The Herald-Tribune has announced the winners of the 2026 Winter All-Area Team Players of the Year polls, honoring top athletes in various sports from Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Key points
The Herald-Tribune announced the 2026 Winter All-Area team selections.
Awards were given for basketball, soccer, weightlifting, and wrestling.
Johnny Lackaff was named Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Paisley Binswanger was named Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Louka Coue and Avary Shirley were recognized as top soccer players.
Johnny LackaffPaisley BinswangerLouka CoueAvary Shirley
We asked and you voted.
The Herald-Tribune recently rolled out its 2026 Winter All-Area team selections.
We honored the top athletes in boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, girls weightlifting and wrestling from Manatee and Sarasota counties by naming our All-Area teams naming First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention lists.
Booker High's JP Lattimore was voted the 2026 Herald-Tribune Fan's Vote for Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Q&A
Who won the Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2026?
Johnny Lackaff from Sarasota won the Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2026.
Which athlete was named Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2026?
Paisley Binswanger from Sarasota was named the Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2026.
Who are the top players in boys and girls soccer for the 2026 Winter All-Area Team?
Louka Coue from Lakewood Ranch was named Boys Soccer Player of the Year, and Avary Shirley from Lakewood Ranch was named Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
What awards were given for weightlifting and wrestling in the 2026 Winter All-Area Team?
Payton Mangay-Ayam from Braden River was recognized as Girls Lifter of the Year, and Blake Roulund from Cardinal Mooney was named Wrestler of the Year.
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Booker High's JP Lattimore was voted the 2026 Herald-Tribune Fan's Vote for Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
JP Lattimore
School: Booker
Year: Senior
Highlights: The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 19.5 points per game, topping 30 in five contests, and was selected the FACA District 16 Class 4A Player of the Year.
Booker High's Yvette Brown was voted the 2026 Herald-Tribune Fan's Vote for Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Booker High's Yvette Brown was voted the 2026 Herald-Tribune Fan's Vote for Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Yvette Brown
School: Booker
Year: Senior
Highlights: Brown led Booker to the Final Four, averaging 16.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The high-energy guard signed with Santa Fe College.
Lakewood Ranch High's Alexis Rissler was voted the 2026 Herald-Tribune Fan's Vote for Girls Lifter of the Year.
Lakewood Ranch High's Alexis Rissler was voted the 2026 Herald-Tribune Fan's Vote for Girls Lifter of the Year.
Alexis Rissler
School: Lakewood Ranch
**Year:**Senior
**Highlights:**Rissler was fourth at Class 3A Traditional 183 pounds with a lift of 355 and was the state runner-up for Olympic lifts with a combined 395-pound effort after winning district and regional titles.
Parrish Community High's Nikolai Krywko was voted the 2026 Herald-Tribune Fan's Vote for Wrestler of the Year.
Parrish Community High's Nikolai Krywko was voted the 2026 Herald-Tribune Fan's Vote for Wrestler of the Year.
Nikolai Krywko
School: Parrish Community
Year: Senior
Weight Class: 175 pounds
Highlights: Krywko capped his season by placing seventh at the Class 2A meet. He was the Region 2A-3 runner-up and won the District 2A-9 and Manatee County championships.
