Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
High schools
Check out a preview of this week’s matchups in the boys basketball district playoffs.
Brandon McThay resigned Monday as coach of the boys basketball team at American Heritage-Delray.
The 2004 alum of the school, who is CEO of the Florida Vipers, said he will continue to coach the Stallions through the playoffs before stepping away.
McThay’s father, Lamar McThay, confirmed the move Monday, noting that Brandon McThay also resigned from his position as a substitute teacher at Heritage.
A standout point guard for the Stallions’ 2004 state final-four team, Brandon McThay was hired to coach at Heritage in June 2015. He led the team to 5-11 and a fourth-place district finish in his first year; this season, the Stallions are 2-11 headed into the postseason.
In addition to directing the Florida Vipers, Brandon McThay, 32, coaches the 17-and-under team for the top-10 nationally ranked AAU program. His father said Brandon McThay is taking on additional duties with the club, which plays on the Under Armour Association summer circuit and last week was ushered into its new home — DS Sportsplex, a 72,000-square-foot facility in Deerfield Beach.
Use of the facility, located at 3650 SW 10th St. and also housing the Developmental Volleyball Academy, will be part of Brandon McThay’s expanded role with the Vipers.
Last July, the Vipers’ U-17 team — made up mostly of South Florida high school basketball standouts — competed at the UAA nationals in Atlanta and also advanced to the national semifinals of the Las Vegas Fab 48 tournament.
Calvary Christian 7-footer Victor Uyaelunmo (Southern Cal signee), Westminster Academy forward Jason Strong (Northeastern), Dillard forward RaiQuan Gray (Florida State), St. Andrew’s guard Anthony Polite (FSU) and Calvary guard Jerald Butler (Butler) played key roles on the squad.
The Vipers’ seventhgrade team won the 2016 national championship in Atlanta.
“This new facility will help by enhancing our exposure, building relationships and partnerships,” Brandon McThay said. “I will be able to reach out to more kids and impact more families within our community by having more space and flexibility.”
The Vipers will have nine boys teams (grades 3-11) in 2017 and four girls squads. Tryouts for the Vipers’ boys ninth-11th grade squads will be held Feb. 26.
DS Sportsplex is not open to the public, owner Larry Dezenzo said.
“It is like a training center” for basketball and volleyball, Dezenzo said, with eight indoor courts for each sport.