March 18, 2024
Leesburg High School Football Stars Transfer to First Academy in Orlando
By Kyle Coppola
Leesburg High School Football Stars Transfer to First Academy in Orlando
Just a year after igniting Lake County with his athletic prowess, Evan James has transferred to The First Academy in Orlando. There, he reunites with former Leesburg teammates Demetrice McCray and quarterback Salomon Georges, as well as coaches who joined the program after last year’s historic run at Leesburg High, where the Yellow Jackets boasted a 10-2 record.
James led the Yellow Jackets in receiving with 649 total yards and 10 touchdowns offensively. He also stood out defensively, with two interceptions and a fumble recovery during the season.
Evan James also showcased his skills on the basketball court, leaving a void in Lake County. However, we extend our best wishes to him as he embarks on his journey at The First Academy in Orlando. James is the latest addition to TFA, following in the footsteps of fellow wide receiver Demetrice McCray, who racked up 637 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. McCray’s performance was stellar, and both players were a delight to watch.
With both McCray and James departing for TFA in Orlando, Leesburg faces the challenge of replacing the outgoing stars. Salomon Georges has also opted to transfer, leaving Leesburg seeking a replacement at the quarterback position. In fact Leesburg will be needing to replace most key offensive positions including some offensive lineman.
Among the departures defensively is Aden Hall, who anchored Leesburg’s defense last season with 74 tackles, including 2 sacks. Hall is receiving division 1 college offers and his athletic ability and no fear mentality will be missed. Izayia Williams has also elected to transfer to Tavares High School for 2024. This is a huge pickup for Tavares High. Williams has 7 division 1 offers and was actually committed to Louisville but decommitted recently as he evaluates his options. Williams plays Edge and will be a huge help for the Bulldogs in 2024.
While it’s unfortunate to lose players of this caliber, Leesburg can rely on the leadership of head coach Frank Scott, a pastor and coach who arrives at Leesburg after a successful tenure at Eustis High School, where he secured two consecutive district championships and FHSAA Playoff appearances for the Panthers.
Leesburg will need to fill crucial positions for the 2024 season, and the team is expected to undergo significant changes. Coach Scott has a track record of building successful programs, so it will be intriguing to see how Leesburg High adapts to this major transition in 2024.
This narrative reflects the dynamic nature of high school football in Florida. Coach Moffett played a pivotal role in Leesburg High’s recent success, with his coaching staff excelling at motivating players to excel. Many of these players chose to follow Coach Moffett to TFA in Orlando, showcasing the impact of strong coaching on player loyalty and performance.
(Lavoctris Patterson who many call by his nickname “Muscles” was a standout running back last year for Leesburg High. He looks poised to return next year.)
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.
