The 2024-25 high school basketball season will go down as one of the very best in Osceola County history. Of the eight public school teams, five advanced past districts into regional competition, two claimed district championships and a third played for another.
But it was long-time state power Osceola that made the most noise. The Kowboys, led by junior and Osceola News-Gazette Boys Basketball Player of the Year Luke McCrimon, went 24-5 and advanced to the regional final— losing a heartbreaking 64-61 decision for a trip to the Class 7A Final Four.
“Luke is a third generation Osceola player who just seemed destined to accomplish all that he has,” Osceola Coach Steve Mason said. “He’s never relied on just his immense talent to do so. He always has and continues to put in the work to get better. With two seniors departing from last year’s outstanding team, we will ask even more of Luke in his senior season. This young man can hit the three, score off the dribble and finish over much taller players at the basket, and frankly is just as good on the defensive end. He is a complete player, whose leadership, competitiveness and work ethic has been contagious—especially to the younger players.”
It’s been a good run for McCrimon thus far. As a sophomore, he scored in double figures in 25 of 26 games— including 13 contests with 20+ points. He performed best in the big games, including 30 in a game against perennial state power Oak Ridge.
It was more of the same this past season. He averaged 18.7 per game, including 16 with 20+ points. He added 4.4 rebounds per game with 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals. He dominated against the better teams on the schedule, scoring 25 against Centennial, 27 against Hagerty and 28 against Sarasota Riverview in a regional quarterfinal.
“It was a great season, but it was heartbreaking at the end,” McCrimon said. “We were that close to getting to Lakeland and the Final Four and let that big halftime lead get away from us in the regional final. It was like a punch to the gut.”
Still, McCrimon believes the Kowboys can make another run in his upcoming senior year.
“We have a lot of talent coming back and I know we have some young guys coming up. My goal for the coming year is to do anything I can to help this team make another deep run in the playoffs,” he said.
All-County Boys Basketball
Player of the Year: Luke McRimon, guard, Jr., Osceola (18.7 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals)
All-County Team:
Jordan Mason, Osceola, guard, Jr., (13.4 ppg, 4.3 apg)
Maliki Baker, St. Cloud, center, Jr. (10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 blocks per game)
Sylus Cory, Harmony, forward, Sr. (15 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Javonte Simpson-Lee, Poinciana, forward, Jr. (15.7 ppg, 13.1 rpg)
Honorable Mention:
Osceola: Jordan Mundle, Jordan Isaac; Harmony: Jeremy Penner; Liberty: Ixion Toro; Gateway: Yangel Malpica; St. Cloud: Josiah Cotto, Alex Springs
