Coaching Changes at the High School Level in Florida
Coaching Changes at the High School Level in Florida By Michael Wholey 10/2/20 9:00 AM EST (Updated 10/5/20 2:00 PM) It is that time of year and a number of players and coaches have been on the move. We take…
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Continue ReadingCoaching Changes at the High School Level in Florida
By Michael Wholey 10/2/20 9:00 AM EST (Updated 10/5/20 2:00 PM)
It is that time of year and a number of players and coaches have been on the move. We take a look at some of the coaching changes at the high school level.
Tampa Bay Tech is widely considered one of the states top and most talented teams. Jon Mason comes from the Panhandle and takes over the helm of the talented roster led by Janiah Barker Janiah Barker 6'2" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #3 Nation FL , K’Nisha Godfrey K’Nisha Godfrey 5'9" | CG Tampa Bay Tech | 2021 State FL , Jayla Murray Jayla Murray 6'1" | SF Winter Haven | 2021 State FL and Amiya Evans Amiya Evans 6'2" | PF DME Academy | 2022 State FL in hopes of taking home the programs second state championship in three years.
Defending state champion Florida Prep is no longer as EJ Murray stepped down from his position as head coach and has joined Palm Bay Magnet High School as an Assistant Coach alongside Palm Bay Head Coach Sara Murano. Following EJ are a majority of Florida Prep’s talented roster headlined by Prep Hoops # 1 2023 prospect Emma Risch Emma Risch 6'2" | PG Palm Bay | 2023 State #23 Nation FL , as well as Paige McDonald Paige McDonald 5'11" | SF Cocoa HS | 2022 State FL , Kiara Williams Kiara Williams 6'1" | PF Palm Bay Magnet | 2024 State FL , Emani Burks Emani Burks 6'2" | PF Palm Bay | 2021 State FL , Zou Raine Zou Raine 5'10" | CG Calvary Christian | 2023 State FL , Jazmine Major Jazmine Major 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL , and Shamiya Joiner. These talented list of transfers joins Mikyla Tolivert Mikyla Tolivert 5'7" | CG Palm Bay | 2021 State FL , who was named Florida Dairy Famers Miss Basketball and was the state’s #2 scoring leader at 30.9 points per game. Palm Bay immediately becomes one of the states most talented rosters and one of the favorites to win a state championship.
Montverde Academy continues to see their head coaches move on to collegiate coaching jobs. Two years ago, Head Coach EC Hill left Montverde to join the Towson University coaching staff as an Assistant Coach. Hill was replaced with former WNBA standout and University of Florida Assistant Coach Laura Harper who recently took over as the Head Coach at Coppin State. Taking over for Harper, is new Head Coach Special Jennings. Special comes to Montverde spending the previous two seasons as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
DME Academy has two coaching changes as Rickey Claitt will serve as the DME Academy National Coach. In addition Jermaine Ashley joins DME as an Assistant Coach of DME’s National team and will also serve as the Head Coach of the teams Post grad team.
Benjamin Drummer departs Keys Gate after two consecutive appearances in the FHSAA Final 4 and takes over as the Head Coach at Somerset Silver Palms HS.
Some other changes around the state:
LaTravis Bernard – Charles Flanagan HS (formerly Head Coach at Hallandale)
Krystal Cabrera – SLAM! (Formerly Assistant Coach at Doral Academy)
Tavirus Davis – Chaminade Madonna (formerly Head Coach at Hollywood Hills)
Oscar Gonzalez – St Brendan
James Green – University School (formerly Assistant Coach at Blanche Ely)
Brian Norris – Archbishop McCarthy HS (formerly Assistant Coach at Archbishop McCarthy)
Nhu Nguyen – Boca Christian (former Boca Raton HS Head Coach after sitting last season out)
This is something we hope to keep updated over the course of the pre-season. Please let us know about other changes by DM’ing us on twitter @PGHFlorida and @WholeyPrepHoops.
*UPDATED: Article was previously published stating Michael Panaggio would return to be DME Academy National Team Coach.