December 2, 2024
Senior Star’s Leadership Shines as Villages Girls Basketball Team Hunts Championship
By Kyle Coppola
Senior Star’s Leadership Shines as Villages Girls Basketball Team Hunts Championship
Zion McRae
As Zion McRae enters her senior year at The Villages High School, the standout girls basketball player is focused on leading her team to a state championship and reaching a career milestone of 2,000 points.
“I’ve been working toward this moment for years,” Zion says. “Winning a state championship would mean everything, not just to me, but to my teammates who’ve been grinding alongside me.”
Zion has already amassed over 1,200 career points, but her contributions extend beyond offense. Last season, she recorded 100 steals, making her one of the top two-way players in Lake County.
“I just put the hard work in, even when no one’s watching,” Zion says. “It’s all about giving it your all every time you step on the court.”
Zion, a four-year varsity player, has been a dominant force on the court since she first picked up a basketball in sixth grade.
Zion is a leader off the court as well. Younger players frequently seek her out for advice, something she embraces.
“My teammates mean the world to me,” she says. “I always make sure I’m available for anyone who needs advice. It’s important that we’re all on the same page.”
Zion’s leadership and success have not gone unnoticed by college recruiters. She has received offers from Santa Fe College and Fort Lauderdale, where she hopes to continue her basketball career while studying sports management.
“I just love the purity of athletics and watching talented people perform,” she says. “If I can one day give back to the game I love, that’s important to me.”
Zion’s coach, Quez Porter, plays a pivotal role in her basketball journey as her head coach.
Despite the unique challenges of coaching his stepdaughter, Porter appreciates the player and person Zion has become.
“She’s a great kid and a lot of fun to coach,” Porter says. “We have an interesting dynamic, but we separate basketball and home life well. I’m incredibly proud of her.”
Zion is equally grateful for the support of her mother, Charity.
“My mom has always told me I can do anything I set my mind to, and basketball is one of those things,” Zion says. “She’s given me everything I need to succeed.”
As Zion approaches her final season, she reflects on her favorite basketball memory — one not related to her own accomplishments but to her stepfather’s. “Watching my (step) dad break the record for all-time wins at The Villages last season was incredible,” she says. “It’s usually about the players but seeing him get the recognition he deserved was a great moment.”
Porter surpassed former coach Rick Corley’s record with his 55th win last season, setting a new milestone.
The Villages girls basketball team looks primed for a great season, and Zion’s final chapter promises to be a thrilling one.
Photos: Nicole Hamel
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
