Vote: Who is Central Florida High School Boys Basketball Player of the Week? – Feb. 25, 2026

Cast your vote to decide who had the best performance for the week of Feb. 16-21, 2026
Pine Ridge senior guard Wilmer De La Rosa flies in a for dunk earlier this season. On Feb. 21, he had 25 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double and added three assists and three steals to lead the Panthers past New Smyrna Beach, 68-67, in a Class 5A, Region 2 semifinal.
Pine Ridge senior guard Wilmer De La Rosa flies in a for dunk earlier this season. On Feb. 21, he had 25 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double and added three assists and three steals to lead the Panthers past New Smyrna Beach, 68-67, in a Class 5A, Region 2 semifinal. / Wilmer De La Rosa

Central Florida high school boys basketball teams are knocking on the door to the Final Four, with 10 schools advancing to this weekend’s regional finals.

We looked at schools in multiple counties and nominated 11 athletes for Central Florida Boys Basketball Player of the Week for regional semifinal games and other contests played Feb. 16-21, 2026.

We ask you to check out the nominees below and cast your vote.


Congratulations to the winner for games played Feb. 9-14, 2026: Olympia SG James Nowells, Jr.


Voting closes at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, March 1, PT. The winner will be announced next week. Here are this week’s nominees:

Donovan Williams, G, Oak Ridge

The UCF signee poured in 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Pioneers past Windermere, 46-40, in a Class 7A, Region 2 semifinal.

James Nowells, Jr., SG, Olympia

The talented junior had 16 points, three rebounds and two steals to march the Titans past Wellington, 57-40, in a Class 7A, Region 2 semifinal.

Mikey Madueme, F, Lake Highland Prep

The 6-foot-5 senior had 16 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double and added three assists and three steals to march the Highlanders past Clearwater Calvary Christian, 53-40, in a Class 3A, Region 2 semifinal.

Abimael “AB” Belleus, W/SG, Evans

The talented junior pumped in 17 points to lead the Trojans past Viera, 57-44, in a Class 6A, Region 2 semifinal game.

Solomon Bradshaw, G, Orlando Christian Prep

The senior recorded 18 points, including three 3-pointers, and had two rebounds and four assists to guide the Warriors past Legacy Charter, 88-55, in a Class 1A, Region 2 semifinal.

Alexander Dipaolo, G/W, Central Florida Christian Academy

The 6-foot-6 senior pumped in 24 points, including two 3-pointers, and added five rebounds and three assists to lead the Eagles past Mount Dora Christian, 69-58, in a Class 1A, Region 2 semifinal.

Johnas Maurice, G, Lake Howell

The super sophomore exploded for 36 points, including six 3-pointers, and added five rebounds and five assists to guide the Silverhawks past Tocoi Creek, 82-77, in double overtime in a Class 6A, Region 1 semifinal.

Will Ryan, SG/PG, Winter Park

The senior tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double to power the Wildcats past Apopka, 29-25, in a Class 7A, Region 1 semifinal.

Wilmer De la Rosa, G, Pine Ridge

The senior exploded for 25 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double and added three assists and three steals to lead the Panthers past New Smyrna Beach, 68-67, in a Class 5A, Region 2 semifinal.

Cory McPherson, PG, The First Academy (Orlando)

The junior had 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals to march the Royals past P.K. Yonge, 65-36, in a Class 2A, Region 1 semifinal game.

Dhani Miller, SG, Montverde Academy

The 6-3 senior tallied 18 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double and added two assists and two blocked shots to guide the Eagles past The Saint James Academy of Virginia, 63-54.

About Our Athlete of the Week Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes, one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.


Jeff Gardenour can be reached via email at jgardenour1962@gmail.com or X @JMarkG1962


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Jeff Gardenour
JEFF GARDENOUR

Jeff Gardenour is a Florida native and long-time resident of the Sunshine State. He is a journalism veteran of more than four decades, having worked in a number of news divisions through the years for multiple media outlets, including Gannett and Tribune Company. A University of Florida journalism graduate, Jeff has covered every level of sports, including MLB, USFL, XFL, WNBA, NCAA, IMSA, high schools and more. He is a former award-winning sports editor of the Sebring News-Sun and current freelance writer for SBLive Sports, PrepVolleyball.com and The Orlando Sentinel. Jeff is married with two children and resides in Oviedo, FL. He can be reached at jgardenour1962@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @JMarkG1962.