More top-flight high-school athletes to keep your eye on this season

Boys Basketball

Amajeh Green, Olympia: The Titans’ leading returning scorer averaged 10.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season, and could be even better as a junior.

Ishmaa’eel Hayes-Muhammed, Colonial: A junior, “Ish” averaged 13 points per game last season while ranking near the top of Metro in steals. He’s also an avid student enrolled in honors courses.

Ickson Masson, Evans: Not just an All-Metro selection last season, Masson was one of only five players selected among the entire west side of the Metro Conference.

Tyrone Perry, Wekiva: With eight assists per game last season, this junior knows how to get his teammates involved with the game’s flow, and he’s gained interest from D1 colleges.

Paul Reed, Wekiva: Leading the Mustangs with 15 points and 10 rebounds per game last season, the 6’8 Reed is entertaining offers from Kansas State, Utah State and Murray State, among many others.

Christian Robertson, Lake Nona: A point guard, the 5’10 Robertson is a two-year starter coming into his junior year. As one of only three returning players this season, he’s expected to play a leadership role.

Anfernee Simons, Edgewater: Ranked #45 nationally by Scout, #50 by 247, and #58 by ESPN, this 6’3 guard has received offers from Louisville, Florida, LSU, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.

Elwood Tomlinson, Timber Creek: Back as a junior, Tomlinson averaged 14 points and three rebounds per game last year, and could deliver more this season.

Brian Valdez, East River: This guard is expected to play a pivotal role for his team as a senior. His coach expects him to double his point production after an offseason dedicated to perfecting his craft.

Hutton Yenor, Timber Creek: Playing as the team’s sixth man during his junior season, Yenor averaged 10 points and two assists a game last season.

Girls Basketball

Emari Bell, Edgewater: A starter in last year’s state final, Bell is a third-year varsity player who’s ready to step up in her junior year.

Veronica Cancio, Winter Park: Not only did Cancio transfer from Puerto Rico last year, but she plays on the territory’s national team. She’s currently weighing various college offers.

Gabriel “Gabi” Grillon, East River: Grillon’s a 6’3 junior and a versatile player who can post up and step outside for a jump shot. She’s also an aggressive rebounder.

E’Toni Holloway, Wekiva: This junior missed last season due to an ACL knee injury, but was a key player in her freshman year. She’s worked hard on rehab and is back to 100 percent.

Emerielle “Emmy” James, Wekiva: She might be a freshman, but she plays like an upperclassman according to her coach. She’s also one of the county’s top guards and is already receiving collegiate interest letters.

Taylor Hair, Olympia: At 6’ tall, Hair is a versatile player who’s led her team in scoring average, blocks and rebounds for two straight years. She’s also received several scholarship offers.

Brianna Richardson, Olympia: Leading Olympia in overall points, steals and assists, Richardson brings intensity to both sides of the court and is deadly accurate from 3-point range.

Alexis Siler, Winter Park: A four-year varsity player and starter, Siler has great athleticism and is currently deciding on various offers as to where to play in college.

Macee Sugrue, Lake Nona: Playing varsity basketball since her freshman year, this 5’7 guard and point guard is expected to deliver big things this season.

Tiffany Tolbert, Dr. Phillips: This 5’7 senior has started all four years and leads the team in scoring, assists, steals and rebounds. She also made the All-County team and is committed to University of North Florida.

Boys Soccer

Daniel Aroujo, Olympia: A four-year starter, senior Aroujo carries a 3.89 GPA and has many out-of-state colleges talking to him.

Matthew Barr, Boone: Last season, he was first team All-East Metro Conference after notching 12 goals and six assists, and he’ll look to improve on those numbers during his final year.

Darren Bell, Olympia: A senior, Bell is a two-year starter who transferred from Apopka last year, and he has five colleges looking at him.

Chase Bobbitt, Lake Nona: He’s been on the varsity squad for more than two years and serves as team captain. Plus, he’s already received multiple offers to play soccer collegiately.

Caleb Franke, Olympia: Franke boasts a 3.8 GPA and has been a starter for the past two years. He’s received interest from Creighton University and New Jersey Institute of Technology, among others.

Frantz Garilus, Olympia: Described by his coach as a very physical player, this three-year starter has many colleges looking at him, perhaps in part because of his 3.98 GPA.

Nick De La Portilla, Olympia: Co-captain with Gustavo Fiuza, this senior is a four-year starter with considerable college interest, including North Florida University and University of Florida.

Nick O’Connell, Edgewater: O’Connell led his squad in scores and assists the last two seasons, and he’s Division 1 bound. He’s no slouch at academics either, with a 4.3 GPA.

Ramon Rodriguez, Lake Nona: Arguably one of Orange County’s top high-school goalkeepers, Rodriguez has been varsity since his freshman year.

Oscar Salazar, Wekiva: A natural leader, this junior is known for his positive attitude. He also plays club soccer and is a place-kicker for the football team.

Girls Soccer

Mary Hamm, West Orange: A four-year starter and team captain, and a leader on and off the field, Hamm is described by her coach as a rock star in every sense of the word.

Samantha Hilsee, Olympia: According to her coach, Hilsee’s teammates have tremendous respect for this 12th grader, who’s also an excellent student.

Sierra Petro, Evans: A third-year starter and team captain at just 16 years old, Petro has 11 years of soccer experience and scored the winning goal in two games last season.

Boys Wrestling

Khanh Dinh, Colonial: A three-year letterman in wrestling and two-year letterman in weightlifting, this senior is already an enlisted Marine who will serve his country after graduation.

Antonio Estrada, Timber Creek: A senior, Estrada was a 2015 state qualifier and the 2016 Metro East champion.

Gabriel Galarza, East River: Galarza was a district runner-up last season and is expected to step up into a leadership role following the departure of last year’s seniors.

Nick Hayes, East River: Like his teammate Galarza, Hayes will be building on last year’s successes, which included third place at the Metro conference.

George McNeilly, Olympia: A senior heavyweight wrestler, McNeilly racked up a 33-13 record last year, during the last match of which he suffered a major injury. He’s been working hard to get back in top form.

Will Mitchell, Edgewater: He’s been wrestling since second grade, and has a 94-23 high school record, three metro championships and two district championships through his junior year.

Lucas Rodriguez, Boone: A two-time state qualifier, Rodriguez took sixth place at state, is a top-5 wrestler in his weight class, and is All-American at Central Florida Wrestling Academy.

Jackson Saffold, Timber Creek: This senior was the district champ, Metro East champ, and came in fourth at last season’s 3A state competition.

Jamie Santos, Timber Creek: Santos was just one match away from reaching state last year, and he was also the district and metro runner-up.

Girls Wrestling

Wilkjaell Alphonse, Cypress Creek: A senior, Alphonse serves as the team’s captain and is also a state place-winner. She’s in talks with the University of the Cumberlands.

Valentina Beltran, Cypress Creek: A two-time state place-winner who also plays volleyball and flag football, Beltran is also in talks with University of the Cumberlands.

Nicole Montero, Timber Creek: Last season was her first year wrestling, but placed in the state tournament nonetheless. Expect more from her as a senior.

Girls Weightlifting

Ayanna Blake Harris, Olympia: A rare combination of a weightlifter and a cheerleader, this junior finished in sixth place out of 20 at last year’s state tourney, and she’s expected to improve this year.

Published and copyrighted in Orlando Family Magazine (November 2016).