LaRosa's MVP of the Week - Cincinnati High School Sports

Ben Southerland - LAROSA'S MVP FEATURED ATHLETE

NAME: Ben Southerland
SCHOOL: Sycamore High School
SPORT(S): Basketball
GRADUATING YEAR: 2022
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: "My college paid for through basketball."
BIRTHDATE: 4/26/2003
HEIGHT: 6'7"-195 lbs.
FATHER: Tim & Kim
BIGGEST INFLUENCE: "Yusuf, a friend who passed away."
FUTURE GOAL: "Play in March Madness," play professional basketball."

Sycamore senior Ben Southerland was one of the top basketball players in the always-tough GMC this season. He holds the school record for most points scored in a game (41 points vs. Colerain) and most three-pointers made in a season (56).

Entering his senior year, Ben was coming off a fine junior campaign when he averaged 17.3 points a game (fourth in the GMC) as well as 5.5 rebounds per game He was named first-team all-GMC, honorable mention all-city and was named to the all-Southwest Ohio District and all-state teams.

He had a good senior season, too, for the GMC co-champs and district runners-up. He was third in the GMC in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game. He scored 25 points vs. Bradenton Christian FL, 22 points vs. Princeton, 22 points vs. Middletown and 21 points vs. both Kings and Lakota West. He was named first-team all-GMC for the second straight year, first-team all-city (Enquirer) and honorable mention all-Ohio.

An academic honor roll student who is active in community service, Ben will play basketball at the next level, at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He also plays for the Midwest Basketball Club team. His favorite athlete and most-like-to-meet is Michael Jordan, favorite entertainer is Will Ferrell, favorite book is The Blind Side, and favorite movie is Spiderman - No Way Home.

COACH'S QUOTE – "Ben Southerland is a competitor; he is self-driven and confident in his abilities and holds himself to a very high standard of excellence."
— Tim Austin, Varsity Basketball Coach

LAROSA'S 2020-2021 MVPs

	NAME: K.K. Mathis WINNER ANNOUNCED: May 3 SCHOOL: Lakota West High School SPORT(S): Softball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Hitting a home run in the 2021 PGF National Championship CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Mitchell Rylee WINNER ANNOUNCED: April 26 SCHOOL: Covington Catholic High School SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Committed to play at Miami University, OH. CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Ella Jo Piersma WINNER ANNOUNCED: April 19 SCHOOL: Seven Hills School SPORT(S): Swimming GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: USA Today Swimmer of the Year CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Logan Woods WINNER ANNOUNCED: April 12 SCHOOL: Fairfield High School SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Earning a Div. I basketball scholarship CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Sarah Zimmerman WINNER ANNOUNCED: April 5 SCHOOL: Cincinnati Country Day SPORT(S): Basketball-Soccer GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Back-to-back state championships CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Isaac Thornton WINNER ANNOUNCED: March 22 SCHOOL: Walton-Verona High School SPORT(S): Wrestling GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Wrestle for the USA World Team CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Leah Riley WINNER ANNOUNCED: March 22 SCHOOL: Sycamore High School SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: "Being a good aunt to my nephew Cody and becoming the fourth 1,000-point girls' scorer in school history." CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Paul McMillan WINNER ANNOUNCED: March 15 SCHOOL: Woodward High School SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Committing to play college basketball CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Ella Riggs WINNER ANNOUNCED: March 8 SCHOOL: Indian Hill High School SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Committing to play college basketball CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Noah Duke WINNER ANNOUNCED: March 1 SCHOOL: Ryle High School SPORT(S): Wrestling GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: "Pinning my way through the state tournament with a broken hand, including pinning the two-time returning state champ in 36 seconds." CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Abbey McNally WINNER ANNOUNCED: February 22 SCHOOL: Colerain High School SPORT(S): Basketball-Volleyball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Have a successful career, travel the world CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Cole Thomas WINNER ANNOUNCED: February 15 SCHOOL: Ryle High School SPORT(S): Wrestling GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Winning three state titles; getting college scholarship to wrestle at the U. of Tennessee Chattanooga. CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: K.K. Bransford WINNER ANNOUNCED: February 8 SCHOOL: Mount Notre Dame SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Making Team USA; inducted into National Honor Society CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Carl Bloebaum WINNER ANNOUNCED: February 1 SCHOOL: Mason High School SPORT(S): Swimming GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Qualifying for USA National Junior swim team CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Lacey Bradshaw WINNER ANNOUNCED: January 25 SCHOOL: Notre Dame Academy SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Committing to play Div. I basketball at Morehead State U. CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Evan Mahaffey WINNER ANNOUNCED: January 18 SCHOOL: Moeller High School SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Deborah Davenport WINNER ANNOUNCED: January 11 SCHOOL: Woodward High School SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Scoring a school-record 47 points in a game CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Charles Kellom WINNER ANNOUNCED: January 4 SCHOOL: St. Xavier High School SPORT(S): Football GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2020 football state champions CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Chance Gray WINNER ANNOUNCED: December 28 SCHOOL: Winton Woods High School SPORT(S): Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Earning basketball scholarship to U. of Oregon CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Rylan Wotherspoon WINNER ANNOUNCED: December 21 SCHOOL: Cooper High School SPORT(S): Golf GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Kentucky Mr. Golf & making Rolex All-American team CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Sophie Roebel WINNER ANNOUNCED: December 14 SCHOOL: Seton High School SPORT(S): Soccer GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Winning District title sophomore year CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Eli Franke WINNER ANNOUNCED: December 7 SCHOOL: St. Xavier High School SPORT(S): Water Polo GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Participating as a Paralympic swimmer CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Lucy Trump WINNER ANNOUNCED: November 30 SCHOOL: Ryle High School SPORT(S): Volleyball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Committing to Notre Dame at age 14 to play volleyball CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Tegra Tshabola WINNER ANNOUNCED: November 23 SCHOOL: Lakota West High School SPORT(S): Football GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Still to come. CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Kathryn Shaffer WINNER ANNOUNCED: November 16 SCHOOL: Summit Country Day SPORT(S): Soccer-Swimming GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Successful athletic and academic career CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Ben Hambleton WINNER ANNOUNCED: November 9 SCHOOL: Elder High School SPORT(S): Football GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Playing on state runner-up football team CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Jada Moorman WINNER ANNOUNCED: November 2 SCHOOL: Cincinnati Country Day SPORT(S): Soccer GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Scoring winning goal in state championship game CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Jyaire Brown WINNER ANNOUNCED: October 26 SCHOOL: Lakota West High School SPORT(S): Football GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Moving to Ohio, committing to Ohio State CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Macie Feldman WINNER ANNOUNCED: October 19 SCHOOL: Notre Dame Academy SPORT(S): Soccer-Basketball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Competing in U.S. Soccer Development Academy and Nike Elite Youth Basketball League at the highest levels; being offered to play Div. I basketball CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Josh Kattus WINNER ANNOUNCED: October 12 SCHOOL: Moeller High School SPORT(S): Football GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: First team all-state as a junior CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Cammy Niesen WINNER ANNOUNCED: October 5 SCHOOL: Roger Bacon High School SPORT(S): Volleyball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: "Committing to be a student-athlete in college." CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Drew Ramsey WINNER ANNOUNCED: September 28 SCHOOL: Elder High School SPORT(S): Football GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: GCL South Co-Player of the Year CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Chloe Bramble WINNER ANNOUNCED: September 21 SCHOOL: Highlands High School SPORT(S): Soccer GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 3x regional champs; 2x state runners-up CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Gi'Bran Payne WINNER ANNOUNCED: September 14 SCHOOL: La Salle High School SPORT(S): Football-Track GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Winning a state championship CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Carly Hendrickson WINNER ANNOUNCED: September 7 SCHOOL: Mount Notre Dame SPORT(S): Volleyball GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: "Winning a state championship my junior year." CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

	NAME: Brogan McCaughey WINNER ANNOUNCED: August 31 SCHOOL: St. Xavier High School SPORT(S): Football GRADUATING YEAR: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Play college football CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY