It’s only fitting that the final high school football game of the year in south Florida would showcase the future and present.
Last Friday evening, Miami-Dade and Broward got together for a year-end all-star contest that attracted some of the best 8th graders and high school seniors in the most fertile area for talent in the country – Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
With the #305 coming out on top in both games, it wasn’t about wins and losses on this evening at Monsignor Pace High School in Miami Gardens, what this was all about came down to celebrating the enormous talent that will head to high school – and of course – move on to the collegiate level.
The second annual Miami-Dade vs. Broward Battle For The Crib was made possible by Frank Tucker and Arvis Lawson. But have devoted their life to exposing and promoting talent in south Florida and fully understand why it’s so important to showcase these young men.
Tucker, a Davie Western graduate, and Lawson, who starred at Miami Central, continue to give back to their communities. Not only with the game that attracted several sponsors who stepped up, but also a year-round commitment to exposing these student/athletes to colleges and universities across the country.
“When you have the best high school football talent in the country, you don’t want to hide it,” Tucker said. “We annually produce talent that not only gets it done in college but check rosters around the NFL and you will see plenty of our own making a huge impact.”
With Miami Central star linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. winning the MVP, the Nebraska-bound standout was not the only player who shined on this evening. Players from FSU, UMass, FAU, Mississippi State, Toledo, South Dakota, Marshall, Georgia State, Oregon State, Florida, USF, Western Michigan, Brown, Vanderbilt and Bethune Cookman were also showcased as these athletes get ready to depart high school and showcase their skills nationally.
While there are still a few national all-star games to keep an eye on, this was an evening where these young men, at the eighth-grade level, and in their final year in high school took center stage.
For Miami Booker T. Washington quarterback Claudell Sherman, his season was cut short due to injury. Many felt that if the three year starter didn’t get hurt, the Tornadoes would have made a serious run in 2M.
Sherman, healthy again, dazzled the crowd with his athletic ability and left many in attendance believing that college coaches are missing out in a huge way by not getting this quality talent on campus – soon.
Sherman’s head coach Tim “Ice” Harris has been in Sherman’s corner from the beginning and made sure that as the co-head coach of the Miami-Dade team put his impressive player in the spotlight.
Like Sherman, Homestead linebacker Eduardo Nunez was also out to prove that he deserves to end up on some college campus this coming year.
A three-year starter, Nunez helped to lead the Broncos to the 3M state title game two consecutive years against St. Thomas Aquinas.
Other Miami-Dade County prospects that have impressed throughout their careers include Miami Norland receivers Isaiah Scott and Ivory Aikens and defensive tackle Germaine Carter Jr., who recently signed with Florida International University.
Carter, who came to Norland this past year after playing at Miami Carol City, is one of those prospects who figure to explode at the next level with his athletic ability, quickness, and strength.
Miami Central also made a huge impact in the game with FSU-bound receiver Lawayne McCoy, a Nat Moore Trophy finalist, and a ground of linemen who made the Rockets special.
For Will Rothmiller, Luke Moise, Albert Moise, and Teko Shoats, it was their final contest playing together up from on the offensive line.
Miami-Dade also featured Bowling Green University defensive back signee Kal El Pascal, Booker T. Washington running back Gerald Modest, Miami Killian DE Damien Gill and Miami Southridge kicker Gabriel Perez.
BROWARD COUNTY ALSO MAKES A STATEMENT
Even though they came out on the losing side, the Broward County team with Plantation American Heritage head coach Mike Smith also had some head turners.
One of the players that was impressive was Coconut Creek Monarch quarterback A.J. Hairston. Injured much of the season, this quality talent signed with UMass last week and what they are getting is someone who has the chance to be very special.
His teammates Gabriel Birnbaum (FAU) and offensive lineman Holden Zeltner (FAMU) are also going to be special – as will Weston Cypress Bay linebacker Ryan Geary, Dillard receiver Marcus Striggles, and Cardinal Gibbons’ linemen Nicholas Rodriguez (FIU) and Zack Boehly, who will be headed to East Carolina.
The game also attracted South Broward running back Chris Wheatley-Humphrey (University of Miami) and big-time kicking prospect Brandon Rabasco, who is headed to the University of Florida.
Broward’s talent also featured Shamar Meilke (DE, Miramar), Gavin Shepard (CB, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna), Nate Jean (S, Davie Western), Keon Daceus (OL/DL, Coconut Creek), and Michael Brennan (OL, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna).
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUCK BETHEL
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 53 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..