Reward for athletic achievement.
Regardless of the weather conditions, you’ll be able to see the stars tonight at the Ocean Center.
Oh, and basketball hall of famer Grant Hill will be there, too.
Hill is the celebrity guest, but the focus of The News-Journal’s third annual Best of Preps banquet will be more than 600 of the area’s finest high school athletes. Sponsored by Halifax Health, Daytona Hyundai, Jon Hall Chevrolet, and ICI Homes, the event honors the top male and female performers from Volusia and Flagler counties in 14 sports. Awards will be presented to the Outstanding Player of the Year in each sport, as well as Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, and Coach of the Year.
High school athletics is a vital part of our community, and the Best of Preps banquet is The News-Journal’s way of giving these athletes and their families a night to remember. It’s affirmation of all the hard work they’ve put in, and reward for their accomplishments.
The event is like a local version of the ESPYs, ESPN’s annual awards show for professional and collegiate athletes. It’s also the sports complement to the Medallions of Excellence, The News-Journal’s annual award to high school seniors with outstanding records of academic achievement, school activities, community service and leadership.
Each of the first two Best of Preps banquets attracted more than 1,500 attendees. Tim Tebow, the Heisman Trophy-winning University of Florida football legend, was the inaugural special guest in 2016. Last year, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2016, was the celebrity.
Tonight the Best of Preps welcomes Grant Hill, who won two NCAA men’s national basketball titles at Duke before playing 19 seasons in the NBA, where he was a seven-time All-Star. Since retiring after the 2012-13 season, Hill has become a basketball analyst for CBS and Turner Sports, as well as a venture capitalist.
In March, he was named to the Class of 2018 to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he will be inducted with 12 others on Sept. 7.
On the court, Hill filled highlight reels with his explosive athleticism and all-around skills. Off the court, he has endeared himself to fans with his intelligence and thoughtfulness. If there’s one word that has consistently described Hill the player and the man, it’s “classy.”
No doubt he will join his predecessors in providing words of wisdom for the teenage honorees. Tebow said: “The applause will stop and the trophies will rust. Take what you do and use it as a platform. Life is bigger than a game. Always remember that. ... Find people who believe in you and find somewhere where you can make a difference. In the end, that’s what really matters.”
Ryan counseled the audience: “Just enjoy the ride. I think sometimes we get so focused on taking the next step and doing the next thing. Sometimes we just forget to enjoy it.”
The Best of Preps athletes are invited to attend for free, and the event is open to family, friends and the general public. Tickets are still available. The $50 admission includes dinner, an awards ceremony, and a presentation by the special guest, Hill. Doors to the Ocean Center open at 6 p.m., and the event starts at 6:30 p.m.
Come out and join the celebration of athletic excellence.