Regional Standouts SWFL, Final Five
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SWFL had a number of local teams compete in this year’s state tournament, with Mariner and Charlotte heading to the Final Four. 15 total squads from the area made their run for a state championship but unfortunately came up short.…
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Continue ReadingSWFL had a number of local teams compete in this year’s state tournament, with Mariner and Charlotte heading to the Final Four. 15 total squads from the area made their run for a state championship but unfortunately came up short. We witnessed some tremendous games and performances being played throughout the postseason, now let’s take a look at some of the the local standouts who helped lead their squads in the 2024 regionals.
Corey Hunter
Corey Hunter
Mariner’s 6’0″ PG has delivered all season long for the Tritons. Helping lead them to a 20-9 record, a district championship, and a trip to the Final Four for the first time since 2017. Hunter had a tremendous senior season, where he averaged 14.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 2.2 apg. He is a strong bodied guard who can finish at the rim with contact and can keep the defense honest with his smooth stroke from the outside. He had a great run through regional play, where he notched 13 points in a win over Northeast, followed by back-to-back 20 point outings against Barron Collier and then Seminole in the Regional Final. Hunter hopes to continue his hot play in hopes of cutting down the nets in Lakeland this season.
Marcus Kelley Jr.
Marcus Kelley Jr.
Kelley Jr. has established himself as one of the top players in the area with an amazing senior campaign, and hopes to cap it off with a state title. He, along with Hunter and Mariner’s senior heavy squad, are looking to build on their regular season success and cut the nets down in 2024. The 6’1″ PG is averaging 16.9 ppg, 7 rpg, 4.2 apg, and 2.5 spg, and each time he steps on the court flirts with triple-double numbers. In Mariner’s opening round Victory he finished with 28 pts, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, not too mention recorded his 1,00th career point that night. He followed that up with a 15 point, 10 rebound performance, before a 8 point, 6 rebound, 5 assist outing in the Regional Final win over Seminole. Look for Kelly Jr. and his running mates to leave it all on the floor when they travel to Lakeland next week.
Tory finished his career at Fort Myers with 869 points, and helped lead the Green Wave to a 15-13 record and District Runners-up in 2024. He is a great two-way player with tremendous knowledge of the game, and was a huge catalyst for Fort Myers this past season. He finished the year averaging 10.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, and 4 spg, as you can see he is a jack of all trades who gets it done on both ends of the floor. In the opening round of regional play Tory caught fire connecting on five 3’s, finishing with 21 pts, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in the upset win over Palmetto Ridge. The 5’9″ senior battled throughout the semi-final game against Charlotte, a team who is headed to the Final Four, but came up short ending an outstanding career for the PG.
The Port Charlotte transfer had a great first season with his new squad, and helped lead Charlotte to a Final Four birth in 2024. The 5’10” junior came over to an already talented Tarpons squad and fit in just perfectly with the teams strong guard play. Chin is tough, gritty player who won’t back down from any assignment, and is a pesky defender who will be in your face for 94 ft. He is a team player who’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the victory. He averaged 9.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, and 1.3 apg, and opened regional play with a tremendous defensive effort and an 8 point performance. He followed that up with 16 points in a win over Fort Myers, and an 11 point outing in Regional Final victory over Leto. Chin who hopes to continue his strong play will be a major factor in the team’s success in Lakeland where they will face some pressure defense and strong guard play.
Charlotte’s top-scorer on the season helped lead the Tarpons to an 18-10 record, a district championship, and a trip to the Final Four. Attia is a prospect who really elevated his game this year and has become a tremendous all-around player. He is a good-sized guard with an outstanding mid-range game, and knocks down the 3-ball at an extremely high rate. He averaged 11.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, and 1.2 apg, and is one of those players who just knows the game and plays the game right. He scored 11 points in an opening round win over Bloomingdale, then finished with 15 points in a victory over Fort Myers, and followed that up with a big-time effort and performance in an 18 point outing in which he led his Tarpons to the win over Leto in the Regional Final, and a Final Four Birth. Look for Attia to keep the hot hand, and along with his teammates, make some noise up in Lakeland next week.