Jabari Brady. {Top Shot Media}
By: Matt Rothman
Coconut Creek and Monarch High School’s athletics took off in 2023, highlighted by incredible runs in football.
Jabari Brady of Monarch High School was named an All-American and was also named to the All-Conference Team along with Samari Reed.
“Being recognized is all God doing his work,” Brady said. “I am really blessed to have the talent for people to recognize me. I have motivation from my mom to make me the player I am today.”
The duo combined for over 2,600 yards and 25 touchdowns while helping Monarch win their third straight District Championship and first Regional Title in school history after going 11-3. Brady though announced her will be transferring to Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in 2024.
Gabriel Birnbaum, a Florida Atlantic University signee, was also named to the First Team after finishing the season ranked fourth in Broward County with 21.5 sacks.
Quarterback A.J. Hairston made the Second Team All-Conference. Despite missing half the season due to injury, the Umass signee threw for 2,567 yards and 22 touchdowns. Clayton Cannon II was also selected after catching 40 passes for 743 yards and five touchdowns.
Bryan Auguste, Isaac Edelman, Malik Kelsey, Adin Lin, Melvin Puckett, Holden Zeltner, Aidan Schwartz, Bryan Auguste, and Isaac Edelman were named Honorable Mentions for the Knights.
Monarch also was in action during the holiday break with a boys basketball tournament, winning games against Highlands Christian 65-42 and Monsignor Pace 53-39. The Knights are now 5-7 this year and will play Hollywood Hills High School in their next game on January 10.
The Monarch girls basketball team still has only one victory this year against Plantation High School. They will play West Broad in their next game on January 12, while the soccer teams will resume their season against Piper on January 8. The boys team has six wins this season after winning back-to-back District Championships, while the girls have three victories.
For Coconut Creek, Jamarie Hostzslaw, a senior from Coconut Creek committed to Alabama State University, was named a First Team All-Conference player after rushing for 1,100 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns. Teammates Erron Brown, James Hayes, and Hyajah Miller were named Honorable Mentions after the Cougars went 10-3 and won a District Championship before falling in the Regional Final. Johnnie Sloan was also named FCA Coach of the Year for the Cougars.
Coconut Creek High School Football. {Top Shot Media}
The boys basketball team competed in a tournament to close the year and picked up their first win. After falling by 60 against Mt. Lebanon High School, the Cougars beat Somerset Academy 62-28 to move to 1-7 on the season behind 33 points from McKevan Bell.
The girls basketball team fell in their final game before the holiday break against Mater Lakes Academy 62-15 behind six points from Devonique Thompson and Abigail Theopile. Those two players are also the leading scorers this year for a team that has beaten Everglades, Miramar, J.P. Taravella, Coral Glades, and Santaluces High School.
The Lady Cougars will return on January 8 to face Deerfield Beach High School. The Bucks are 7-3 this year and beat Coconut Creek 59-27 in their only meeting last year.
The boys soccer team is set to resume their season after playing to a 1-1 draw against Miramar High School on December 18. Clevice Joseph scored the lone goal for the Cougars, who are now 4-3-2 this year. They will play Fort Lauderdale High School on January 8 at 4 p.m. The Flying L’s have seven wins this year and beat Hallandale 8-0 in their last game.
The girls soccer team has not won a game yet this year but recorded their first tie before the holiday against Miramar High School. The Lady Cougars will play Northeast High School in their next game on January 9 at 4 p.m. The Hurricanes are 6-4-1 this year but played to a 1-1 draw in their only meeting last year.
Coconut Creek Football. {CC Athletics}
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Author Profile
- Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.
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