05 Mar 2020

2020 Boys State Basketball Tournament notebook

LAKELAND — If Stranahan is to go back-to-back at the FHSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament, the Mighty Dragons will have to do it without 2020 athlete Dave Herard.

Herard suffered a meniscus tear and a torn ACL in the regional final victory over Miami Gulliver Prep, Stranahan coach Terrence Williams confirmed Thursday. He is scheduled to have surgery a week from today.

The 6-foot-2 Herard (No. 5 pictured) had given Stranahan a major boost in the postseason coming off the bench. He scored 15 points in the Mighty Dragons’ 63-61 overtime win at two-time defending state champion University School.

Herard has signed to play football at Virginia in the ACC.

Stranahan won its first state championship in school history last year.

LOPEZ KNOWS ONE VISIT FOR SURE

Senior guard Anthony Lopez Jr. averaged 20.8 points in leading Miami Schoolhouse Prep to a berth at state.

The 6-4 shooting guard said St. Bonaventure, UAB, NJIT, McNeese, Fordham and Maryland Eastern Shore are programs in the mix. “DePaul hit me up a couple times,” Lopez said. “I haven’t really been talking to them right now.”

The native of NYC said he will definitely visit Maryland Eastern Shore.

MCGRIFF A SHOT-BLOCKING MACHINE

Avery Curry was on the basketball team at Florida State in 1994. Now he is an assistant coach at Tallahassee Rickards.

Curry said to keep an eye on Khamari McGriff.

Thursday in the state semifinal victory over Sebring, McGriff recorded 9 blocks to go along with 9 points and 11 rebounds. He was 4 for 6 from the field.

“I think he’s definitely a Division-I guy,” Curry said. “He’s a 6-7 junior. The crazy thing is this is only his second year playing. He was hurt his freshman year — got in a car accident. He played JV last year and now he’s grown 5 inches. So, he has a shot.”

TIDBITS

Campbell University is keeping tabs on Lake Highland Prep 6-4 senior Victor Brown. American and Holy Cross have also been involved. Brown averages 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds for coach Ben Fratrik.

If you have high school or travel basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer at PatALammer@Gmail.com