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Three Sunlake High boys basketball senior standouts are heading to the college ranks, shortly after guiding the team to one of its best seasons in program history — a 17-8 mark and Class 7A district semifinals appearance during the 2019-2020 season.

Jordan Golden, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard and team captain, signed with William Penn University, a nationally ranked NAIA Division I program in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Golden led the Seahawks in points (11.4) and rebounds per game (6.2) this past season. He was named the Sunshine Athletic Conference East (SAC) Defensive Player of the Year this season, and earned first team All-Conference honors for the second time.

Meanwhile, Sunlake co-captains Joshua Brent and Justin Lucena both signed with Ave Maria University, an NAIA Division II program in Ave Maria. Brent, a 6-foot-3 small forward, was third on the team in points (9.8) and second in rebounds (5.8) per game this season, and earned second-team All-Conference honors.

Lucena, a 5-foot-9 point guard, led the Seahawks in assists (3.8) and steals (2.7), and was second in points (9.9) per game this season. Lucena overcame various injuries throughout his career and was voted “Mr. Seahawk” by his team.

Odessa native Jackson Dennis signed an undrafted rookie free agent contract with the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals.

Dennis, 23, was an offensive lineman at College of the Holy Cross, an NCAA Division I FCS program in Worcester, Massachusetts. He prepped at Jesuit High School in Tampa.

The 6-foot-7, 308-pound Dennis played in 40 games with 24 starts over his college career. He started 12 games this past season at right tackles for a Holy Cross team that won a Patriot League title and advanced to the NCAA football championship subdivision playoffs. He was part of an offensive line that allowed the team to average 345.8 yards of total offense, 135.9 rushing yards and 22.8 points per game.

Legendary Gaither High School varsity baseball coach Frank Permuy died on April 19, following a yearlong battle with brain cancer, multiple media outlets reported. He was 77.

Permuy coached Gaither for 30 seasons — from when the school first opened in 1984 up until 2014.

He registered a 513-276 (.650) record in that span, guiding the Cowboys to 16 playoff berths, 13 district titles, eight Western Conference titles, two regional championships and a state-runner up finish. Notable former players Permuy coached include current Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash and Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado.

In 2015, the local school named its baseball field in his honor, calling it ‘Frank Permuy Park.’

Before his time at Gaither, Permuy also coached baseball at Leto and Tampa Catholic high schools, along with the University of Tampa — totaling more than 700 career victories across the prep and college levels.

Permuy grew up in Ybor City and attended Plant High School, playing baseball there for three seasons. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa and a master’s from Mississippi State University, upon entering the coaching ranks.

Permuy over the years earned inductions into several Halls of Fame — American Baseball Coaches Association (2018), Sports Club of Tampa (2016), National High School Baseball Coaches Association (2013), Florida High School Athletic Association (2010) and Florida Athletic Coaches Association (2010).

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) may have halted on-field sporting activities, but it hasn’t stopped local standout high school athletes from announcing their plans for the next level.

That’s the case for a trio of rising senior football players — who verbally committed to play bigtime Division I FBS football, in the same midwestern state.

Steinbrenner High junior running back Deon Silas and Armwood junior cornerback Noah Biglow, a Wesley Chapel resident who previously played for Wiregrass Ranch High, have pledged to Iowa State University, a Big 12 program.

Meanwhile, Gaither High junior cornerback/receiver Jordan Oladokun announced he’s headed to the University of Iowa, a Big 10 school.

All three athletes are consensus three-star prospects, according to multiple online recruiting outlets.

The 5-foot-7, 170-pound Silas posted 2,058 all-purpose yards and 24 total touchdowns last season, an integral part of a Steinbrenner team that went 12-2 and reached the Class 8A state semifinals. If his commitment holds, Silas will join fellow Steinbrenner teammate Aidan Bitter, who signed with Iowa State in December and will be a college freshman this fall.

 

 

The 6-foot, 175-pound Biglow registered 20 tackles and six interceptions in his first season at Armwood, after transferring from Wiregrass Ranch. His older brother, Daniel Biglow, was a former standout at Wiregrass Ranch who helped the program to two straight playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017. The elder sibling signed to play Division I FBS football at Florida Atlantic University, but was forced to retire due to a rare cardiovascular condition.

 

 

 

 

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Oladokun last season tallied 995 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns, to go along with 20 tackles and two interceptions on defense, spurring Gaither to a 12-2 mark and the Class 6A state semifinals. He previously played at Academy at the Lakes his eighth grade and freshman seasons before transferring to Gaither in 2018, his sophomore year. Like Biglow, Oladokun has some college football bloodlines. His older brother, Chris Oladokun, was the starting quarterback at Division I FCS Samford University (Homewood, Alabama) last season, as a junior.

Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) men’s basketball assistant coach Larry Behm is set to be inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame this year.

Before coming to PHSC in 2010, Behm spent 24 years coaching the Onondaga Central boys basketball program in Syracuse, New York. His teams there won 327 games, including numerous league, New York state sectional and regional championships, as well as a New York State Final Four appearance in 2009.

Behm, a Central New York native, is one of 13 inductees into the Hall of Fame’s 2020 class. The official ceremony was originally scheduled for March but has been delayed, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Behm’s duties at PHSC include recruiting, scouting, practice and game preparation, and assisting the head coach in the day-to-day operation of the basketball program.

Behm has coached a number of players who went on to Division I programs. He has worked at several high-profile camps and has been a guest speaker at various clinics in the Northeast.

Saint Leo University men’s swimmers Kosta Mitrovic (junior) and Matthew Daniel (sophomore) appeared on the All-America team released by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

Mitrovic was named to first team All-America in the 200 breaststroke, while Daniel earned honorable mention for his performance in the 1,000-meter freestyle — becoming the 20th and 21st All-Americans in men’s program history.

Due to the cancellation of the NCAA swimming and diving championships, the CSCAA Board adjusted the selection criteria for each division. The result was an unprecedented number of selections in what is largely acknowledged as unprecedented circumstances.

For NCAA Division II, the selection criteria for 2019-2020 was as follows: In contested events, the top eight finalists were named to the first team while the consolation finalists were named honorable mention. In events that were not contested, individual and relay qualifiers selected for the championship were named All-American.

Daniel was the lone Saint Leo men’s swimmer who was able to compete at the 2020 NCAA championships prior to the cancellation of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He competed in the morning session of the opening day and took 16th in the 1,000 freestyle earning a point towards the team total.

Mitrovic was scheduled to take to the water in the 200 breaststroke on day four of the championships but was never able to compete following the cancellation. He earns his first career first team All-America selection after earning honorable mention All-America honors in 2018 after finishing 14th in the 200 breaststroke.

• Pasco-Hernando State College women’s volleyball sophomore libero Linsey Christianson signed with Bethel University, an NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics program in McKenzie, Tennessee. Christianson led the Bobcats in 2019 in digs (494) and digs per set (5.31).

• Land O’ Lakes High senior guard Mekhi Perry verbally committed to play basketball at Eckerd College, an NCAA Division II program in St. Petersburg. The 6-foot-2 Perry is the Gators boys program’s all-time scoring leader, with 1,616 points.

• Steinbrenner High senior receiver Carson Franks signed to play football at Oberlin College, an NCAA Division III program in Oberlin, Ohio. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Franks registered 18 catches for 320 yards and three touchdowns in 2019. He also was a member of Steinbrenner’s varsity lacrosse, and track and field programs.

A trio of Saint Leo men’s basketball seniors end their career with their names etched in the program’s all-time record books.

Here is a closer look at each:

Kyran McClure
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard from Concord, North Carolina, became the Saint Leo all-time program leader in three-pointers made (92) in a single season and free throws made in a single season (207) — which was tops in the NCAA Division II ranks for the 2019-20 season.

McClure’s marks surpassed those previously held by Saint Leo products Marcus Dewberry (88 three-pointers in 2015-16) and Tyrone Graves (165 free throws made in 1991-92).

McClure concluded his Lions three-year career inside the top-15 all-time in program history in free throws made (second, 451), three’s made (fourth, 193), assists (ninth, 276), and points (11th, 1,374). He eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau on Dec. 14, with a 24-point effort against University of Tampa.

 

Isaiah Hill
The 6-foot-6, 175-pound guard from Richmond Hill, Georgia, tied McClure with 276 career assists and became the 25th Lions player to score 1,000 career points, sitting 19th all-time with 1,092. Hill also put his name in the Lions record book in career steals, finishing seventh with 138.

 

 

Yalen Reed
In two seasons in the Green and Gold, the 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward from Nashville, Tennessee, etched his name in the Lions record book with 71 career blocks — good for ninth-most in program history. Reed posted 39 blocks his junior season and 32 this past season.