District Standouts SWFL: Part 1
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Last week was a busy time for high school basketball, where District Champs were crowned for the 2023-24 season. We witnessed a lot of great matchups and performances during district play throughout the entire state, but let’s take a closer…
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Continue ReadingLast week was a busy time for high school basketball, where District Champs were crowned for the 2023-24 season. We witnessed a lot of great matchups and performances during district play throughout the entire state, but let’s take a closer look at some of the standout performances of our local prospects here in SWFL. From near record-breaking scoring performances to capturing your third-straight title in as many years, SWFL has produced night in and night out throughout these playoffs.
Fogle continued to do what he’s been doing all season long, and just fill the stat sheet. The 6’2″ junior guard, does a little bit of everything for his Griffins squad. Whether he’s knocking down 3’s, grabbing rebounds, locking up the opposing teams best player, or just being a vocal leader, Fogle is a major part of Gateway Charter and its continued success. In a semi-final matchup with CSN he recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. He then followed that up with an amazing performance against Bishop Verot in the Championship, totaling 23 points (16 in the second half) and 4 rebounds, leading his Griffins to back-to-back District Titles.
Highlights
Calven Charles
Calven Charles
The senior leader for Palmetto Ridge led his team to it’s second straight District-Title in a hard fought victory over Gulf Coast. Charles, who may be one of the best athletes in the area, can score in bunches and is a highlight reel on both ends of the court. Whether he’s getting up for an acrobatic dunk or denying a shot on the defensive end, Charles is sure to get the crowd into it. In the Bear’s first District matchup the 6’4″ senior finished with a game-high 27 points in a win over Immokalee, and then helped his Bears hold of Gulf Coast with a 21 point outing in the District Championship.
Marcus Kelley Jr.
Marcus Kelley Jr.
Kelley Jr. continues to build on his tremendous senior season in 2024, where he’s averaging 17 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 4.1 apg. The 6’1″ PG has done it all for the Tritons this year, helping lead them to one of the top teams in the area, and a District Championship in his final year. Mariner’s leading scoring continues to fill that sheet here in postseason play. Kelley Jr. opened up district play with a 25 point, 5 rebound, 12 assist performance in a semi-final victory, before finishing with 24 points (11 in the 4th quarter) and 11 rebounds in a hard fought win over Cypress Lake in the final.
Cook has been a member of this Gateway squad for the past 3 years, and he has brought home the District Championship in all 3 of those years including this 2024 season. The 6’3″ guard is a strong, tough guard who produces night in and night out, he has lead his Eagles to a 20-win season and the #2 seed in their region. He scored 33 points to go along with 9 rebounds in their semi-final win over Labelle, and recorded a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds in their Championship victory over Estero.
The junior forward has been a key piece for this Tarpons squad all season long. Charlotte has some tremendous guard play, but Taylor has been a great compliment to that every time he touches the floor. The 6’7″ prospect is a great rebounder on both ends of the court and is a smart player who plays great transition basketball. He recorded double-digit rebounds in both of the Tarpons postseason wins, which included a 13 point, 13 rebound performance in the Championship victory over Fort Myers. Look for Taylor to be a key part in Charlotte’s hopes of a deep postseason run in 2024.
Barron Collier’s junior playmaker continued his regular season success and carried it right over into District play. The 6’2″ PG is a true floor general who likes to have the ball in his hands. He can score from just about anywhere on the court and has tremendous court vision where he looks to get his teammates involved. In a victory over Lely in the semi-finals he finished 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, and then in a clutch performance against Golden Gate he notched 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in a double-overtime win in the championship.