Forty seven years ago, Leesburg High School secured their first-ever state championship in basketball. That 1977 team was led by players like Ed Chapman, Bo Peeples, and Johnny Williams.

Only one school in Lake County had ever won a boys’ state basketball championship before this team. That program was Mount Dora Bible, now known as Mount Dora Christian Academy, which won the state championship in 1961.

Let’s not forget about the Wildwood boys’ team, who won in 1953 in Sumter County. So, if you count both Lake and Sumter County, there had been two state championship boys’ teams up until 1977 when Leesburg High shocked the state of Florida.

Leesburg High came into 1977 hungry to win after losing the 1976 Class 3A Regional Final to Titusville Astronaut 68-66. Safe to say, this team entered 1977 with every intention of making a run at the championship.

By the time the Regionals rolled around, Leesburg beat their rival Titusville Astronaut 75-69, avenging the loss in 1976 and advancing to the Class 3A sectionals. Leesburg went on to win 68-53 against Clay County, advancing to the State Semifinals where they beat Tampa Jesuit 51-36.

Advancing to the 1977 State Championship Class 3A game, Leesburg faced Marianna. Leesburg played like they had all year and claimed a 71-51 victory. While the team celebrated their victory on the floor, that’s about the only celebration they had. No fanfare greeted the 1977 team upon their arrival back in Lake County.

For years, people knew that this team had won, but nothing was really done to celebrate them. No parades through the city, barely any recognition at school other than a banner in the gym. That changed a few years ago when the 1977 team was honored during a parade celebrating the 2017 State Championship-winning basketball team. In an article written by the Daily Commercial’s Frank Jolley, which is a great read and I will link the story here if you want to take a look, the 2017 Class 6A team also honored the 1977 team, who finally received their due recognition with a championship parade in downtown Leesburg.

The 1977 Leesburg State Championship Basketball team set forth what was to come in the years that followed. Teams like Mount Dora in 1998, Wildwood’s girls’ team in 2017, The Villages State Runner-Up team in 2023, Eustis, and others have all put Lake and Sumter County on the map as a basketball destination.

NBA players like Charlotte Hornets’ Tre Mann from The Villages and Sacramento Kings’ Keon Ellis, who played at Leesburg High and Eustis High, represent all the hard work that teams like the 1977 group had in impacting the sport and helping it grow in our area.

I wanted to make sure that no one forgot about this team, what they represented, and why it doesn’t matter if they won in 1977 or 2024. These players ignited something within the community that has grown to levels never previously seen. We have young men and women going to play NCAA Division 1 basketball, with a few earning the opportunity to play professionally. That is a wonderful thing.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of this historic win in 2027, I want people to understand just how important historic teams like the 1977 Leesburg High Basketball Program are to the growing success of our community.

They may have won 47 years ago, but people still talk about it. I want to make sure we never forget our historic past. Leesburg High School Basketball is now coached by Sean Campbell, a two-time state champion. The future is bright for this program. Enhancements have been made to the gym in recent years, and the program is in great shape.