St. Thomas Aquinas' Dwayne Wimbley is Broward 7A-4A Boys' Basketball Player of the Year
Dwayne Wimbley Jr. said he got exactly what he wanted when he chose to transfer to St. Thomas Aquinas.
Wimbley Jr., a four-star prospect and 6-6 power forward, was already an established standout at his prior school, Westminster Academy, and on one of the best teams in the state.
But this season, he and the Raiders took things up a notch and turned in arguably the best seasons in Aquinas' school history.
Led by Wimbley Jr., the Raiders won their first state championship since 2001 and second ever when they took home the Class 6A title in March.
'From the beginning of this year, we've been making history and that was the motto of this team this year,' Wimbley Jr. said.
In recognition of those efforts, Wimbley Jr. is the Miami Herald's Boys' Basketball Broward County 7A-4A Player of the Year.
Wimbley Jr. averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and 2.5 blocked shots per game this season. His skillset gelled efficiently with an already-talented Aquinas squad that included All-Broward guards DJ Sandi and Clarence Westbrook Jr.
Wimbley Jr. had been committed to Florida State until mid-March when he reopened his commitment following the coaching change from veteran Leonard Hamilton to new coach Luke Loucks at the end of the season.
Wimbley Jr. is ranked No. 31 nationally among power forwards by 247Sports and the No. 148 overall prospect in this year's class.
He helped St. Thomas Aquinas win its first BCAA Big 8 title. The Raiders then worked their way through the postseason and make it to Lakeland.
In the state final, the Raiders showed the most resilience.
Down by 16 against Orlando Evans, Aquinas rallied with an incredible second half to claim the state title.
'It was the best feeling ever because this is exactly what I came to Aquinas to do,' Wimbley Jr. said at state. 'We were in that situation, I don't even know how many times this year. For this to happen like that showed the heart this team's got. I love these boys. Every tournament we were in we were down, but we really wanted it.'
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