North Carolina Commit Berry Wins State Title

By JACK LeGWIN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

LAKELAND, Fla. —  After losing in the Florida 4A state championship game to Pine Crest in 2012, Joel Berry finally accomplished what he came to Lakeland to do.

Win it all.

The North Carolina-bound point guard led Apopka (Fla.) Lake Highland Prep to a 67-50 win over St. Andrew’s School in the 4A State Championship game on Thursday night.

Berry, who last year became the first sophomore to be selected Mr. Basketball in Florida, tallied 21 points, and was named the Under Armour Player of the Game. There is a strong chance he could be elected Mr. Basketball for the second straight year.

“There is nothing better than winning a state championship with my teammates,” Berry said. “Winning the state championship this year, after losing it last year, means much more to me than winning Mr. Basketball. If it happens, and I do win it, it’s a blessing, because it shows people how hard I work, but if I don’t win it, life still goes on.”