Many Lessons Learned By Lake Wales In 2024

Moments after losing in the second round of the 4A state playoffs to Ocala Vanguard, coaches and players at Lake Wales quickly turned their attention to the 2025 season.   As everyone looks back at last year, it was indeed a season that was filled with ups and downs, and while the Highlanders fell short of their goal to get to the state championship game, there were many lessons learned.   Finishing second behind eventual state runner up Orlando Jones in the district, what the year was about for head coach TaVaris Johnson and his team could be best described as a learning experience.   The dedication that the team put in this spring and will continue into the summer will be closing the gap and taking things one step further this coming season.   Make no mistake, this program is loaded with talent and will be in the mix from start to finish.   Here are some of the many prospects to keep an eye on:   CLASS OF 2026   Benjamin “B.J.” Alston, DL/TE, 6'1, 240 – 3.1 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18407367/BJ-Alston/highlights</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='212276' first='Claudarius' last='Bell'], Nickel, 6'0, 180 – 2.6 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/15057570/Claudarius-Bell/highlights</a>   Ledielle Bruno, Athlete/Slot, 5'10, 175 – 3.1 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18335421/Ledielle-Bruno/highlights</a>   Cedarius Christian, CB, 6'2, 170 – 2.6 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18060332/Cedarius-Christian/highlights</a>   Todd Daniels Jr., Athlete/RB, 5'10, 165 – 3.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18118908/Todd-Daniels-Jr/highlights</a>   Walter Davis III, OLB/Edge, 6'0, 208 – 3.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18060718/Walter-Davis-III/highlights</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='869381' first='Zyuan' last='Dukes'], Athlete, 5'10, 175.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18060343/Zyuan-Dukes/highlights</a>   Robert King-George, OL, 6'2, 250 – 2.9 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18335943/Robert-King-George/highlights</a>   Myrone Jean, FS, 6'3, 185 – 3.45 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18076745/Myrone-Jean/highlights</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1800116' first='Gabriel' last='Legrand'], Athlete/WR, 6'3, 190 – 2.7 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18917481/Gabriel-Legrand/highlights</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1583333' first='Dontavius' last='Purdy'], OLB/Edge, 6'1, 228 – 3.2 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18060150/Dontavius-Purdy/highlights</a>   Najee Reynolds, OL, 6'4, 290 – 2.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18042136/Najee-Reynolds/highlights</a>   Semaj Ryan, OL, 6'2, 380.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18059519/Semaj-Ryan/highlights</a>   Kylor Sanford, RB, 5'11, 201 – 3.2 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18076826/Kylor-Sanford/highlights</a>   D'Cari Smith, SS/LB, 6'0, 215 – 4.1 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18060143/DCari-Smith/highlights</a>   Assiah Williams, RB, 5'9, 165 – 3.3 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18076848/ASsiah-Williams/highlights</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1142239' first='Chad' last='Williams'], QB, 6'2.5, 208 – 4.1 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17784211/Chad-Williams/highlights</a>   AWAITING VIDEO   Joshua Guhman, OL/Edge, 6'2, 205 – 4.01 GPA   Cedric Nelson, Nickel, 6'1, 181 – 2.6 GPA     CLASS OF 2027   Kaden Evans, WR, 5'11, 160 – 4.01 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19708166/Kaden-Evans/highlights</a>   A'Quayvion Herring, Athlete/DB, 5'10, 165 – 2.7 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19708297/AQuayvion-Herring/highlights</a>   Franklin Lastinger, DL/OC, 5'10, 240 – 3.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16954060/Frankie-Lastinger/highlights</a>   Raeshaun Pugh, Athlete/DB, 6'0, 170 – 4.01 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19328429/Raeshaun-Pugh/highlights</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1670990' first='Kaneilius' last='Purdy'], Athlete, 6'0, 200 – 3.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19700971/Kaneilius-Purdy/highlights</a>   Jermauri Richardson, Athlete/Slot, 5'9, 160 – 3.1 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/22950724/Jermauri-Richardson/highlights</a>   Isaac Rivera, PK, 5'11, 165 – 3.7 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19838467/Isaac-Rivera/highlights</a>   Brayden Scott, RB, 5'10, 170 – 3.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19664167/brayden-scott/highlights</a>   Kamari Smith, Athlete/DB, 5,10, 165 – 2.6 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19467601/Kamari-Smith/highlights</a>   AWAITING VIDEO   Dontavius Bell, RB, 6'0, 180 – 2.5 GPA   Zakari Glanton, OL, 6'2, 260   Loobensky LaFortune, Nickle/Edge – 3.01 GPA     CLASS OF 2028   [player_tooltip player_id='1716165' first='Nashid' last='Jenkins'], RB – 3.4 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/23123783/Nashid-Jenkins/highlights</a>     PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKE WALES FOOTBALL     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! Floridakids1@aol.com.

Moments after losing in the second round of the 4A state playoffs to Ocala Vanguard, coaches and players at Lake Wales quickly turned their attention to the 2025 season.