Sagemont’s seniors step up to help secure shot at fourth consecutive state title
Sagemont seniors Kevin Thomas and David Nealy both know what it takes to win a state championship.
They just haven’t done it together…yet.
On Thursday afternoon, the two standout starters for Weston Sagemont Prep’s boys’ basketball team showed how impactful of a combination they can be on the court as they propelled the Lions to a 76-60 victory over Ocoee Central Florida Christian Academy in a Class 1A state semifinal at the University of North Florida Arena.
In what will be its fifth consecutive appearance in a state final, Sagemont (23-6) will try to win its fourth consecutive state title when it faces Lakeland Victory Christian in the 1A championship game at 5 on Saturday.
Sagemont is seeking its sixth state title overall, and a fourth championship in a row would match Fort Lauderdale Dillard for the longest title streak all-time by a Broward County school.
Thomas, a 6-6, 195-pound small forward, who has signed with LSU and is rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports, has won a pair of state titles with Sagemont during his career.
Nealy, a 6-3 guard, is in his first season with the Lions after transferring from Fort Lauderdale Stranahan where he won a state title last season in Class 4A.
Both have been a stabilizing force in tough spots this season for the Lions as they were again on Thursday.
“That’s what you want to see from your seniors once you get to this level,” Sagemont coach David Roe said.
After the underdog Eagles (23-7) hit three 3-pointers to duel Sagemont to a 19-19 stalemate after the first quarter, Thomas sparked a 13-1 surge for the Lions, which put them ahead for good.
He finished with a game-high 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range.
“Kevin is a leader and a momentum guy. He scores the ball, but he’s selfless and makes others better,” Roe said. “He was keeping us in it while we were figuring things out.”
Sagemont never seemed to be in any major jeopardy beyond halftime. But Nealy made sure Central Florida Christian would have no shot at a comeback by hitting four of his five 3-pointers in the second half.
“In the first half, I wasn’t able to get it going, but I knew I had to keep shooting with confidence,” Nealy said. “We started off slow, but we came together and brought it all together. I always just let the guys know, it’s about ‘next play, next possession.’”
Nealy totaled 26 points and shot 9 of 13 from the field.
“David is a winner. He comes in and works hard and doesn’t make excuses,” Roe said. “He’s a tough player and hits tough shots. At this level, you have to have a guy who’s not afraid to take the shot and can also make the shot. David is one of those kids.”
Roe also credited the efforts of 6-6 senior forward Obinna Ekufu in the paint while Sagemont found its footing in the first half. Ekufu was strong in the paint throughout the game, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.
“They came out and hit some tough shots early, but over the course of the game we knew it would work if we stuck with it,” Roe said. “They ran some good stuff that we had to adjust to, but Ekufu for us held it down, protecting the rim while we were figuring things out.”
Thomas said despite some roster turnover in the offseason, the Lions found their stride late in the season and players like Nealy are playing some of their best basketball down the stretch.
“We gained a lot of team chemistry over the season,” Thomas said. “David has made a huge impact and brought a lot of energy. It’s contagious for us and it’s great to have him here.”
This story was originally published March 5, 2026 at 6:20 PM.
