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Miami Heat Miami Herlad honorees

Daniel Y. Cooper, Albert Hernandez III, Philip Hernandez, Channise Aryan Lewis and Simi Serfati are the second group of honorees for the 2012-13 academic and sportsmanship program, conducted by the The Miami Herald and two-time NBA champion Miami Heat in conjunction with Gatorade.

These standout student athletes were honored on the AmericanAirlines Arena court before the Heat/Cleveland Cavaliers game. Each received two game tickets, a Heat goody bag and a certificate. They were congratulated by Miami Heat players Birdman Chris Andersen, Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.

The honorees competed in youth basketball for their school and/or league and/or travel team.

• Daniel Y. Cooper

From 2010-12, Daniel played basketball for West Orange Hight School in Orlando. He made the move to Homestead, and as a junior, he competed for the South Dade High School boys’ varsity team.

A standout on the court, he was also a member of the Orlando Roadrunners, Each One Teach One and Central Elite travel basketball teams.

Off the court, Daniel made the Honor Roll all four quarters and maintains a 3.4+ grade point average. The 16-year-old is also an active member of teen ministry at the South Florida Church of Christ, where he was Outstanding Teen Camper of the Week twice.

• Albert Hernandez III

After completing the cross-country season for Southwood Middle School, Albert played basketball and wrestled in the same season. The sixth grader helped his basketball team place second at a tournament.

Displaying sportsmanship on the court, terrain and mat, he also showed discipline by completing all school assignments without supervision and achieving top grades with a 3.5 GPA to make the Honor Roll again.

Albert, 12, a Miami resident, also plays baritone in the band and can play keyboards. He regularly attends church youth group.

• Philip M Hernandez

Philip, 13, competes for the Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School varsity basketball team. Prior, he was a member of the school’s junior varsity team. He also made the school’s junior varsity and varsity football teams and plays golf. He earned the football team’s Most Improved award.

An eighth grader, Philip is a straight ‘A’ student, and his average in each class is 94. The standout student athlete resides in Miramar.

• Channise Aryan Lewis

Channise, 14, started playing basketball in 2006 at age 8 for the Northwest Boy & Girls Club. She led her team to the semifinals her first year and the finals her second year. She was awarded team MVP.

At Myrtle Grove Elementry School, in fifth grade, she was named the top girl in Physical Education. In 2011, she played with the South Florida Lady Lightning travel team where she was chosen All Tournament for the Jupiter Courier Jam and for the Big Orange Classic. She led the Lady Lightning to the state title (winning the MVP trophy) and then the USSSA National championship in North Carolina.

In 2012, as the only girl on the North Miami Beach Boys & Girls Club team, she led her team to the championship in the Dade Youth Basketball League. With only five girls on the 2012 version of the South Florida Lady Lightning, she led them to the Jupiter Jam Tournament title. As a seventh grader, she played for Below the Rim, an elite travel team, with some of the best junior and senior high school players.