S. Florida players, coaches named finalists for state awards

Two area boys basketball players will have a chance at winning Florida’s Mr. Basketball and three coaches will get a shot at Coach of the Year after Florida Dairy Farmers announced its class winners and finalists for the awards on Tuesday.

University School junior forward Vernon Carey Jr. won the Class 5A Player of the Year, and Westminster Academy senior guard Zach Scott took the honor in 4A after each led their respective teams to state titles.

The coaches at University and Westminster, respectively Adrian Sosa and Ehren Wallhoff, were named their classification’s Coach of the Year. Blanche Ely coach Melvin Randall won it in Class 8A after the Tigers took home their fifth state title in seven seasons.

Overall award winners will be announced after a final round of balloting.

Carey, a five-star 6-foot-10 prospect, averaged 26.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals per game in leading the Sharks to their first title. Scott, a 6-foot-4 FGCU signee, went for 22.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5 assists and 2.8 steals per game in finishing his high school career with back-toback 4A titles.

Sosa has gone 31-1 this season and will coach the the Sharks in the GEICO Nationals in New York next week. He eclipsed 100 career wins this season. Wallhoff, surpassed 300 wins during the Lions’ playoff run this season and went 23-6. Randall, who has 575 career victories, finished 24-8 in earning his sixth title at Ely and eighth overall.

No Palm Beach County players or coaches earned class honors. In MiamiDade County, Miami Christian guard Neftali Alvarez and coach Juan Cardona were honored in 2A along with Doral Academy coach Jorge Fernandez, a former UM assistant, in 7A.

When the girls awards were released last week, Somerset Prep guard Tyesha Battle and coach JR McNabb, American Heritage coach Greg Farias and Oxbridge Academy coach Tracey Wolfe were honored.