By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
The annual all-day, multisport Headmaster’s Challenge pits Tampa Prep against rival Tampa Berkeley Prep.
The showdown’s boys basketball event had plenty of hype as Tampa Prep came in unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in Class 2A in the state. Berkeley Prep, meanwhile, was ranked sixth in Class 3A.
Berkeley Prep, overcoming spotty offense early, lived up to its part of the buzz, defeating its crosstown rival 83-69 before a lively standing room only crowd.
The win not only helped Berkeley Prep take the Headmaster’s Challenge Cup but it handed the Terrapins (15-1) their first loss of the season. The Buccaneers (12-4) have won four in a row and six of their last seven.
The Buccaneers got started late in the second period just after Tampa Prep took its first lead of the game.
After Berkeley Prep tied the score at 24 on a Nelson Agholor jumper, the Bucs grabbed a rebound on a Terrapin miss, quickly moved the ball upcourt and finished with a big dunk from Austin Suarez. That gave the Bucs the lead back and they never relinquished it.
Tampa Prep closed to within one point midway through the third period but Berkeley Prep’s Jonathan Gray helped his team pull away. Gray netted 17 of his 23 points in the second half as the Bucs extended their lead and went on to the 14-point victory.
Suarez scored 20 points and Christian Reintgen added 14 for the Bucs. Tampa Prep was led by Jay Bowie, who scored 22 points. Jamal Cherry and Jake Haslam added 14 and 12, respectively, for the Terrapins.
Recruiting
The start to the new year has seen a flurry of college commitments from Bay area athletes.
Perhaps the biggest selection came from All-State Seffner Armwood defensive lineman Ryne Giddens, who has committed to the hometown University of South Florida in Tampa.
Giddens, who had more than 70 Division I scholarship offers, selected USF over the University of Florida, his other finalist. Giddens, who set a school record with 21 sacks during his junior season in 2007, was selected to play in the recent U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio but could not participate due to a foot injury.
USF also landed another highly-touted Bay area product in Tampa Hillsborough running back Lindsey Lamar. A speedy back who led Hillsborough County in rushing last season with 1,319 yards, Lamar has said he will play football and continue his track career at USF.
Other commitments include Tampa Jesuit wide receiver Erick McGriff committing to the University of Kansas.
The son of former major league slugger Fred McGriff, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound two-way player caught 44 passes and scored five touchdowns for Jesuit last season.
Plant City linebacker Denzel Drone has verbally committed to Western Kentucky while Tampa Jefferson offensive tackle Jarrod Gant is headed to Elon (N.C.) College.
Seffner Armwood quarterback Mywan Jackson has committed to North Carolina. Jackson, slated to play defensive back in college, had a hand in 33 touchdowns during his senior season when he helped lead the Hawks to the Class 4A region final.
Meanwhile, Lithia Newsome offensive lineman Conor O’Neal has committed to Wisconsin. O’Neal played multiple positions on the offensive line, including center, for the Wolves, who won the Class 5A, District 8 championship and made their first-ever trip to the state playoffs.
Standout Tampa Sickes cross country runner Derek Wehunt has verbally committed to the University of Florida. Wehunt was an All-State selection in cross country and track and field during his prep career.
Seffner Armwood linebacker Petey Smith, Tampa Gaither running back Jarvis Giles and Tampa Alonso defensive lineman Demonte McAllister all competed in the recent Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando.
Giles has already started classes at South Carolina while McAllister is headed to Florida State. Smith has said he will likely decide between Alabama and Auburn, where his brother Eric is a sophomore running back.
Basketball Roundup
In addition to helping lift Berkeley Prep to a win over rival Tampa Prep in the Headmaster’s Challenger, forward Jonathan Gray recently surpassed 1,000 points for his career.
A 6-foot-3 senior shooting guard, Gray passed the plateau during the holiday tournaments. After the Tampa Prep win and 18 points in Berkeley’s 66-26 win against St. Petersburg Catholic, Gray stands at 1,097 for his career.
Tampa Catholic forward Collette Eule recently surpassed the 1,000 point plateau as well. Eule, a junior, is averaging 20 points for the Crusaders. She also is averaging six rebounds a game while helping Tampa Catholic get off to a 15-1 start this season.
Valrico Bloomingdale senior forward Callum Townsend will miss the rest of the season after sustaining an injury to his right knee last week.
Townsend, a 6-foot-6 Division I prospect, was leading Hillsborough County with a 24 point per game average. It is the second ACL injury to the same knee in six months for Townsend, who rehabbed the previous injury just in time to play this season.