St. Thomas Aquinas' Dwayne Wimbley is Broward 7A-4A Boys' Basketball Player of the Year
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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
"Tough as hell" Ashton Jeanty feels like he's arrived
Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty gave the team a scare early in Saturday's game against the 49ers and then he gave them a reminder of why they made him a first round pick. Jeanty went to the sideline medical tent after taking a hard hit on the first Raiders possession, but he returned to the game for the second drive and got right back to work. Jeanty picked up 13 yards on a run that saw him run through cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and then thumped his way into the end zone for his first touchdown of the preseason a few plays later. After running for negative yards in his first preseason action, Jeanty had seven carries for 33 yards and one catch in a performance that Raiders head coach Pete Carroll called "tough as hell" in his postgame press conference. Jeanty said he suffered "a little stinger" on the opening drive and that he feels he showed he belongs in the NFL before the day was out. "It was definitely today for sure," Jeanty said. "It takes time as a rookie to gain that confidence. I'm here. I've arrived and it's time to keep going and make plays for this team." While the Raiders could do without the injury scare, they'll take everything else they saw from Jeanty on Saturday.
New York Times
7 hours ago
- New York Times
O-line steps up while D-line takes shape: Five things we learned this week at Raiders training camp
LAS VEGAS — The fourth week of Raiders training camp was an eventful one, between joint practice and a preseason game with the San Francisco 49ers. With roster decisions on the horizon and the start of the season less than a month away, time is running short to work through the remaining questions. Advertisement Here are five things I learned this week from Raiders training camp… There were some concerns about the O-line after its poor performance against the Seahawks last week, but the unit stepped up in a big way during both the joint practice and the game against the 49ers. Quarterback Geno Smith operated from a clean pocket throughout practice, and that remained the case during his two series on Saturday. He completed 6-of-8 passes for 55 yards and led two scoring drives. More encouraging, though, was how much stronger the run blocking was. Ashton Jeanty had room to operate this week and turned it into seven carries for 33 yards and one touchdown. He flashed his impressive combination of physicality, contact balance and athleticism. First preseason TD for the Silver Surfer 🌊#SFvsLV | 📺 FOX5 — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 16, 2025 It came against a shorthanded 49ers defensive line, but that doesn't change that it was still an encouraging week for the Raiders' front five. They'll look to build on that against the Arizona Cardinals next week. 'We're seeing them in practice make progress,' coach Pete Carroll said Saturday. 'I thought they carried it to the game. … It felt like we had reason to be confident that they're doing their job. I think Jordan Meredith has done a really good job. … That was the competition that we really focused on to see how that would go, and I think he's really taken that thing over and done a fine job with it. JPJ's battling at the guard spot, and we know we've got a real physical guy who's fired up and helps us out as well. The moves were well chosen, and I think we're going to benefit from them.' As the Raiders work to try to replace what they would have gotten from Christian Wilkins, it looks like they plan to mix up their D-line alignment frequently. They used several groupings during their first defensive series against the 49ers. The Raiders opened with Maxx Crosby and Adam Butler at defensive end, alongside Thomas Booker and Jonah Laulu at defensive tackle. Later in the possession, there were plays where Butler rotated inside to defensive tackle and Tyree Wilson came off the bench to play defensive end. Then Wilson rotated inside to defensive tackle and Malcolm Koonce replaced him at defensive end. Advertisement That rotational strategy continued for the starters' three series. Booker played 26 snaps, Wilson played 22, Koonce played 16, Butler and Laulu played 15 and Crosby played 12. The adjustments were made depending on down-and-distance as defensive coordinator Patrick Graham toggled between prioritizing defending the run, getting after the quarterback or having a balanced front. That's something that will likely continue into the season. Last weekend, Kelly began rotating in with the first-team defense. And in the preseason game against the 49ers, he started alongside Eric Stokes at outside cornerback. It's been a sudden rise given he'd previously spent most of his time with the third-team defense going back to OTAs, but he's impressed the coaching staff with his play. 'He's just been really active,' Carroll said Thursday. 'Seems like he's really settling in, and his aggressive style of play has really shown up. So, I'm fired up for him.' Kelly is only going into his third NFL season, but he's already bounced around the league. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens but was cut following training camp. He was claimed by Carroll's Seattle Seahawks and appeared in five games before getting cut again. He got released by two more teams before landing on the Raiders' practice squad last year. Although Kelly didn't appear in any games last year, he felt he rediscovered his confidence by making plays in practice. He also credited a conversation with his father, Brian Kelly, who played cornerback in the NFL for 11 years. 'He just always told me that, 'Your time will come. You don't know when. You don't know how. But just mentally, be ready,'' Kelly said Saturday. 'He said I had all the physical tools. It was always there. But the mental part is so big so when you get in those big moments, you just know you trained for this and you're ready to go.' Advertisement Carroll was familiar with Kelly from his time with the Seahawks and kept him around once he came onboard with the Raiders. And while it took time, Carroll has given Kelly an opportunity to compete. He's currently jockeying for positioning with Darien Porter. 'The game's really slowed down for me,' Kelly said. 'I feel confident going out there. I can see concepts more easily now. I can see receivers' releases and the way they stem their routes.' It's rare that a player from the NFL's International Player Pathway Program makes the roster, but a great example is Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro offensive tackle Jordan Mailata. Despite having no high school or college experience, the former Australian rugby player was drafted in the seventh round by the Eagles in 2018 and made the roster. Tasi, who also grew up in Australia playing rugby, looks to Mailata for inspiration. ''Wherever you go to, whatever team you go to, make sure you work hard and just prove people wrong, because that's how you win in life,'' Tasi remembered Mailata telling him at an IPP camp. 'Now that he won the Super Bowl, that just proves a lot from all the international players that can go through the NFL. Hopefully, one day I can do that.' The Raiders initially intended for Tasi to play defensive tackle, but Carroll approached the 6-foot-6, 373-pounder in OTAs and told him he'd be switching to offensive line. He'd never played football before signing with the Raiders. He's incredibly raw and it's hard to overstate how early on he is in the process of learning the game. 'It's been really scary for me,' Tasi said. 'The whole playbook with the offense is just crazy to me, especially with the numbers and the words that you've got to know and assignments you've got to go through on the field. … I was struggling at the start, but then I had the voice to speak up to the coaches and say, 'Hey, I need help with the plays.'' Tasi's unique combination of size, athleticism, strength and physicality makes his upside intriguing. He's gotten most of his work in guard, but playing tackle remains on the table. As he continues to develop, the Raiders could try to stash him on the practice squad; per NFL rules, the Raiders would be awarded a 17th practice-squad spot they can use for him as an IPP player. To get there, though, the Raiders would have to release him, which would subject him to waivers and open the door for him to get claimed by another team. That's a factor they will have to consider. Advertisement The Raiders' run defense was alarmingly poor against the Seahawks in the preseason opener but was stout when the starters were on the field against the 49ers. They allowed just 2.7 yards per carry. Their ability to tackle, shed blocks and fit gaps all looked improved. 'We played the running game with much more impact than we did in the (joint) practice,' Carroll said Saturday. 'The adjustments that the coaching staff made worked out well and the players were able to adapt in just a couple days' time. Against a really formidable running team that loves to run the football, I thought we did that really well.' The downside is that the Raiders still didn't have much of a pass rush; they didn't have any sacks and registered just one quarterback hit. Given the precarious state of the secondary, they'll need to be better in that area for the pass defense to be reliable this season. 'They're really battling,' Carroll said. 'It's not settled yet. (Defensive line coach) Robbie (Leonard) did a really nice job of making sure we got a lot of film on everybody. … But we like the guys. It's a good group. They're very active. They're athletic. They move well. They play hard. So, now we just need to see how we're going to zero in on it. The competition goes on.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
San Francisco Chronicle
18 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
49ers' Brock Purdy reconnects with Brandon Aiyuk, relies on Ricky Pearsall in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — More than an hour before kickoff, Brock Purdy threw to Brandon Aiyuk again. It was more than playing catch in the backyard. Aiyuk, nearly nine months removed from tearing his ACL and MCL in the same knee, moved in and out of cuts at a speed that almost seemed normal for the San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver. 'Obviously he looks great physically, progressing in the right way with his knee,' Purdy said postgame, 'but more than anything, man, you can tell he wants to get back out there and compete, which I love.' It appeared as if he was a step or two away from the Aiyuk of old that helped a rookie Purdy navigate Sin City. Allegiant Stadium was ground zero for what became a budding partnership between the two. A New Year's Day game set the stage for Purdy — recently thrust into a starting role from third string — to connect with Aiyuk on nine completions, matching their combined total across Purdy's first three career starts. Together, they eclipsed the century mark for the first time and led the 49ers to a thrilling 37-34 overtime win in Raiders country. 'The history that we've had on the field together has been awesome,' Purdy said. 'Whenever he's able to get back out there, we'll be ready to roll.' Saturday's nostalgia spanned only a few completions during warmups. Aiyuk is still months from making a full return. Purdy still fared more than fine in his 2025 debut. Ricky Pearsall kept the WR1 spot warm. Purdy and several starters, Pearsall included, played only the opening drive of the 49ers' second preseason game. Of seven passes Purdy attempted against the Raiders, the first three went to Pearsall, who caught each one for a total of 42 yards. Fans had heard of the promising Purdy-Pearsall connection all training camp. What they showed in almost six minutes of game action was proof of concept. Purdy and Pearsall didn't have much time to get on the same page last season. Pearsall missed most of OTAs and training camp due to injury, before a traumatic armed robbery incident in late August left the 2024 first-round pick to nurse a gunshot wound. Purdy recently said syncing with Pearsall upon his return to football was at first a struggle. They worked out together down in Florida during the offseason, and camp has largely allowed Purdy and Pearsall to focus on their chemistry sans Aiyuk and veteran Jauan Jennings, who has not practiced since late July with a calf injury (and a pending extension request). 'Ricky's a real good route runner, sometimes he gets too concerned with beating the guy, understanding that he's got to do it in the time of when Brock's looking at him,' 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. 'That's something those guys have really been working through and getting really good at.' Purdy found Pearsall on the game's first two plays from scrimmage to move the sticks. Then, on a third-and-18, Purdy went back to the well: a 21-yard strike to Pearsall, who ran a dig into the soft spot of the Raiders' zone defense to preserve the drive. 'We're just always talking, man,' Purdy said. 'He loves football, I love football, and so when you got two guys that are willing to put in the extra work and explain what we're trying to get out of the plays and reps, I think great things can happen from that. 'We honed in on some things this year in camp.' It's not ideal to be without Aiyuk or Jennings, whose timetable to return remains unclear after his near-1,000-yard breakthrough a season ago. Much has been said about the potential acquisition of a veteran wideout to fill the void. At least for now, early returns suggest Pearsall may have the upside to justify pocketing the $14.2 million market value of Amari Cooper (per Spotrac) for a rainier day. Shanahan hasn't ruled out Jennings for Week 1. Perhaps a Pearsall-Jennings duo, plus a healthy Christian McCaffrey and smelling-salted George Kittle, could hold over the 49ers until Aiyuk is ready. Any rust accrued in the time since Purdy last targeted Aiyuk and Jennings does not worry the $265 million face of the franchise. They've been there, done that. 'They have so much experience, that when they do get on the field, they'll pick up right where they left off,' Purdy said. 'I always see JJ in the locker room, and we talk about practice, just what he's seeing. Same thing with Aiyuk. … They care, obviously, and they're continuing to grow mentally and stay on top of their game.'
