Last night, the Orlando Magic played host to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. This game was exciting and close, but what made this game special was the involvement of Montverde Academy 2014 alumni D’Angelo Russell – a first year Laker! Russell was the #2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Collectively, 250 Montverde students, parents, staff, and alumni enthusiastically cheered for D’Angelo as he finished the game with fourteen points and delivered on four assists on way to one of his best games of his professional career.
With the assistance of Mr. Jimmy Missouri, an account executive of the Orlando Magic, the off-campus school and alumni event was very memorable. Everyone in attendance wore special commemorative t-shirts, and at half time of the game, Montverde Academy’s Boys’ Varsity Basketball program was honored for winning three consecutive national championships! Also during half-time, over twenty Montverde Academy students were granted access to the court to greet the Lakers. MVA attendees were invited to the court after the game to present D’Angelo with his framed high school jersey. A resounding success all around, a special thanks goes out to all involved to help make Montverde Academy’s night at the Amway Center an event that won’t soon be forgotten!
Russell played basketball for Ohio State University as a freshman in the 2014-2015 NCAA D1 basketball season. He averaged nearly 20 points a game and was awarded the Big 10 Freshman Player of the Year, and also named to the 1st team All-Big-Ten too. Russell missed most of his MVA senior year season due to a knee surgery, but he nonetheless finished his senior season strongly, and was awarded the 2014 Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (M.A.I.T.) Most Valuable Player, was selected as a 2014 McDonalds All-American, and led MVA’s 2013-2014 team to an undefeated season record (24-0) that included winning the 2014 DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.
