Four local boys’ basketball players, coaches collect FACA accolades

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Posted February 18, 2022 | By Matthew Cretul
matthew@ocalagazette.com

Forest, Trinity Catholic, Westport, and Lake Weir each had boys’ basketball players named as the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) District 7 Players of the Year for their respective classifications.

Trinity Catholic senior Ashton Lovett won the award for the 3A classification, Lake Weir senior Tyrone Smith took home the hardware for 5A, Forest sophomore Zay McCoy walked away with the 6A honors, and Westport junior Tay Floyd was named the FACA District Player of the Year for the 7A classification.

Not only were Lake Weir’s Smith and Trinty Catholic’s Lovett named Players of the Year in their respective classes, but they will also represent District 7 in the FACA all-star game.

In addition to the players, coaches for each school also collected FACA District 7 Coach of the Year awards. Trinity Catholic’s Carlos Villalobos won the 3A citation, guiding the Celtics to a 21-5 record. In the 5A classification, Lake Weir’s Mike Surber helmed the Hurricanes to a 17-7 record. Forest’s Mike Hoffman went 18-8 with the Wildcats, earning him 6A honors, and in the 7A class, West Port’s Bernard Smith won the FACA District 7 Coach of the Year award with a record of 6-16.

According to FACA District 7 Chairman Tim Yarn, who also coaches North Marion’s boy’s team, the winners are then nominated for the Florida Dairy Farmers Player and Coaches of the year awards.

FACA District 7 is comprised of Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Alachua, and Marion Counties.