Celebrating Palm Beach's Basketball Stars: Player of the Year Revealed!

650 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, USA - In a vibrant celebration of local talent, the Palm Beach Post is showcasing a summer extravaganza dedicated to high school athletics across Palm Beach County from 2000 to 2025. As part of this initiative, the spotlight this week is on boys basketball, where the region has birthed a plethora of collegiate and professional players. This year, the Post is not just regaling readers with past champions but also laying out a delightful content schedule that runs through the first week of July.

The festivities commenced in June and have included highlights of state champions and Players of the Year, boasting a treasure trove of photographs, reader polls, and premium content. The Palm Beach Post reports that the basketball section features previous winners of the Player of the Year award, which were split into Large and Small School categories until 2022, when they combined with the Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards Show.

Honoring Past Greats

Part of the allure of this retrospective look includes a striking list of former Player of the Year winners who have left an indelible mark on the game. From Jackie Manuel, who started it all back in 2000, leading Cardinal Newman to a state championship with impressive averages, to the recent presence of Calvin Sirmans from Lake Worth, the legacy of excellence is evident.

• 2000: Jackie Manuel (Cardinal Newman) – 18.4 points, 6.7 rebounds
• 2023: Calvin Sirmans (Lake Worth) – 14.2 points; led team to state semifinals
• 2024: Jermaine Council (Cardinal Newman) – 22 points; led team to first district title since 2016

The upcoming content includes coverage of several other sports, such as baseball, softball, soccer, and volleyball, keeping the excitement rolling through the summer. The Palm Beach Post’s initiative certainly does a good deal in celebrating local athletic prowess.

A Night to Remember

Tying into this celebratory period is the recently held Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards, an event designed to honor nominated athletes and announce Players of the Year. The awards ceremony took place on May 28, 2025, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Guests mingled, took photos, and celebrated achievements as they prepped for the main awards show.

Tickets for the event were complimentary for nominated athletes while family and friends could purchase theirs to be part of this momentous evening. Participants experienced a red-carpet walk, an engaging program, and an inspirational talk from a professional athlete, adding to the allure of the night.

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