Fort Pierce Central Captures ESPN WPB Event

WEST PALM BEACH – Before the start of last Saturday's ESPN West Palm Beach 7-on-7 tournament at Keiser University, teams such as Wellington Palm Beach Central, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, Delray Beach Atlantic and Vero Beach were teams that many felt had the opportunity to win this event.   After six hours of play with 16 teams coming from the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast, a program that nobody mentioned coming into play that took home the title and a $1,000.00 check.   Competing and winning all day, head coach Mike Watkins and his Fort Pierce Central Cobras defeated one of the featured programs, Vero Beach, in the finals, 14-12.   With a field that included Greenacres John I. Leonard, Boynton Beach Somerset Canyon, Stuart Martin County, Lake Worth Dr. Joaquin Garcia, Fort Pierce Westwood, Palm Beach Lakes, Jupiter Christian, Boca Raton St. Andrew's Academy, West Palm Beach The King's Academy, North Palm Beach Benjamin and Sebastian River, the competition was close and competitive.   Fort Pierce Central edged Palm Beach Central to reach the final game – while Vero Beach held of Atlantic to get to the final game.   COBRAS HAD SOME QUALITY PROSPECTS STEP UP   Winning an event was not easy for the Cobras. Here are some of the players responsible throughout this off-season so far:   CLASS OF 2026     Jakobe Blackwood, WR/DB/QB, 6'2, 170 – 3.3 GPA. COACH WATKINS: “While he wasn't at Keiser on Saturday, this is someone who's a complete cornerback as well as a gifted slot receiver. Tremendous athlete who also plays baseball.”   Marquan Burgess, DB/WR, 5'9, 165 – 3.76 GPA. COACH WATKINS: “Leadership is off the charts and our best play maker. Basketball combo guard that was part of the NSSA national championship team.”   Jamario Moody, DB/WR, 5'11, 170 – 3.4 GPA. COACH WATKINS: “Along with Marquan Burgess, this is the highest football IQ kid this program has. He is a playmaker – like he did during the Keiser tournament, coming up with interceptions against Fort Pierce Westwood and Palm Beach Central.”   Kyron Pratt, RB, 6'1, 220. COACH WATKINS: “While 7-on-7 events will never showcase someone like this, when the pads come on, this a prospect who is hard to tackle - 6'1 220 RB.  Really hard to tackle, this is an athlete that is willing to put in the work.”   CLASS OF 2027   Vonnderrick Adams, WR/DB, 5'10, 175. COACH WATKINS:   “Another player who didn't compete at our Keiser event, he is indeed one of the top cover corners, who is going to be very special.”   Trey Flowers, WR, 6'0, 170. COACH WATKINS: “Track kid.  Runs hurdles and will be big time by his senior year - once he commits himself to the weightroom.”   Antonio Hill, Athlete, 6'2, 180 – 3.1 GPA. COACH WATKINS: “Co-MVP of the Camp. Turns 16 in August.  Plays outside WR and Safety for us during the season. Sub 11.00 (100 meters).”   Drew LaPlante, QB, 6'2, 180 – 3.9 GPA. Dual enrollment Embry Riddle Aerospace Engineering. COACH WATKINS: “Going into his first year as a varsity starter and has made huge gains this off-season.”   Alexander “Alex” Pennicott, WR/DB, 6'0, 165. COACH WATKINS: “Here is someone who will be very special over the next two years after missing the 2024 season and this past spring. Fastest player in the program. 4.4 laser (40).”     KEEP AN EYE ON VERO BEACH IN 2025   Coach Len Jankowski's Indians also had numerous elite players that got them to the title game.   Players like Champ Monds (QB, 2028), Jonathan Hillsman (RB, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1206211' first='Efrem' last='White'] (Athlete, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1266688' first='Jordan' last='Crutchfield'] (DB, 2026), Jarvis Jacobs (WR, 2026), Latravious Woods (WR/DB, 2028), [player_tooltip player_id='1695065' first='Marcus' last='Melbourne Jr.'] (WR/DB, 2027), Jaydon Haywood (DB, 2027), [player_tooltip player_id='212288' first='Traveon' last='Townsend'] (DB, 2026), Amir Shabazz (DB, 2026), Micah Roberts (WR, 2028), and Chaise Dagbolen (RB/LB, 2027) also contributed.     Florida's Pre-Summer 2025 Top 35. <a>https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/35-plus-teams-to-watch-this-summer/</a>   Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a>   You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.   COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.

WEST PALM BEACH – Before the start of last Saturday's ESPN West Palm Beach 7-on-7 tournament at Keiser University, teams such as Wellington Palm Beach Central, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, Delray Beach Atlantic and Vero Beach were teams that many felt had the opportunity to win this event.