ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Around 30 track & field athletes from the Rockford F.I.R.E. program will be competing at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games next month in Texas.

The athletes qualified for the national competition at the AAU Region 13 Qualifier. More than 1300 athletes from Illinois and Indiana came to Wyeth Stadium at Auburn High School for the regional meet.

The top five finishers for each event in each age group earned a spot at the Junior Olympics.

“It was good. it felt really nice to go to the Junior Olympics for it,” said qualifier Dami Ferguson. “Always believe in yourself because you never know if you can do it.”

Ferguson said this is not her first time competing at this meet.

“It was really hard. had to go through a lot of things. had to push myself to the limits to get here. It was just a dream, said qualifier James Wright. ”I was really happy because I didn’t know it was going to be in Texas. I haven’t been to Texas ever in my life so it should be nice.”

This will be Wright’s first time at the Junior Olympics.

Full results from this weekend’s qualifier can be viewed here.

Copyright 2025 WIFR. All rights reserved.

Eric Cain breaks down the Tennessee Volunteers’ impressive weekend recruiting haul, highlighting Legend Bey’s versatility and Zaydyn Anderson’s local ties.

Sunday at Hoopfest means four champions are crowned in the elite divisions!

In the early championship slate, Ballin Like Magic had to win back-to-back games to claim the Co-Ed Elite title — and they did just that. At Center Court, as you can see in the highlights above, Ballin Like Magic beat Baden Elite 20-18. But that meant the two teams would move to the street to battle for a winner-take-all meeting.

On the street, it was Ballin Like Magic claiming the hard-earned 2025 Hoopfest Co-Ed Elite Championship. Ballin Like Magic’s team consisted of Macey Grant, Desmond Judd, Dedi Seme and Dami Ashaye.

Drew Fincham showed a three-shot improvement in Saturday’s final round of the Bluegrass Golf Tour’s Cullan Brown Invitational at Paxton Park Golf Course in Paducah.

Fincham carded an 87 on Saturday, which followed a 90 from Friday’s first round. The Christian County senior had a birdie and nine pars on his two-day scorecard as the event was interrupted both days due to weather delays. He finished in 34th place at the tour’s largest western Kentucky event of the summer.

Watch Drew Fincham knock home the birdie putt from Friday

Fincham found his footing on Saturday with four straight pars at one point.

The annual Cullan Brown Invitational serves as a fundraiser for the Bluegrass Golf Tour and helps fund entry fees and the tour’s western Kentucky division. The event is named after former Lyon County state champion and All-SEC golfer Cullan Brown, who died of cancer in 2020.

People-Tag: Drew Fincham

The Georgia Bulldogs landed a major commitment from four-star running back Jae Lamar, who is in the class of 2026.

Lamar plays high school football for Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Georgia. Lamar Lamar is the No. 107 prospect in his recruiting cycle. The 6-foot, 205-pound running back is the the No. 12 recruit in Georgia and the nation’s No. 8 running back prospect, per 247Sports.

Lamar is not the only Colquitt County running back to commit to Georgia. Several years ago, Daijun Edwards committed to the Bulldogs in the class of 2020. Edwards, who is now in the CFL, went on to rush for over 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns during his four season career at UGA.

Lamar and Edwards may be from the same high school, but the two backs have very different running styles. Lamar has home run ability thanks to his impressive speed. He has an upright running style and is an effective receiver.

Lamar shows off hands, contact balance on long TD

Jae Lamar takes another reception to the house

Lamar shows off his shiftiness

For more Jae Lamar highlights, check out his Hudl.

Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads!

The Palm Beach Post is hosting a summer celebration featuring the best of Palm Beach County high school athletics from the first 25 years of the 21st century.

Starting the first week of June, the Post will roll out content highlighting every state champion and Player of the Year winner from 2000-2025, including photos, reader polls and premium content. A full publication schedule can be found at the bottom of this page.

This week, we’ll continue with Palm Beach County boys basketball, which has produced countless collegiate and professional players in the last quarter century.

A couple of notes regarding the historical record: The Post awarded Large and Small School Player of the Year awards until 2022, when the award was consolidated in association with the Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards Show.

Boys Basketball

2000: Jackie Manuel, Cardinal Newman

• Manuel averaged 18.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5. 1assists in leading Newman to its second consecutive state championship.

2000: Brandon Arnette, Benjamin

• Arnette averaged 17.4 points, 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game in leading the Bucs to the region championship game.

2001: Jackie Manuel, Cardinal Newman  

• Manuel averaged 20.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game for the two-time defending state champions. He was named Florida Gatorade Player of the Year and signed with North Carolina.

2002: Sam Tarver, Glades Central

• Tarver averaged 21.8 point and 7.2 assists per game on 69 percent field goal shooting to lead the Raiders to the state championship game. He was named Class 4A state tournament MVP.

2002: Zabian Dowell, Pahokee

• Dowdell averaged 20.2 points and 10.2 assists per game to lead Pahokee to a district championship.

2002: Marcus Hubbard, R.J. Hendley

• Hubbard averaged 20.1 points and 18.0 rebounds per game to lead R.J. Hendley Christian to a 23-9 record and the regional playoffs.

2003: Zabian Dowell, Pahokee

• Dowell averaged 21.9 points, 8.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds to finish as a finalist for Florida Mr. Basketball. He made 103 3-pointers during his senior season.

2003: Brandon McThay, American Heritage-Delray

• McThay averaged 15.1 points and 6.5 assists per game in leading the Stallions to the state semifinals.

2004: Leemire Goldwire, Dwyer

• Goldwire led Dwyer with 21.5 points, 5.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game en route to the Class 5A state championship. He was named a Florida Mr. Basketball finalist and signed with the University of Charlotte.

2004: Bryan Wilson, Summitt Christian

• Wilson averaged 37.2 points per game and eclipsed 3,000 career points to close his varsity career as Palm Beach County’s all-time leading scorer.

2005: Alonzo Gee, Dwyer

• Gee led Dwyer to a second consecutive 5A state championship while averaging 21.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He signed with the University of Alabama.

2005: Matt Marcorelle, John Carroll

• John Carroll enjoyed its best season in a quarter century with 23 wins and its first district title since 1979. Marcorelle, a Delaware football signee, averaged 22.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals.

2006: Corey Claitt, Palm Beach Lakes

• Claitt averaged 19.9 points per game to lead the Rams to a 24-7 record and the state semifinals.

2006: Dominik McFadden, RJ Hendley

• McFadden averaged more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game while leading the the Disciples.

2007: Fred Brown, Dwyer

• Deemed “one of the most talented players we’ve ever had here” by head coach Fred Ross, Brown averaged 19.2 points and 6.7 assists to lead the Panthers. He signed with Kansas State.

2007: Demetrius Porter, Saint Andrew’s

• Porter averaged 20.7 points and 11.8 rebounds to lead the Scots to a 24-4 record, district championship and appearance in the Class 3A state championship game.

2008: Anthony Banks, Santaluces

• Banks averaged 15.3 points and 12 rebounds per game to lead the Chiefs to a district title and region final appearance. He signed with Florida Gulf Coast.

2008: Isaac Sosa, Grandview Prep

• Sosa averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists per game to lead Grandview Prep. He suffered a season-ending injury in the region final and the Pride lost in the state championship game.

2009: Ramon Galloway, Dwyer

• Galloway averaged 17.7 points per game to lead the Panthers to a 22-8 record and an appearance in the 5A state semifinals.

2009: Altavious Carter, Grandview Prep

• Carter capped a remarkable recovery from a freshman year car accident to average 20 points, 13.6 rebounds and five blocks as a senior. The Pride went 28-1 with its only loss in the Class 1A state championship game.

2010: Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer

• Brissett joined the team midway through the season after leading Dwyer’s football team to a state title. He averaged 15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists as the Panthers reached the state semifinals.

2010: Jean Prophete, Summitt Christian

• Prophete was a physically imposing scoring threat at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and led the Saints to a 27-4 record and state semifinal appearance. He averaged 15.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

2011: Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer

• Brissett cemented his place as one of the county’s best two-sport varsity athletes by leading Dwyer to a state championship just a year after guiding the Panthers’ football team to a state title.

2011: Farad Cobb, Summitt Christian

• Cobb led the Saints to a state championship while averaging 18.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. He hit the game-winning shot for Summitt Christian in the state semifinals.

2012: Reggie Love, Spanish River

• Love helped the Sharks win the most games in program history (22) while averaging 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists. He signed with Wisconsin on a football scholarship.

2012: Farad Cobb, Summitt Christian

• Cobb averaged 27.8 points and 6.7 assists in his final varsity campaign despite battling an ankle injury and plenty of local attention. He signed with Tennessee-Chattanooga.

2013: Mike Edgley, Jupiter

• Edgley was the focus of opponents’ defensive game plans but still averaged 13 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Warriors.

2013: Ivan Canete, Grandview Prep

• Canete helped end the “Grandview Curse” while leading the Pride to the program’s first state title. He averaged 24 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.5 steals in a do-it-all combo guard.

2014: Jeff Demezier, Spanish River

• Demezier averaged 17.5 points and 4.2 rebounds while leading the Sharks to a district championship and region final appearance.

2014: Jeantal Cylla, Lake Worth Christian

• Cylla was a dominant scorer under Defenders coach Frank Baxley, averaging 24.4 points per game. He led the team to a 25-5 record.

2015: Kamil Williams, Park Vista

• Williams was a prolific scorer for the Cobras and averaged 26.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and four assists in his final varsity season.

2015: John Collins, Cardinal Newman

• Collins led the Crusaders to the state championship game while averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds. Collins signed with Wake Forest.

2016: Trent Frazier, Wellington

• Frazier was a leader for Wellington while averaging 21 points and six assists per game. The Wolverines reached the region final before losing to the eventual state champion in double overtime.

2016: Anthony Polite, Saint Andrew’s

• Polite was a star player for the Scots, who went 26-2 and reached the region championship game. He averaged 22 points, eight rebounds and three steals per game.

2017: Trent Frazier, Wellington

• Frazier’s development peaked in a decorated senior year averages of 27.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He dropped 51 points against Seminole Ridge and signed with Illinois.

2017: Anthony Polite, Saint Andrew’s

• Polite averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists to lead the Scots to a 25-3 record in his final varsity campaign. He signed with Florida State.

2018: Cade Long, Boca Raton

• Long averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 rebounds to lead Boca Raton to a district championship. He signed with Rollins College.

2018: Ben Lubarsky, Benjamin

• Lubarsky averaged 25 points and nine rebounds to lead Benjamin to the region championship in his junior season.

2019: Linton Brown, Wellington

• Brown averaged 21.4 points and 6.8 rebounds to help the Wolverines to a 25-7 record and Class 9A state runner-up finish.

2019: AJ Cajuste, Oxbridge Academy

• Cajuste averaged 17.6 points and 4.6 assists per game to lead the ThunderWolves to a 25-1 record.

2020: Giancarlo Rosado, Palm Beach Lakes

• Rosado averaged 26.7 points and 9 rebounds. He signed with Florida Atlantic.

2020: Yussif Basa-Ama, Saint Andrew’s

• Basa-Ama averaged 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks per game and 1.4 assists to lead the Scots to the program’s first state championship. He signed with Yale.

2021: Micah Octave, Olympic Heights

• Octave averaged 20 points, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks to lead Olympic Heights to an undefeated regular season.

2021: Donovan Draper, Forest Hill

• Draped averaged a double-double with 17.5 points and 10.4 rebounds, including 5.8 offensive rebounds per game.

2021: Josh Minott, St. Andrew’s

• Minott averaged 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds to lead the Scots. He signed with Memphis.

2022: Caleb Mackrey, Olympic Heights

• Mackrey was the Class 6A scoring leader with 22.9 points per game, including a season-high 45 points against Atlantic.

2023: Calvin Sirmans, Lake Worth

• Sirmans averaged 14.2 points and 6.4 assists to lead the Trojans to the state semifinals. He signed with Keiser.

2024: Jermaine Council, Cardinal Newman

• Council led the Crusaders to a 26-3 record andt he program’s first district title since 2016 while averaging 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game.

2025: TBD

Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.

2025 SUMMER CELEBRATION SCHEDULE

• Baseball (June 2-6)
• Softball (June 9-13)
• Boys Soccer (June 16-20)
• Girls Soccer (June 23-27)
• Boys Basketball (June 30-July 4)
• Girls Basketball (July 7-11)
• Volleyball (July 14-18)
• Football Defense (June 21-25)
• Football Offense (June 28-Aug. 1)