do a lot of sports stories and sometimes I do profiles of other students.

OFM: What else do you do for fun?
JS: I love playing guitar and I’ve always enjoyed music. Sadly, I can’t do it as much anymore with wrestling, but I enjoy playing when I can. I’ve always loved writing since I was a kid, just coming up with stories. The newspaper really helps with that hobby.

OFM: Do you listen to music heading into a match?
JS: For sure, I always have to listen to music. That’s a big thing for me during the car ride to get pumped up and think about what I’m going to do in the tournament. I love rock music, so Linkin Park is a big one for me. It depends on my mood, but Linkin Park is a big one and I also love Three Days Grace.

OFM: Have you always lived in Florida?
JS: Yes, I’ve lived in Florida all of my life. I don’t know if I could go anywhere else, honestly. I’m not a big fan of the cold so I love Florida and it’s my home. I love the beaches, and my parents are both from Latin countries in South America, so I love the Hispanic culture in Florida.

Emma Keyes, Geneva Girls Soccer

A varsity player since she was in eighth grade, Keyes enters her senior season with 47 career goals after scoring a team-high 21 as a junior. She sparked the Knights to a 15-3 record, their fourth straight district title and the region final, and is eager to be a leader for a young squad this winter.

OFM: Has it sunk in yet that this is your final season at Geneva?
EK: When I think about it, yes. I’m excited for this upcoming season but I’m also really upset that it’s my last season with coach Tracy [Talesnick] because I’ve been playing with her for so long now.

OFM: There have been a lot of great accomplishments for you and the team during that time. What stands out as your favorite memory?
EK: Probably making it to state semis my first two years playing for Geneva, because no one really expected us to get that far. Since I was in eighth grade and ninth grade, I was just so happy that we made it that far. I think those are my favorite moments playing for Geneva, but all of our seasons have gone pretty well, and I’m excited for this season because we have new players coming in who are new to our school and I’m excited for them to get to know the community of our team. I love playing with these girls—they are genuinely the sweetest people I have ever met.

OFM: Do you think this team has the potential to keep the district title streak alive?
EK: I hope so. I think we can make it to districts, because we have some new players who play club, and the girls who started two years ago have grown into good soccer players. I think we can make it to districts and win districts.

OFM: Do you have any particular individual goals?
EK: Just to be a good captain this year and lead the team well. Other than that, I just want to have fun, stay positive and help the team stay positive, because we do have some harder games this year … against bigger schools. So it’s my goal to be a good team captain and not let the girls get down on themselves.

OFM: Have you always been a natural scorer?
EK: For Geneva, yes, because Tracy loves to put me on right wing so I can cut in and shoot with my left foot. 

OFM: Do you play other positions for club?
EK: Yeah, I play left back for club. I like winger more, because I like to take people on and cross for the team rather than defend, but I love both of them. It depends on the game: If it’s more attacking, I wish to play winger, but if it’s more defensive, than I’m fine with playing defense.

OFM: Do you know what you’re doing next year?
EK: Not yet. I do have some opportunities, but I haven’t made any decisions yet. All I know is that I want to study either kinesiology or psychology in college, so I’m trying to see what I can do. I would like to play [soccer].

OFM: What kind of school are you looking for?
EK: I think a smaller school. I would say in-state, but if I had an opportunity to go somewhere in the Carolinas, that would be nice too.

OFM: How did you first get into soccer?
EK: My brothers used to play, so when I was 3, I started kicking the ball around with them and ever since then I’ve been playing.

OFM: What do you like about growing up in Florida?
EK: I like the beaches. I don’t like the bi-polar weather, though. I also don’t like when you try going certain places near Disney and there’s so much traffic because all of the tourists are trying to go there. So my favorite part is going to the beaches, like New Smyrna and Fort Myers.

OFM: What do you like about going to school at Geneva?
EK: The community. The students and teachers push you to be your best, and they’re always there for you if you need a helping hand or if you just want to talk to someone.

OFM: What else do you do for fun?
EK: I love to play pickleball with my friends, and we kind of get competitive sometimes. I also like to go to the gym and have lake days with my friends.