National Signing Day Dade County 2022

    Wednesday was national signing day in Dade County. Just like the previous three years. the majority of high-profiled signings occurred back on early national signing day in December. 

    Miami Northwestern defensive back Damion Williams stays in the county at St. Thomas University. Former linebacker Terrence Lewis transferred from Maryland to Central Florida. 

     Columbus had several players sign their letters of intent. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza will travel to Cal while defensive back Ken Moore heads to Western Carolina. Kicker Luis Palenzuela goes to Holy Cross and defensive lineman John Starman leaves for Brown. 

     The FHSAA Class 5A state champion Miami Central had linebacker Keyondre Young choose Tuskegee, wide receiver Mike Jackson remain local at FIU, wide receiver Zaylan Reese join Valdosta State and Qualyn McQueen go to St. Thomas University. 

     Monsignor Pace defensive lineman Shemar Stewart goes off to Texas A&M. Miami Palmetto wide receiver Bobby Golden lands at Akron. Miami Killian defensive lineman Steven Shannon and offensive lineman Naeer Jackson are both staying local at FIU. 

     Miami Carol City defensive back Norris Crawford goes to Edward Waters while Miami Norland defensive back Aaron Taylor shifts to Florida Memorial. Miami Carol City defensive back Wayne Favors travels to Delaware State and Monsignor Pace kicker/punter Zachary Alvarez will kick for Alabama A&M. 

National Signing Day Broward County 2022

     Broward County football players signed their letters of intent on national signing day. Several students made their decisions in the region. 

     The three-time defending FHSAA Class 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas had their slew of players sign. Quarterback Zion Turner moves on to Connecticut while running back Anthony Hankerson heads to Colorado. Offensive lineman Dawson Alters stops at Virginia, defensive lineman Michael Renoit goes to Brown and linebacker Darrieon Craig travels to Massachusetts. Offensive lineman Blake Steen travels to Virginina and offensive lineman Tellek Lockette goes to Louisiana-Monroe. Defensive back Keion Smith selected Edward Waters. 

     The FHSAA Class 4A state champion Cardinal Gibbons had several players decide. Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten will stay local at Miami while defensive end Mason Thomas moves out to Oklahoma. Defensive back Isaiah Farris picked Boston College. Offensive lineman Jackson Crozier stays in the state at Florida. 

     American Heritage wide receiver Isaiah Nesmith selected Rutgers and American Heritage offensive lineman Jadon Brown goes to Charlotte. Plantation wide receiver/defensive back Jaquan Haynes went with Bethune-Cookman. Deerfield Beach defensive back Hezekiah Masses goes to FIU. Plantation defensive back Eric Lyons Jr. was added by Gustavus. 

     FHSAA Class 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna had linebacker Brett Hoffman leave for New Haven and defensive lineman Charles McCoy along with defensive back Charles Williams added by Edward Waters. 

     A couple of Western players decided. Wide receiver Jullian Lewis selected Georgia Tech, wide receiver Brennen Taranto goes to Presbyterian, linebacker Percy Courtney Jr. drives to FIU, defensive end Jarvins Joseph listed Clarke and offensive lineman David Espino enters Clarke), 

     Other players signed include Monarch defensive end Shanard Lo-Ray(Valdolsta State), Monarch offensive lineman Riley Ingram(Keiser), Calvary Christian Academy quarterback(Concord), Stranahan defensive back Vorez Bowers(Texas College), Calvary Christian Academy wide receiver/defensive back Eric Trowbridge(Lake Erie), Fort Lauderdale linebacker Benjamin Profit(St. Thomas), Dillard wide receiver Darryl Garrett(Edward Waters) and Miramar wide receiver Darius Thomas(Western Kentucky). 

National Signing Day Palm Beach County 2022

     It was national signing day for Palm Beach County athletes. The county has been more known for the past three years to have students wait to sign until February instead of making a decision on early national signing day in December. 

     Glades Central had nine players, the largest number in Palm Beach County, who will play college football later this year. Offensive lineman/defensive lineman Keon Kindred and offensive lineman Ja'Kavion Nonar both picked Maryland. They signed their letters of intent back in December. Defensive back Weasley Jeanty and outside linebacker Alcivial Henrisme go off to Valdosta State while running back Everic Morgan shifts to Grand View University. Defensive back Juan Soriano goes south to St. Thomas University. 

     Palm Beach Gardens had four players make their decisions. Tight end Naivyan Cargill selected Illinois while linebacker Brandon Powell stays local at Keiser University. Both running back/defensive back Vincent Dubose and offensive lineman/defensive lineman Peter Lubin head to Fort Hays State. 

     Atlantic defensive back Marquis Lymon decided on Western Carolina. Boca Raton had running back Trey Rainey head to Lafayette and wide receiver/tight end Josh Harrison move on to St. Thomas University. 

     Four players from Benjamin choose their destinations. Offensive lineman Danny Gonzalez goes across to South Florida and offensive lineman Dalton Lyons picked Geogia State. Defensive lineman C.J. Bowens lands at Army while linebacker Mason Thomason ends up at Stetson. 

     Dwyer had two students sign their letters of intent. Xavier Scott went with Illinois and defensive back Fabian Smith goes to Lake Erie. Scott is best known as a point guard in basketball. 

     Boynton Beach ends up with two players who will go to the same college. Offensive linemen Lasale Jordan and Joseph Pagan will attend Keiser University. 

     Somerset Academy Canyons quarterback Benson Barnes moves on to St. Thomas University. Seminole Ridge kicker Hayden Gray decided on RPI. Former Seminole Ridge defensive back Andre Fuller transferred from Arkansas-Pine Bluff to Toledo. 

Raptors Fight Off Heat

     The Miami Heat were unable to pay back the Toronto Raptors and lost 110-106 on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Heat fell to the Raptors at the end of their four-game homestand in Miami back on Saturday. 

     It was unusual for Miami to play a National Basketball Association game in front on no fans in attendance. The most recent time for the club was during the 2020 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in Orlando. 

     Miami(32-20) held a 32-22 advantage at the end of one quarter and still led 62-50 by halftime. Toronto(26-23) chopped at the lead and trailed 83-80 at the end of the third quarter. The Raptors went on a 10-2 spurt to begin the fourth quarter and held off a couple of Heat charges.

     The Heat were led by Bam Adebayo as he registered a team-high 32 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Jimmy Butler also had a double-double with 16 points, 12assists and eight rebounds. Tyler Herro dropped in 18 points and P. J. Tucker scored 12 points. 

     All Toronto players who started the game were able to score in double digits. Gary Trent Jr. piled on a game-high 33 points while Fred VanVleet added 22 points. 

Panthers Outdueled By Rangers

     The Florida Panthers fell to the New York Rangers 5-2 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. It was the Panthers final regular season contest prior to the National Hockey League All-Star Game break. The Cats next game will be in two weeks on February 16 at the Carolina Hurricanes. 

     New York(30-13-4) broke out to a 1-0 lead just 35 seconds into the first period. Mika Zibanejad got the unassisted tally past Spencer Knight for his 18th goal this season. 

     Following a disallowed goal by Owen Tippett due to Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe being offside, Florida(32-10-5) evened it up 1-1 with 9:16 left in the first. Anthony Duclair chalked up his 18th goal of the season by Igor Shesterkin on assists from Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. Huberdeau, who was named the NHL First Star for January, compiled his league-leading 64th point of the 2021-22 season. 

     The Panthers moved ahead for the first time 2-1 with the man advantage at the 2:18 mark of the second period. Sam Reinhart posted his 16th goal of the campaign. Barkov and Ekblad were both credited with assists on the play. 

     The Blueshirts tied it 2-2 at 3:27 of the frame. Chris Kreider took a shot and Alexis Lafreniere redirected it into the cage for his 10th goal. 

     The Rangers reclaimed the lead 3-2 with 2:35 remaining in the second. Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome passed the puck in the Panthers zone during the and then Chris Kreider blasted his 32nd goal of the season. 

     In the third period, New York extended their lead to 4-2 with 5:21 left on the power play. Kreider blasted another shot for his 17th power-play goal and 33rd goal of the campaign. Zibandejad and Panarin ended up with the assists. Panarin added an empty-net, power-play goal with 41 seconds to go.  

Brian Flores Sues National Football League

     Former Miami Dolphins head coach has sued the National Football League. His lawsuit is because of the unfair hiring practices of the NFL. One-time Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator and recent Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was named the next New York Giants head coach several days ago instead of him. 

     Flores was the Miami Dolphins head coach for the past three seasons. He finished up with a 24-25 record with the team. 

Jonathan Huberdeau NHL January First Star

     Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau has been named by the National Hockey League as the First Star in the month of January. Huberdeau compiled six goals and 19 assists for 25 points in 15 games during the month of January. He helped the Panthers lead the NHL with 69 points.  

     He is the top contender for the Art Ross Trophy. Huberdeau currently leads the National Hockey League with 63 points. He has chalked up 17 goals and 46 assists in 46 contests during the 2021-22 regular season.