"It was definitely special...When I first heard about it, they asked me to do it and it was just an automatic yes. I've gotten to know Cooper [Flagg] a little bit at Jayson's [Tatum] camp and then I came to a Montverde game earlier in the year. Its just been awesome following his journey and to present him with an award like this, it's dope for him and also myself."

- Paolo Banchero

Orlando Magic Forward and NBA All-Star

Around The Horn.

• Cooper Flagg, a basketball forward at local Montverde Academy, has been awarded the 2023-24 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award for being the best high school player in the country. Flagg was presented the trophy after his practice concluded Tuesday by Orlando Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero. Flagg is committed to play next year at Duke University, where Banchero played for one year before turning pro.
• The Orlando Magic are currently (42-30) and sit in the fifth seed of the Eastern Conference with 10 games remaining in the regular season. The Magic are just 1.5 games back from the fourth seed, which would guarantee home-court advantage in the first round of playoffs. Orlando will look to capitalize tomorrow night when they host the Los Angeles Clippers at 7pm.
• The Osceola Magic, led by first-year coach Dylan Murphy, are (21-10) and sit atop the Eastern Conference of the NBA G League. They recently clinched a playoff berth by winning 7 of their last 10 games, and have their eyes set on winning the championship. Osceola has the second-highest scoring offense in the league, averaging 119.2 points per game and having four players average in double digits.
• Florida pro Mikey Keyso won the Major League Fishing Toyota Series last weekend at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. Keyso built on a huge Day 2 to capture his first win at this event after three previous runner-up finishes. Keyso totaled 51lbs, 4oz for the win and pocketed $44,000 in prize money, in addition to qualifying for the Toyota Series Championship this fall.
• UCF men's football has announced they will play their annual spring football game at FBC Mortgage Stadium on April 12 at 7pm. The game will feature a skills challenge and fan participation opportunities, including postgame field access. The game will once again be the Knights vs. Nauts, and general admission to the event is free.
• The Orlando City Lions have earned their first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Austin FC on Saturday. The Lions (1-3-1) have struggled so far this season, with only two goals scored in four matches leading up to the win. Orlando City will look to continue their winning ways as they host the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, March 31 at Inter&Co Stadium.
• The Orlando Pride earned a 1-1 draw against Angel City FC in their NWSL home opener last Friday. Orlando (0-0-2) refused to back down, pressing hard for an equalizer delivered by Marta off a corner kick in the 88' minute. The Pride now look ahead to tomorrow as they host the Chicago Red Stars at 7pm at Inter&Co Stadium.
• Join the Orlando Solar Bears for Thirsty Thursday tonight as they host the Jacksonville Icemen at the AdventHealth Rink in the Kia Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm, and tickets can be purchased here.
• The Orlando Valkyries continue their road trip as they are scheduled to play tomorrow at Nationwide Arena against the Columbus Fury at 7pm. Click here for the link to YouTube where you can watch the game tonight! The Valkyries (5-8) will return to Addition Financial Arena on Thursday, April 11 to face the Grand Rapids Rise.
• March Madness continues as the first matchups of the Sweet 16 begin today, ranging from 7:09pm to 10:09pm. The following four matchups will be played tomorrow, March 29, in the same time-frame. The teams who win and advance to the Elite 8 will play this weekend, March 30-31.

Be a part of the magic of runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend. As a volunteer, you’d be supporting the runDisney® athletes and the presence of Make-A-Wish® Central & Northern Florida at Walt Disney World® Resort.

To register click HERE.

In The News.

• Breeze Airways will soon add flights to three more destinations from Orlando International Airport, continuing their recent growth in the market. The Utah-based low-cost airline will add two flights per week to Bangor, Maine; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Lansing, Michigan. Breeze now has a total of nine flights starting from Orlando in the next seven months, and will offer 26 destinations from the airport.
• More than 4,400 acres of land in Osceola and Seminole counties are now off-limits for future development. Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved more than $193 million worth of land conservation deals through the Florida Forever program. Both parties also approved of more than $25 million worth of conservation easements through the state's Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
• The 298-bed AdventHealth Waterman will spend nearly $3 million renovating and nearly doubling in its Inpatient Rehabilitation Center. The Altamonte Springs-based nonprofit health system's unit, which focuses on patients recovering from conditions like strokes, heart attacks, loss of a limb, or a spinal cord injury, and they have plans to complete the unit this summer.
• Lake-Sumter State College will soon begin construction on a new workforce training complex in Eustis. They plan to build a Commercial Driver's License and Power Line Workers Training Course which would include an asphalt pad, a 5,567-square-foot classroom building and a 2,535-square-foot area for storage, as well as an outdoor area to have line truck inspections and a patio. The plan would allow the college to double its current number of students in those two programs, which is currently only offered in Sumter County.
• Brightline will soon add additional passenger train cars for its trips between Orlando and Miami. 20 train coaches have been ordered so far, and are expected to arrive in mid-to-late 2024. Since launching Orlando service in September 2023, Brightline has increased from six round trips per day to 16 as of December.
• A large-scale preliminary site plan for a new luxury hotel was approved unanimously in a recent Ocoee City Commission's meeting. Orlando-based Maguire Holding Group LLC is behind plans to build a 117-room Cambria hotel in the fast-growing west Orange County suburb of Ocoee. As outlined in city documents, the project would be six stories in height and have a 1,500-square-foot restaurant on the sixth floor. The site plan also includes a pool, a rain garden area and 108 parking spaces.
• The Maitland Public Library will undergo a $19 million renovation for an entirely new 20,000-square-foot facility that would comply with current building codes and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Voters approved of a $14 million bond referendum earlier this week with a 62% favoring vote, and the other $5 million will come from the city. Maitland city officials state they hope the library will be open to the public in 3-4 years.

Stay Engaged.

• Walt Disney World has announced a handful of different developments for summer of '24, including the removal of the final construction wall for the long-running transformation of Epcot. Behind the construction wall is CommuniCore Hall, which features new projects like Remy's Ratatouille Adventure ride, Guardians of the Galaxy indoor rollercoaster, and Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, a walk-through attraction. CommuniCore Hall is expected to open on June 10 and is adjacent to the new World Celebration Gardens.
• Children 12 years old and younger are invited to scramble for thousands of Easter eggs filled with candy, prizes, and more at the Ocoee Easter Extravaganza. There will be pictures with the Easter Bunny and activities such as a game truck, bungee jump, rock climbing wall, train rides, balloon artist, face painting, and more. The event runs from 11:30am - 2pm on Saturday, March 30 and admission is free.
• Experience Baldwin Park's best food, wine, and live music at the Taste of Baldwin Park Festival under the stars next week on Thursday, April 4. The festival will go from 5:30-9:30pm, and your ticket purchase includes unlimited food, drinks, wine, and music. Tickets range from $70-$340 and are selling fast!
• Universal Studios continues their Mardi Gras festivities and parade through April 7 of this year, so don't miss out! The famous parade features six new floats this year, and there are plenty of international and New-Orleans themed food and drinks for everyone to choose from. The parade is included with your Universal Studios admission ticket, and the food and beverage are available for purchase.
• Walt Disney World is replacing and upgrading all 365 cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, a project that should be completed by March of next year. The existing cabins have been in place since 1999 and are manufactured homes on wheels. They will be replaced with permanent structures that are the same size, 504 feet, and the first trailers will be rolled out this week. The replacement cabins will be Disney Vacation Club Properties, and the average price has been around $500 per night.
• Legoland Florida Resort is entering the spring season with a new kids ticket offer for $29. The deal can include both the Winter Haven theme park, along with its attached water park and the Peppa Pig Theme Park located next door. The $29 deal is valid from now until June 14, and can only be obtained with the purchase of one adult ticket. Children must be between the ages of 2-12 to qualify for the offer.
• SeaWorld Orlando has added more names to the concert lineup of its ongoing Seven Seas Food Festival to join a long list of performers who have already been announced. Among the fresh names are popular singers Gavin DeGraw and Jason Derulo, who have concert dates set for April 20-21. The concerts take place at the theme park's Bayside Stadium and are included with your park admission.
• Florida residents can save up to $65 on select multi-day tickets at Universal Orlando theme parks when buying online. Click here for current offers.
• Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.

In The Community.

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik spoke at the WISE Power Play Panel event yesterday, pictured with GO Sports Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth), April Michael (City of Orlando), Kim Bruno (Track Shack), and Lt. Elizabeth Woodyard (Orlando PD).

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel pictured with GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Robert Agrusa (CEO, CFHLA) at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon reception earlier this week.

GO Sports Senior VP Michael Kalinich and Associate VP Chase DeMayo attended the Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors game last night, pictured with GO Sports board member Josh McCoy (SouthState Bank).

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Brent Nelson attended the CFHLA Downtown Hoteliers Luncheon, pictured with Robert Agrusa (CEO, CFHLA) and GO Sports board member Benjamin McCarney (Grand Bohemian).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the Orlando Pride home opener this week, pictured with Jeff Hayward (Heart of Florida United Way), Beth Hobart (Mainframe Real Estate), Rose DiDonato, and GO Sports board members Anne Marie Hayward (Orlando Business Journal), and Lisa Curran (Duke Energy).

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel and his wife Sarah Grafton presented a check on behalf of the Grafton Family Foundation to One Heart for Women + Children, donating proceeds from the Winter Park Fashion Week event.

GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen and his wife Jill Cohen (The LifeBoat Project) attended The LifeBoat Project 'Making Waves' Luncheon, pictured with Commissioner Bob Dallari (Seminole County), Commissioner Lee Constantine (Seminole County), and Barry Cotton (Senator Rick Scott's office).

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel, Executive VP Jennifer Lastik, and Senior VP Brent Nelson met with Craig Damon (FHSAA) about future partnership opportunities.

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel, CFO Gary Cohen, and Senior VPs Michael Kalinich and Brent Nelson pictured with Frank Fry (Embassy Suites) at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials - Marathon reception earlier this week.

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel attended the Manchester City vs. FC Barcelona Orlando match announcement, pictured with Commissioner Mayra Uribe (Orange County), GO Sports Chair Elect Caesar Lopez (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride), and board members Craig Borkon (Orlando Venues), and Ricardo Villar (Florida Cup).

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

For more information, visit 11thhourbiz.com.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

• What's Happening: Osceola County Things To Do
• What's Happening: Orange County Things To Do