A look at the high school athletes poised for big things this winter season…

BOYS BASKETBALL

Marlon Allen, Boone, junior forward:
A 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward, Allen is entering his third year of varsity basketball and seems primed for a breakout season. He has already impressed coach Dave Martinson with his work ethic in the gym and the weight room, as well as his dedication to schoolwork as a member of Boone’s Criminal Justice Magnet Program.

Robert Allen, Edgewater, senior forward: 
Allen, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound power forward, averaged a double-double of 11.8 points and 10.4 rebounds to help the Eagles reach the Class 7A state final last year. With former Edgewater star guard Anfernee Simons now at IMG Academy, Allen should emerge as the Eagles’ go-to player this winter. A 3.0 student, he will continue his basketball and academic career at Samford University.

Jordan Grant, Olympia, senior guard: 
A three-year varsity player, Grant runs the point for Olympia with tremendous court vision and passing skills. He is also a proven scorer himself, either from the perimeter or attacking the basket.

Sean Halloran, Boone, senior guard: 
A three-year member of the varsity team, this senior point guard and captain started every game last year and helped Boone go 21-8 with a district championship and a runner-up finish in the region. He averaged a team-high 12.5 points along with four assists and two steals and was one of only two juniors named to the all-Metro Conference East Division first team. Halloran is being recruited by a number of colleges up and down the East Coast and plans on making a decision after this season.

Peter Hayes-Patrick, Timber Creek, junior guard:
A highly recruited star running back for the Timber Creek football team, Hayes-Patrick will also be a key player on the court this winter. He started every game as a sophomore and his experience will be crucial for a team that graduated several senior leaders.

Antwann Jones, Oak Ridge, senior guard:
Considered one of the top prospects in the country, this 6-foot-5 wing player loves to attack the basket and is improving his perimeter game as well. He originally committed to Oklahoma State but has reopened his recruitment and has interest from the likes of Memphis, Wake Forest and South Florida.

Kevin Kersaint, Freedom, senior guard:
Kersaint, entering his third year of varsity basketball, will be a key player for new Freedom coach Duke Leonardo. The left-handed shooting guard is equally comfortable knocking down a 3-pointer or getting into the lane to finish or create for his teammates. A hard worker on the court and in the classroom, Kersaint plans on playing at the next level.

Jonathan Lawrence, Lake Howell, junior forward:
At 6-foot-8, Lawrence is a strong rebounder and runs the floor well for a big man. He also shines in the classroom, and is on track to become valedictorian of his class, following in the footsteps of both parents and his older brother. Lawrence recently took an unofficial visit to Florida and is also being recruited by Marshall, Georgia State, Brown, Cornell and Army.

Nathan Louis, Apopka, junior forward: 
A varsity contributor since his freshman year, Louis seems primed for a breakout season after helping lead the Blue Darters to a 16-10 record last year.

Daniel Love, Dr. Phillips, senior guard: 
A 6-foot-3 playmaker who can score as well as dish, Love is the latest in a long line of standout guards to come through Dr. Phillips. He was named to the all- Metro Conference West Division first team as a junior and will continue his career at Mercer University next year.

Miles Miller, University, senior forward: 
A 6-foot-4 forward, Miller averaged 10.1 points and eight rebounds as the Cougars went 18-9, took second in the district and reached the region quarterfinals. He is one of the emotional leaders for University along with fellow senior Ramon Vales-Prieto, and both players are looking to continue their careers at the next level.

Tyrone Perry, Wekiva, senior guard: 
A key player on a team that went 26-6 and reached the Class 9A state championship game, Perry’s experience will be crucial for the Mustangs after the graduation of star forward Paul Reed, who is now at DePaul. Perry was named to the all-Metro Conference West Division first team.

Christian Robertson, Lake Nona, senior guard: 
Armed with a sensational shooting touch, Robertson averaged 13.8 points per game last year thanks to 51 percent shooting from 3-point range and 88 percent shooting from the foul line. The three-year varsity player is already Lake Nona’s all-time leader in made 3- pointers with 75. Robertson has a 3.9 GPA and plans on majoring in political science in college.

Kevin “KJ” Simon, West Orange, senior guard: 
An athletic point guard who has the ability to set up his teammates or score himself, Simon averaged 13 points, four assists and four rebounds as a junior. West Orange coach Eric Jones is expecting him to have a breakout season before moving on to college. Simon was recruited by the likes of VCU, Murray State and Georgia Southern and made a verbal commitment to Troy in October.

Emmitt Williams, Oak Ridge, senior forward: 
A 6-foot-8 power forward known nation-wide for his explosive dunks, Williams transferred to Oak Ridge after two years at IMG Academy. He is one of the top recruits in the country with offers from Kansas, Florida and Florida State, among others.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Madelyn Batista, Winter Park, senior center: 
A 6-foot-2 center, Batista controlled the paint last year for the Wildcats, averaging a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds while also flashing her passing ability and handing out four assists per game. She led Winter Park to a 15-8 record and has her sights set on another successful season before continuing her career at Daytona State College.

Morgan Beacham, West Orange, junior guard: 
A 5-foot-7 point guard with a terrific handle and court vision, Beacham averaged 12.4 points, 3.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 steals to make the all- Metro Conference West Division first team. She was the Offensive Player of the Year for West Orange and the runner-up for Metro West Player of the Year. Beacham has received full scholarship offers from several Division I schools, including Stetson, Old Dominion and the University of North Florida.

Emari Bell, Edgewater, senior forward: 
The leading scorer for the Eagles, Bell is a 6-foot-2 power forward who was named to the all-Metro Conference West Division first team. She helped Edgewater reach the Class 7A state semifinals.

Gabriel Grillon, East River, senior forward/center: 
Grillon, a 6-foot-3 center with a soft touch around the basket, averaged 10.9 points and 8.8 rebounds last year while patrolling the lane with 43 blocks on defense to help the Falcons to an 18-7 record. She has an unweighted 4.0 GPA and will play basketball at Lipscomb University next year.

Leilani Guion, Cypress Creek, sophomore guard: 
Guion’s debut scholastic season was one to remember, as she averaged 15.7 points and seven assists and helped guide the Bears to a 4-0 record in the prestigious Florida Prospects Tournament. This summer, Guion led her travel team, the Florida Sharks, to five championships. She has three more seasons to shine in a Cypress Creek uniform and hopes to play college basketball at Florida State.

E’toni Holloway, Wekiva, senior guard: 
A versatile 5-foot-10 guard who can guard multiple positions, Holloway is also a sensational offensive player who can attack the basket, pull up for a midrange jumper or knock down a 3-pointer. She averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 assists and 2.4 steals and scored 22 points in the regional final to send the Mustangs to the Class 9A state semifinals.

Kharis Idom, Colonial, senior guard: 
The 9A Metro East Player of the Year as a junior, Idom did a little bit of everything for the Grenadiers as she averaged 14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 3.1 steals. A varsity player since her freshman year, she has helped Colonial to a 64-22 record with three district titles, one Metro title and a state runner-up finish in her career. She has a GPA of 4.52 and is being recruited by a number of colleges throughout the country, including a full scholarship offer from the University of Massachusetts- Lowell.

Emmy James, Wekiva, sophomore guard: 
During her standout rookie season, this 5-foot-9 point guard displayed an ability to make the players around her better with her court vision and passing skills. She also averaged 14.6 points and is already receiving interest from Division I programs.

Chardell Jones, Jones, senior guard: 
The Metro Conference West Division Player of the Year contributed in many ways for the Tigers, as she averaged 14.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and three steals per game. She was at her best in the playoffs, including a 20-point, 12-rebound performance in the Class 5A state final to lead Jones to the third state title in program history.

Re’yanna Jones, Lake Howell, junior guard: 
Lake Howell head coach Michael Sutton says having Jones at point guard is like having an extra coach on the floor thanks to her high basketball IQ. She can impact a game both offensively and defensively and averaged over 15 points and seven assists for both the Silver Hawks and her AAU team. Jones has received interest from colleges all over the country, including Mississippi State, Eastern Kentucky, Dayton, Old Dominion and Seton Hall.

Staci Miller, Evans, senior guard: 
Miller, a 5-foot-7 shooting guard, has been a top player for the Trojans since her freshman year and is primed to close out her career on a high note. Last year, she filled the stat sheet, averaging 18 points, six rebounds, four steals and four assists while shooting 85 percent from the foul line. She made the all-Metro Conference West Division second team after making the first team each of her first two seasons. Miller is also a standout in the classroom with a 4.2 weighted GPA, and she is part of the National Honor Society and student government as well.

Airyannah Moitt, Olympia, senior guard/forward: 
Moitt is a returning starter from an excellent Olympia team that went 15-7 and reached the Class 9A state semifinals for the first time. She is the Titans’ best overall defender and hopes to lead them to another strong season before continuing her career in college.

Asia Newsome, The First Academy, senior guard/forward: 
A 5-foot-9 shooting guard/small forward, Newsome is an explosive scorer who had a pair of 40- point games during her junior season and averaged a team-high 22.5 points to go with 7.3 rebounds. She recently committed to Rollins College to continue her career.

Cheyenne Patrick, East River, senior guard/forward: 
An outstanding perimeter shooter, Patrick averaged 14.6 points as a junior and knocked down 86 3-pointers, good for first in 8A and third in the state. She enters her senior season 325 points shy of 1,000 for her career and has committed to the University of North Florida.

Geovanna Rios, Timber Creek, junior guard: 
A playmaking guard, Rios averaged and has drawn recruiting interest from Jacksonville State and North Florida.

Brittney Smith, Boone, senior forward/ center: 
A 6-foot-3 center, Smith is a fierce defensive presence who averaged 4.6 blocks last year—tops in the state in 9A—and twice had 12 blocks in a single game to set a school record. She also attacks the offensive glass and has a variety of moves around the basket, which helped her average 13 points and 9.6 rebounds to earn all-Metro Conference East Division first-team honors. She will continue her career at the University of Central Florida.

Jasmine Smith, Timber Creek, senior forward: 
Smith averaged 15 points and three assists last year on her way to all- Metro Conference East Division first-team honors. She plans on taking her game to the next level and has received recruiting interest from Daytona State College, Belmont Abbey, Lander University and Georgia Southwestern.

Gabby Suarez, Celebration, senior guard: 
A top player for the Storm since her freshman year, Suarez averaged 16.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists as a junior to help Celebration post a 23-3 record, an amazing 19-win improvement from the season before.

Macee Sugrue, Lake Nona, senior guard: 
A sharpshooting guard who is deadly from behind the arc, Sugrue led the Lions in scoring as a junior and made the all-Metro Conference East Division first team. She has committed to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

BOYS SOCCER

Justin Amatucci, Apopka, junior defender: 
A varsity starter since his freshman year, it will be exciting for the Blue Darters to see what Amatucci can accomplish now that he’s an upperclassman. He has had a successful travel soccer career as well, including a trip to the Southern Regional Championships in North Carolina with his club team, ACYS Spirit United. Amatucci is also an excellent student who hopes to play soccer in college.

Felipe Cardona, West Orange, senior midfielder: 
A talented and creative midfielder who anticipates plays before they happen, Cardona helped lead the Warriors to a district championship and a trip to the regional semifinals last year.

Ben Cooper, Olympia, senior forward: 
The Titans suffered heavy losses to graduation but are happy to welcome back Cooper, who had 18 goals and six assists as a junior to help Olympia reach the district final and regional quarterfinals.

Jonathan De Lucca, Boone, senior forward: 
De Lucca, a native of Italy, led the Braves with 12 goals in 12 games last year and will serve as team captain this winter. Also a standout kicker for the Boone football team, he could possibly play either sport at the next level.

Billy DeSante, Lake Nona, senior forward: 
A dangerous finisher up top, DeSante had 16 goals and seven assists last year to help the Lions to a 13-4-2 record. Also a standout in the classroom, he has a 3.5 GPA and hopes to lead Lake Nona to a district title before studying crisis management and playing soccer in college.

Roldy Geneus, Evans, sophomore midfielder: 
Geneus turned heads as a rookie with his play at both ends of the field and was a unanimous selection to the all-Metro Conference West Division first team. He recently helped his club team, the South Orlando Soccer Club U-19 squad, win its age division at the 2017 Disney Soccer Showcase Qualifier. Several colleges have already expressed interest in him, including Liberty Christian College.

Oscar Salazar, Wekiva, senior midfielder: 
A three-year varsity player, Salazar has led the Mustangs in goals and assists each of the last two seasons and received all-Metro Conference West Division firstteam accolades both years. A leader on and off the field, he will serve as captain this season and is also the vice president of his senior class.

Christian Toro, East River, senior goalie: 
A two-year letterwinner, Toro has established himself as one of the top keepers in the area during that time. He has ranked in the top five for saves in Class 4A the past two seasons, and last year he was third in the state with 199 saves.

J.P. Vinha, Freedom, senior midfielder: 
Vinha was second on the Patriots with 16 goals and shared the team lead with 10 assists to help Freedom capture its third district title in four years and advance to the regional semifinals.

Bryce Willis, Timber Creek, senior defender: 
Possessing explosive speed and a high soccer IQ, Willis is an elite defender who made the all-Metro Conference East Division first team last year. He is also a member of the Orlando City Academy team and is an accomplished student.

GIRLS SOCCER

Jazmin Adlam, Boone, senior forward/ midfielder: 
After an injury-plagued sophomore season, Adlam bounced back in a big way last season as she tallied 23 goals and 11 assists. Adlam plays club soccer for ACYS and is expecting to play collegiate soccer at either Tusculum College or Florida Southern.

Carmel de Oliveira, Dr. Phillips, senior midfielder: 
Despite missing several games with injuries, de Oliveira still finished with 15 goals and 26 assists to help the Panthers reach the district semifinals and finish with a 10-6-2 record. She was recently chosen to practice with the Brazilian Women’s U-20 National Team and could possibly compete in the prestigious Copa America next year. She will play college soccer at the University of South Alabama.

Asia Ervin, Timber Creek, senior forward/ midfielder: 
A varsity starter since her freshman year, Ervin had 20 goals and four assists last season on her way to all-Metro Conference East Division firstteam accolades. She led the Wolves to a 13-2-2 record and will serve as captain this year before continuing her career at the University of Central Florida.

Catherine Jeffers, Olympia, senior goalie: 
Olympia coach Dee Shivraman calls Jeffers one of the most underrated keepers in the state. She started every game as a junior, making 72 saves and recording seven shutouts. A captain this year, Jeffers has a keen understanding of the game, organizes the defenders in front of her and shows leadership with her outstanding work ethic on a daily basis.

Kaelyn Jones, Winter Park, senior midfielder: 
Jones was called up to the varsity squad before districts as a freshman and has been a key player for the Wildcats ever since, helping them win district titles each of the last two years and reach the regional semifinals last year. As a junior she was team MVP, District Player of the Year and an all-Metro Conference East Division first-team selection. Jones is headed to Valdosta State University to study pharmacy and play soccer.

Jada Shockley, University, junior goalie: 
Shockley emerged as University’s starting keeper last year and responded with a strong season that landed her on the all-Metro Conference East Division first team. A vocal leader in the back, she played for Team Jamaica in the summer of 2016 at the U-15 CONCACAF Championships.

Taylor Smith, Apopka, senior midfielder: 
A playmaking center mid, Smith had 17 goals and 15 assists last year and was named the Blue Darters’ MVP by her teammates. She also made the all-Metro Conference West Division first team and helped Apopka reach the regional quarterfinals. She has committed to Florida Atlantic University.

Hannah Telleysh, Lake Nona, senior midfielder: 
One of three Lake Nona seniors who made the all-Metro Conference East Division first team last year—along with Cristina Velasquez and Brin Wexler— Telleysh helped the Lions reach the district final and regional quarterfinals. She has verbally committed to the University of South Florida.

WRESTLING

Thanks Alcius, Apopka, senior: 
Alcius finished with a 41-11 record last year, winning Metro Conference and district championships and qualifying for states. He will move up from 152 to 160 pounds this season.

Corban Arana, Timber Creek, senior: 
Competing at 113 pounds as a junior, Arana posted a 38-8 record, was the Palm Bay IBT champion and qualified for states after taking second place at regions. He will bump up to 126 pounds for his final season with the Wolves.

Jayden Bradshaw, Boone, senior: 
A state qualifier at 113 pounds last year, Bradshaw was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at two separate tournaments. In one he pinned all of his opponents, including an eventual state champion in the final. In the Flagler Rotary Tournament he beat three state qualifiers on his way to the title. In September he pinned his way through another tournament to qualify for the Super 32, the most renowned preseason wrestling tournament in the nation. Bradshaw is weighing multiple college offers, including Southeastern University.

Raekwon Phillip, Edgewater, senior: 
Coach Larry Hutchinson says Phillip has one of the loudest voices in the gym, as the team leader is constantly encouraging his younger teammates. His effort on the mat speaks volumes as well, as he had strong showings at districts and regions last year and fell just short of qualifying for states. Phillip has been in ROTC at Edgewater for three years and plans on serving our country in the Marine Corps.

Daniel Raynor, West Orange, senior: 
A fourth-year varsity wrestler, Raynor overcame an injury last season to notch a 17-9 record. He took fourth at districts but rebounded for a strong effort at regions, ending up one match away from qualifying for states. He also took third at the Metro Conference Championships and sixth at the Clash of the Titans.

Caroline Schmitt, West Orange, sophomore: 
The West Orange girls team lost several top wrestlers with the opening of Windermere this year, but the Warriors are excited that Schmitt is returning to the program. Considered one of the hardest- working wrestlers—male or female— to come through the school, the coaching staff has high expectations for Schmitt this season.

This article originally appeared in Orlando Family Magazine’s November 2017 issue.