Meet the Forecast 14: The group of players, coaches and sports people that'll define West, Southwest Orange County sports

It’s no secret that sports are engraved into the fabric of the West Orange and Southwest Orange County communities. 

From thriving youth sports teams and leagues, to championship-level high school teams, to elite-level club sports organizations and even some professional sports, this section of Central Florida is one of the best sports communities in the country.  

To celebrate this area’s tremendous leagues, teams, coaches and athletes the Orange Observer team is going to look ahead and highlight the 14 individuals that could make their mark on the sports landscape in 2024. 

Here is the inaugural class of the Forecast 14. 

Editor’s Note: Individuals are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Statistics were compiled from online data.

Brandon Bass Jr.

Windermere Prep boys basketball, wing

Bass, a four-star prospect with offers from some of the best college basketball programs in the country, led the Lakers to the 2022-23 FHSAA Class 3A state championship game as just a freshman. The son of former NBA player Brandon Bass, Bass Jr. finished last season with an average of 17.4 points per game and was named the Class 3A, District 11 player of the year. 

So far in the first half of the 23-24 season, Bass has shown improvement on both ends of the floor and continued to lead the Lakers in points (18.7 a game). With the return of fellow high-level recruit Sinan Huan and other key additions to the team, Windermere Prep has a legitimate chance to win a state title in 2024 with Bass leading the way. 

Olivia Cadiz

Dr. Phillips flag football, quarterback

Cadiz, an Ottawa University signee and U.S. Army Bowl All-American, has almost gotten used to breaking records and barriers these past few years as the first female quarterback in Dr. Phillips football history and as a star QB on DP’s flag football team too. 

This upcoming spring season, Cadiz will look to again star on the field for the Panthers’ flag football team before she heads to play in college for the winners of three consecutive NAIA national championships. 

Emilie Ching

Windermere softball, shortstop

The senior shortstop was the best bat and vital fielder for the 2023 Wolverines team that was a Class 7A region finalist. From the plate, Ching hit for an average of .468 with 11 home runs and 32 runs batted in, to go along with her 30 runs scored. 

With this kind of production, it’s no wonder Ching will be playing at the next level — she has signed to play for Florida Atlantic University next season. Expect Windermere to once again be in a prime position to compete for a state championship with Ching leading the way. 

Shawn Coultoff

West Orange boys golf, golfer

Coultoff finished the 2023 club golf season as the American Junior Golf Association’s highest-ranked 2025 boys golfer in the state, as well as the 86th-ranked golfer in the country across all junior age categories. That’s no shock, considering his three top-10 finishes on the AJGA circuit this season. 

Expect the FSU commit to continue his climb on the club scene and in high school for the West Orange Warriors in 2024. Given his performance, Coultoff could certainly make a run for the individual state championship this season. 

Brian Davis

Brian Davis Golf Academy, owner and coach

The former PGA pro with 28 top-10 finishes and 385 events played since joining the tour in 2005 is partnering with the historic Stoneybrook West Golf Club, which re-opened this past summer, to open a golf academy that will look to serve the West Orange and Southwest Orange County communities. 

With Davis’ vast experience as a pro and the club’s re-emergence as a Winter Garden staple, this academy — which has partnered with West Orange High’s golf teams — has the chance to establish itself as one of the most important athletic hubs in the area this year, and Davis being at the helm is a big reason that could happen. 

Ryan Erisman

Windermere boys swimming, swimmer

Erisman, a rising senior, is a  University of California — Berkeley commit who won two individual FHSAA state championships and was part of a state title-winning relay team in 2023. He also represented the United States and brought home the gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle relay at the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Israel. 

Expect more gold medals in 2024 from the future Cal Golden Bear. 

Cannon Feazell 

Windermere baseball, pitcher

The 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher — with the perfect name for a pitcher, Cannon — was un-hittable from the mound last year for a Wolverines team that finished with a 25-4-1 record and reached the Class 7A region finals. 

In 57 innings pitched as Windermere’s ace, he had an ERA of 1.35 with 44 strikeouts. Expect more of the same in 2024 from the Clemson commit with key players expecting to return around him. 

Brian Hoff 

Windermere Prep boys basketball. coach

Over the past six seasons as Lakers’ coach, Hoff has built Windermere Prep into one of the best boys basketball programs in the state, leading the Lakers to an overall record of 105-46 — as of Dec. 29, 2023 — and an appearance in the 2023 Class 3A state championship game.  

The former FSU basketball player not only led the Lakers to wins on the court, but also he is helping his players get to the next level. See Bass Jr.’s entry on this list or go check out Huan’s recruiting buzz or Samuel Shoptaw’s offers. 

When you combine the wins with the recruiting buzz around his players, the high-level teams/tournaments they are playing and the resources, academics and advantages the preparatory school has, you can see Hoff is on the precipice of leading Windermere Prep’s establishment as the premier basketball program in the area. 

The one thing that’s missing is that state title, and if 2023 is any indication, it may be on its way to Windermere Prep in 2024. 

Mi Li

The First Academy girls golf, player

Li has been one of the most dominant athletes in the state, regardless of sport, over the past couple of years. The rising senior has won back-to-back individual girls golf state championships while leading The First Academy to a fourth-team state title in a six-year span as a sophomore and to a runner-up finish in 2023. 

Along with her success on the high school circuit, she also has been making a name for herself on the club scene. Currently, she is ranked 32nd in the AJGA rankings with six top-10 finishes in 2023. 

Her dominance on the course this past year earned her the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Golf Award. 

But looking beyond what she accomplished in 2023, Li can make history in 2024. 

With two state titles to her name, she is currently one title away from not only completing the first three-peat since 2005, but she would also end her high school career as the joint leader for the most individual girls golf state championships in Florida history. 

Michael McClenton

Ocoee football, linebacker

After making the move from Lake Mary High — where he recorded 96 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks as a freshman — to Ocoee High, McClenton continued to show why he was the most disruptive force in the area. 

The 2023 All-Orange Observer Player of the Year recorded the most absurd stat line of any other player in the area, breaking the Ocoee record for tackles with 202, TFLs with 45 and sacks with 31. He also added three forced fumbles and a blocked field goal for good measure. 

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound rising junior linebacker, who plays all over the Knights’ defensive front, has everything it takes to repeat this kind of performance in 2024 and cement himself as one of the state’s top recruits.

Alyssa Parsons

Windermere Prep girls soccer, forward

After scoring 35 goals and assisting 11 more as a freshman for Apopka High last season, Parsons is leading the line for Windermere Prep for the 2023-24 season. Early on in her time as a Laker, she has picked up where she left off with the Blue Darters, through six games Parsons has scored 20 goals. 

Beyond her success at Windermere Prep, Parsons is also making waves on a national scale as she was called up to a U15 USA Women’s Youth National Team camp in 2023. 

Expect the sophomore striker to continue to establish herself on the pitch like this in 2024.

Lou Romao

Windermere boys soccer, coach

After 13 seasons as a coach for Olympia High, Romao left to take over one of the most talented teams in the area, Windermere High. So far in the 2023-24 season, he has the Wolverines flying. 

With only one loss to its name — that came after a 3-3 draw against Horizon High went to penalty kicks — the 10-1 Wolverines are primed to go on a deep run this season after losing in the region semifinals in 2022-23.

Romao’s wing-dependent and possession-heavy scheme that utilizes Windermere’s most productive players — seniors Jose Moyetones and Arthur Cavalcanti and junior Kaike Maia — the talent and coach combo has shown to be championships-worthy.

Romao’s successful track record of building a consistent winner along with Windermere’s talent-rich area could see this young program become the pinnacle of local boys soccer.

Ivan Taylor

West Orange football, defensive back

A Notre Dame signee, the rising senior defensive back and son of Super Bowl champion Ike Taylor, Ivan Taylor is not only a four-star prospect, the 62nd-ranked player in the nation and the ninth-ranked prospect in Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite for the Class of 2025, he is also the leader of one of the best returning defensive back groups in the area.

With Taylor leading the way for the Warriors’ defense, and a host of returners throughout the roster, expect Taylor and West Orange High to leave a significant imprint on the 2024 sports landscape. 

Trinity Turner

Dr. Phillips girls basketball, Guard

A four-year varsity starter and Georgia commit, Turner has the chance to lead the Panthers to a third-consecutive Class 7A state championship and establish herself as the best girls basketball player in Dr. Phillips history in 2024.

The senior guard came into the 2023-24 season with nearly 1,500 points scored, as the 2022-23 MaxPreps Florida Player of the Year, the runner-up for the 22-23 Miss Basketball award all while averaging 20.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 4.6 steals per game on the way to DP’s second consecutive state title. 

So far in the 23-24 season, Turner and the Panthers are continuing their winning ways with an 11-4 record — with three of the four losses coming to out-of-state teams. Expect Turner to be leading DP deep into the playoffs yet again in 2024.