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Sollazzo Enjoys Breakout Season

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By NICK WILLIAMS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

SEFFNER - As a kid, Armwood senior basketball star Adam Sollazzo dreamed of playing basketball for Duke University.

"That's every kid's dream," he said.

But Sollazzo never lost hope of the opportunity to someday play Division I basketball. Duke didn't come running like he'd planned, but the 6-foot-5 point guard decided to sign with Division I East Tennessee State shortly after the season.

Although Sollazzo was a good player last season as a junior (16 points, eight assists per game), he rocketed onto the recruiting scene as a senior, and amid a season that produced multiple MVP candidates (Sheldon Cooley, David Waller, Blake Allen) he proved to be the best all-around player in Hillsborough County.

"I flew under the radar," Sollazzo said.

In the toughest district in the county, Sollazzo averaged 21.7 points, six rebounds and 6.3 assists per game for the Hawks (15-11), who lost in the Class 5A-District 8 tournament semifinals to Brandon, which later advanced to the state final four. His talents earned him several honors, which included 5A and District 13 (Hillsborough County) Player of the Year, Tampa Bay Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year, 2008 Western Conference Boys Basketball Federal Division Player of the Year and Florida Sports Writers Association 5A all-state honorable mention.

Perhaps what's more impressive, Sollazzo earned MVP honors at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North vs. South Basketball All-Star Game, which featured the top players from Florida. He pulled off a triple-double with 16 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Two weeks later, he was named MVP of the Hillsborough vs. Pinellas County All-Star Game.

He finished his career with 1,061 points.

Those accomplishments show why Sollazzo is The Tribune's 2008 Hillsborough County Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year.

"I knew this year was my year," Sollazzo said. "Coach gave me the ball and let me play my game."

"He's very smart on the court," Armwood coach Jeff Pafunda said. "He's like a coach on the court. He makes all the players around him better."

In a win against Tampa Bay Tech during the regular season, he finished with a season-best 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

"He was not only taller than the guys that defended him, but he had a great knack to score in the lane," Pafunda said. "He made the defense focus on him. He has great vision. If I would have told him to get 20 assists, he probably could have."
BOYS BASKETBALL FIRST TEAM

Blake Allen, Brandon, Guard, Sr.

Sheldon Cooley, Plant, Guard, Jr.

Adam Sollazzo, Armwood, Guard, Sr.

Callum Townsend, Bloomingdale, Forward, Jr.

David Waller, Tampa Prep, Forward, Sr.

Coach of the Year: Mark Hermann, Brandon

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