Who's No. 1 in the Tampa Bay area?

Who is the area’s top athlete regardless of sport? It’s a tough call. This academic year, we are blessed to have several athletes that arguably are the best in Florida in their respective sports. In fact, it might be the area’s best crop ever. Here are some of our top achievers. After looking at my list, tell me who you would put at No. 1. And if there’s someone I’ve left out, by all means prop them up.

Mychal Givens, Plant, baseball: The senior shortstop/pitcher was a first-team Class 5A all-state pick last spring and very well could be the first player from the state selected in the 2009 amateur draft. This summer, he took part in the Aflac High School All-American Game, which showcases 38 of the game's best high school seniors at Dodger Stadium. He also was presented the Jackie Robinson Award, annually given to the top rising high school baseball player in the nation.

John Henson, Sickles, basketball: A consensus top-10 national player and five-star recruit, Henson is a North Carolina commit who moved to Tampa from Texas in August. Before committing to the Tar Heels in January (he was UNC's first commit), Henson, a 6-foot-10 small forward, also considered national powers Arizona, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA.

Megan Romano, Northeast, swimmer: Romano is considered one of the country's top prep swimmers. Last fall, she broke a 10-year state record in the 100-yard backstroke, winning in 54.41 seconds. In the 200 freestyle, she clocked in at 1:46.70, less than a second off the national record. Romano qualified in six events – the 50-meter free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free, 100 back and 200 back – for the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.

Eric Grajales, Brandon, wrestling: A true phenom, Grajales owns three state titles and is considering Columbia, Cornell, Michigan and Penn. As a junior, he went 58-0 and set a state-record with 53 pins. His last loss in a prep match came in the state championship when he was an eighth-grader competing at Temple Heights Christian. This summer, he competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Maddie Martin, Plant, volleyball: The 6-foot-1 outside hitter was a first-team all-state pick last year after helping lead the nationally ranked Panthers to their second straight Class 5A title. Over the summer, the junior committed to defending national champion Penn State. Martin earned AAU All-American honors in 2008.

Dentarius Locke, Chamberlain, track/sprints: With Jeff Demps (not a Gator football player) having finally graduated from Groveland South Lake, Locke might be the state’s premier sprinter. Last spring, he was the Class 4A champ in the 100 meters and took second in the 200. A double is possible in 2009.

Amber Henson, Sickles, basketball: A 14-year-old sophomore forward, the 6-foot-3 ½ Henson (who is John’s sister), is considered by some recruiting analysts to be the top young player in Florida. Although she has only played one year of high school basketball (and because she skipped a grade should really just be starting high school), Henson already has scholarship offers from Duke, North Carolina and Texas.

Aaron Murray, Plant, football: The prized quarterback recruit set a state record for touchdown passes last fall (51) and might be on his way to topping that in 2008. Murray, who will play for Georgia, was the MVP at the prestigious Elite 11 camp this summer in California. Renowned recruiting analyst Tom Lemming rates Murray as the country’s No. 3 overall talent.

Connor Revord, Jesuit, track/distance: Revord, who is considering Georgetown, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State and Villanova, was named the Times' male track athlete of the year in 2008 for Hillsborough County. At the Class 2A state meet, he was second in both the 800 (1:55.88) and 1,600 (4:18.86), and anchored the 4x800 relay squad that won gold. In the process, Revord helped accumulate 26 of Jesuit’s 29 points. For good measure, he’s also a championship contender this fall in cross country.

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Comments

[Mom]

My little boy is number one.

Murray (just by nature of his position, qb at a high profile program)
Giddens (Go anywhere he wants; will be high profile)
Henson (NBA? Hardest league to make, but maybe).
Givens (likely a future MLBer)
Locke (maybe a future olympian)

none of the above

[baseball fan]

Great Coach, Great Program, Guaranteed playin time. It's not about the shirt. It's about playin baseball

[what]

okaro white clearwater basketball

He already committed to a JuCo and his senior season hasn't even started yet?
What's up with that.

[baseball fan]

Senior LHP Alex Young from TSHS will be the force to reckon with this season. Currently playing on the Winning Inning Scout Team as a closer. STATS 9 innings, ERA 0.0,SO 10,Hits 1, Runs 0. He has committed to South Florida Community College

How old is Givens? Is he voting yet? You gotta compare him to a college player - since he's college age.

Grajales ... no contest

Romano has so many state titles! every year & in multiple events!
ROMANO #1

grajales all the way, last year 4 of the 5 matches he didnt win by a pin he got a forfeit so he pretty much pinned everyone he wrestled except for one kid and that was his state finals match

1) Eric Grajales- by far
2) Meagan Romano
3) Dentarius Locke

Those three are way out in front-
Then:
4) Madie Martin
5) Givins
6) Murray
Never seen either Henson, haven't seen Romano for that part either but I know something about swimming times and she is fast!

[Plant baseball]

Givens is amazing. He looks like he could play in the big league right now.

[#1]

Gotta be Maddie Martin. Anyone else offered a scholarship by the number one team in the nation before their jr. year? I think not.

1. Grajales
2. Romano
3. J. Henson
4. Murray
5. Revord

Petey Smith

Ryne Giddins

Robert Weiner all conference recruiter