Pembroke Pines Charter’s Elyzee is the Broward 7A-5A Boys Basketball Player of the Year
Knowing this was his last chance, Jeremy Elyzee was determined to give it all he had in order to finish his high school career as a state champion.
It’s why nearly every time Pembroke Pines Charter’s boys basketball team needed a big shot or a timely pass or rebound this season, Elyzee, their 6-7 senior wing, delivered.
Elyzee’s clutch gene was a major reason the Jaguars powered their way to the Class 6A state championship - their second in the past four seasons.
Elyzee, who is headed to Southeastern Louisiana University, has earned the Miami Herald’s Broward County Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors for Classes 7A-5A.
“It was incredibly satisfying. It’s all I’ve ever wanted,” Elyzee said recently about winning a state title. “When I knew there was something called a state championship, my coaches put that goal in my head. And I said okay I want this. Thankfully we had the players around me that wanted the same goal.”
Elyzee, who formed a potent frontcourt tandem with senior forward Josh Harris, remained consistent, averaging 17.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game this season.
But his major highlights came in the playoffs.
Elyzee and Harris each posted double doubles to beat South Plantation in the regional semifinals. Elyzee then scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to rally Pines Charter to a win against St. Thomas Aquinas in the regional final.
Eyzee led the Jaguars with 22 points, three assists and three blocks while Harris totaled 13 points and 10 rebounds in the state final victory over Orlando Edgewater.
“It was great playing with Josh. He’s my guy. He became a great friend,” Elyzee said. “We both like to win and we put our egos down. We made up our mind to win the state championship together. Me and Josh go hand-in-hand.”
Falling short in the regional finals to Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer last season gave Elyzee all the motivation he would need.
Elyzee guided Pines Charter to a 25-4 record despite a tough schedule and through some grueling playoff wins that came down to the wire.
“We hate losing,” Elyzee said. “We wanted to come into the season like dogs. This was our last year and we put everything on the line. After this there was nothing else.”
