The 2024-25 high school athletic season has been the subject for the first month of TCPalm’s Summer Celebration series.
Now, it’s time for a blast from the past.
Twenty-five years into the 2000s is an ideal time to take a look at the athletes that once regularly graced the Treasure Coast before exploding onto the national scene.
There’s been plenty of high-end talent that have honed their skills in this area, but these 11 are record-breakers, all-stars, hall-of-famers, National, Super Bowl and World Series champions.
We want to know who is the very best of the local elite from the past quarter century. And like the previous editions of this series, we put the power in your hands.
In the previous poll, Fort Pierce Central flag football Adrienne Rivera was voted the top girls athlete for the 2024-25 athletic calendar with 62.65 percent of the vote. This poll is set to close at 12 p.m. Friday.
*Note: Each other played at least one season for a St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River or Okeechobee County high school since 2000.
TCPalm Summer Celebration: Treasure Coast’s top athlete of the last 25 years
Michael Brantley, Fort Pierce Central
Graduated: 2005
Named TCPalm’s Player of the Year in 2005 … Batted .595 with 12 RBIs, 32 stolen bases and 22 runs scored while producing a 4-2 record on the mound with a 1.40 ERA and 42 strikeouts through 45 innings as a senior.
Committed to Clemson, but opted to go pro after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. … Following a trade in 2008, Brantley made his MLB debut with Cleveland on September 1, 2009. … Through 15 years, Brantley batted .298 with 129 home runs, and 720 RBI. … Finished third in AL MVP voting, won a Silver Slugger award and made the first of five All-Star appearances in 2014 … Baltimore Orioles, the Los Angeles Angels, the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Guardians. … A part of three World Series teams, earning a ring in 2022.
Alex Cobb, Vero Beach
Graduated: 2006
Named TCPalm’s Player of the Year in 2006 … Went 5-3 with a 1.06 ERA and 139 strikeouts through 74 1/3 innings and batted .342 with 17 RBIs and five home runs as a senior.
Committed to Clemson, but opted to go pro after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. … Made his MLB debut with the Rays on May 1, 2011. Has compiled a 79-76 record with a 3.84 ERA and 1,108 strikeouts through a 14-year MLB career with Tampa Bay, the Baltimore Orioles, the Los Angeles Angels, the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Guardians. … Selected to the National League All-Star team in 2023.
Jenny Gladding, Martin County
Graduated: 2000
After leading the Tigers softball a state title as a freshman, Gladding bookended her prep career by becoming a three-time TCPalm’s Player of the Year and a four-time First-Team All-State selection … Went 22-4 with a 0.28 ERA and 384 strikeouts in 176 innings pitched and batted .425 with six home runs and 33 RBIs as a senior.
Pitched collegiately at Arizona and Florida. … As a freshman, Gladding compiled a 14-2 record with a 0.92 ERA and 148 strikeouts to lead the Wildcats to the national championship in 2001. … Part of Arizona’s national runner-up team in 2002. … At Florida, she set program career records for opponent batting average, strikeouts per game and strikeouts looking. … She also set several program single-season marks, including ERA, strikeouts and win percentage. … Was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Khalil Mack, Fort Pierce Westwood
Graduated: 2009
Named to TCPalm’s All-Area First Team defense as a senior.
Played collegiately at Buffalo, finishing with 327 total tackles and 28.5 sacks through 48 games … Elected to the University of Buffalo Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024. … Earned the Jack Lambert Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker. … Broke the NCAA record for career forced fumbles (16) and tied the mark for tackles for loss (75). … MAC Defensive Player of the Year and an AP Second Team All-American as a senior.
Drafted fifth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. … Started 166 of 167 games through an 11-year career with the Raiders, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raider, putting up 630 total tackles (142 TFL), 107.5 sacks and 32 forced fumbles … Prime to enter Canton after his career is over, Mack was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and to the 2010’s All-Decade Team. … Three-time All-Pro First Team selection (2015, 2016, 2018) and nine-time Pro Bowler.
Evan Neal, Okeechobee
Graduated: 2019 (From IMG Academy)
Five-star prospect that played in the 2019 Under Armour All-American game.
Played collegiate for Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide capture the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship. … Made 40 starts in three seasons. … Was an All-American First Team selection by various publications as a junior … Forgoed his senior year to enter the NFL Draft.
Drafted seventh overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the New York Giants … Appeared in 29 games at tackle through three seasons, starting in 27 games.
Gillian Robertson, Fort Pierce Westwood
Graduated: 2013
Most wins via submission by a woman and tied for the most finishes by a woman in UFC history. … With wins in her last four matches, Robertson has a career professional record of 16-8-1. … Robertson is the ninth-ranked fighter at women’s strawweight.
Larry Sanders, Port St. Lucie
Graduated: 2007
Helped the Jaguars reach the state semifinals in his junior season. … Was named TCPalm Player of the Year and to the All-State First Team after helping his teams win the district title during his senior season.
Was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010 while playing for VCU. … Helped the Rams reach the NCAA tournament in 2009. … Forgoed his senior season to enter the NBA Draft.
Was 15th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. … Sanders played six seasons in the NBA, five with Milwaukee. … Signed a four-year, $44-million extension in 2013.
Jamien Sherwood, Jensen Beach
Graduated: 2018
Four-star athlete named TCPalm’s Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Appeared in 37 games in three years at Auburn University, recording 141 total tackles and 2.5 sacks … Forgoed his senior year to enter the NFL Draft.
Was selected in the fifth round with the 146th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. … Suffered a torn Archilles during his rookie campaign. … Had a career-best season in 2024, posting 142 total tackles (83 solo) with two sacks. Nearly four years from his injury, Sherwood signed a three-year, 45-million contract with the Jets.
Justin Simmons, Martin County
Graduated: 2012
Winner of TCPalm’s Defensive Player of the Year honors and named to the All-State Second team as a senior with the Tigers football team. … Helped the Tigers basketball team to a district title and reached the regional finals as a senior.
Put up 224 total tackles, 20 passes defended, eight interceptions and four forced fumbles at defensive back in 49 games at Boston College. … Five of his interceptions came during a senior year where he was named to the All-ACC Second Team and Phil Steele’s All-America Fourth Team.
Selected 98th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft. … The safety has piled up 32 career interceptions, more than any other player during that time frame. … Named to four All-Pro Second Teams (20219, 2021-23) and named to the Pro Bowl on two occasions (2020, 2023).
Bryan Stork, Vero Beach
Graduated: 2009
Was part of three district-championship teams while playing tight end at Vero Beach.
Played collegiately at Florida State, helping the Seminoles win the 2013 BCS National Championship. … Earned consensus All-American honors and won the Rimington Trophy as the top center in the country as a senior.
Drafted in the fourth round in the 2014 NFL Draft. … Started in 21 of 25 games in the NFL. … Started at center in Super Bowl XLIX, helping the Patriots to a 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Albert Wilson, Port St. Lucie
Graduated: 2010
Named TCPalm’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2009. … State qualfier in track.
Became the first player from Georgia State University to be invited to the NFL Combine. … Holds 47 program records, including most career touchdown receptions and all-purpose yards. … Name to the 2013 All-Sun Belt Conference team as a senior
After going undrafted, Wilson played seven seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins. … Appeared in 89 regular season games, recording 218 receptions for 2,499 yards and 12 touchdowns. … Made two scoring receptions across four postseason games.
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Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: TCPalm Summer Celebration: Vote for Treasure Coast’s best athlete of the last 25 years
Reporting by Patrick Bernadeau, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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