May 28, 2025
South Sumter’s Malakhi Boone named Lake & Sumter Style’s 2025 Boys Student-Athlete of the Year
By Kyle Coppola
South Sumter’s Malakhi Boone named Lake & Sumter Style’s 2025 Boys Student-Athlete of the Year
BUSHNELL, Fla. — South Sumter High School’s Malakhi Boone has been named Lake & Sumter Style Magazine’s 2025 Boys Student-Athlete of the Year, capping off an amazing senior season that showcased his dominance on the field, at the plate, and in the classroom.
Boone, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound multi-sport standout, is committed to the University of Central Florida to play both football and baseball. His senior year performance backed up the hype with eye-popping numbers and leadership that powered the Raiders across both seasons.
(Boone could play offense or defense but as a linebacker, Boone was one of the best in Florida committing to UCF for the 2025 football season. Photo Credit – Nicole Hamel.)
On the gridiron, Boone was a relentless force at linebacker. He tallied 114 total tackles, including 18 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles during the 2024 campaign. He also contributed on offense, scoring 14 career touchdowns and racking up 881 all-purpose yards. But defense remained his calling card.
Boone closes out his high school football career with staggering totals: 408 tackles, 79 tackles for loss, 27 sacks, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. It’s a resume that has not doubt solidified him as one of the most feared defenders in Florida high school football.
“Malakhi’s impact on the field is undeniable,” said South Sumter head coach Ty Lawrence. “But what sets him apart is his work ethic and character. He’s the total package.” Lawrence said during a recent signing ceremony.
(Boone was one of the top players in FHSAA Class 3A this season. Ranked at the top of most categories. Photo Credit – Kyle Coppola.)
On the baseball diamond, Boone was just as dominant. He helped lead South Sumter to the FHSAA Class 3A Regional Semifinals and a 23-6 record, finishing the season ranked No. 92 in Florida. He posted a .422 batting average with 35 hits, 38 RBIs, 35 runs scored, and 11 home runs — leading Class 3A District 7 in homers and ranking eighth in the state. His .569 on-base percentage also topped the district.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Boone maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. We love to see the commitment to excellence in the classroom and between balancing all his sports and academics Boone is the classic example of what a student-athlete can and should be.
Malakhi leads by example, balances a demanding schedule, and always puts his team and school first. This young man has so much potential be it in Football or Baseball to be great.
(Though his career has set on South Sumter, Tradition Never Graduates. This young man will be fun to watch the next few years at UCF.)
With his sights now set on UCF, Boone will enter the next chapter of his athletic and academic journey with high expectations and the proven ability to exceed them. We are so proud of this young man and are very excited to watch his journey continue at the next level! Go Malakhi!
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.
