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Sophomore Scores During His First Year

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Sophomore Evan Locke is a member of the boys varsity basketball team at Lennard High School. He averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game during his first season as a Longhorn.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 10, 2008

RUSKIN - Evan Locke has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember.

"Basketball's got a good flow to it other sports don't have, but it also has a little bit of contact," Locke said. "I love everything about it."

Since moving to Ruskin almost a year ago, Locke has brought his game to Lennard High School's growing basketball program.

This past season the sophomore guard averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.

The team, in its second season of varsity competition, had a record of 3-23.

"I think we had a decent season," Locke said. "The record doesn't show it, but we hung in a couple of games people were expecting us to get blown out in."

Head coach Joe Willis said Locke was one of the team's bright spots.

"He's one of the best players on the team, and he's also a 'yes, sir,' 'no ma'am' kind of guy," Willis said. "I never have to worry about him, and we're really fortunate to have him in our area for the next couple of years."

Locke was born in Jasper, and moved to Ruskin before the fall semester.

His success at Lennard extends beyond basketball.

He has a 3.6 unweighted grade-point average, and plans to study business or sports marketing in college.

However, his dream scenario involves a basketball career beyond high school.

"I'm hoping to get a basketball scholarship, and I would love to play college ball for a school like the University of Florida, Duke University or University of North Carolina," Locke said. "I know it's going to be a lot of hard work."

Fortunately, Locke has access to the blueprint for a professional basketball career. His cousin, Marques Daniels, is a guard for the National Basketball Association's Indiana Pacers.

Locke said he hasn't tried out for other sports at Lennard because he doesn't want anything to deter him from his hoop dreams.

"My main focus right now is doing well in school and getting better as a basketball player and making sure our team has a better record next year," Locke said.

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Evan Locke

AGE: 16

SCHOOL: Lennard High School

GRADE: 10th

SPORTS: Basketball

FUTURE PLANS: Wants to attend the University of Florida, University of North Carolina or Duke to play basketball and study business or sports marketing

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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