Neumann senior forward Sophia McCartney, who has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2023-24 season, has been voted the ITG Next Florida December 2023 Female Athlete of the Month.
As a result of her on-court play for Neumann in November, McCartney received 72.48% of the possible votes over three additional basketball finalists: Montverde Academy’s Jaloni Cambridge, Madison County’s Janiyah McKnight, and Dunnellon’s Tatiana Matthews.
McCartney’s impact toward Class 2A Neumann’s impressive start cannot be overstated.
“Sophia’s impact has been felt obviously with her stat line – 20.1 points, 16.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 3.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks,” Neumann head coach John Wholihan said. “Her biggest impact has been that she sees what needs to be done for us to win and is willing to do whatever it takes – scoring, rebounding, steals, assists and on the defensive end – to get us a victory. Sophia doesn’t wait for direction; she steps up and leads.”
As the Celtics went 4-0 to begin their season, McCartney averaged a double-double – 20.8 PPG and 18 RPG – as well as 2 APG, 2.8 SPG, and 2.3 BPG. She also had two 20-20 games, which came in a 60-41 win over Naples and a 77-41 victory against Monsignor Pace. Against the Golden Eagles, McCartney racked up 26 points, 20 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, and 5 blocks, and she posted 24 points, 22 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks against Monsignor Pace.
For the season, McCartney is averaging 20.1 PPG, 16.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 3.4 SPG, and 1.3 BPG. She ranks among the state’s leaders in rebounding, and she’s not far from the top in scoring. While big numbers have been a mainstay throughout her high school career, Neumann also has raised her game in the intangibles this season.
“A major difference this year in Sophia is her leadership and how she has taken on more each year,” Wholihan said. “We have had great leaders and captains over the past few years, and Sophia has watched and learned from them, and has become the leader and captain of this team both on and off the court.
“Another difference is her passion for helping others, whether it be tutoring her classmates or helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity, she is always willing to do what it takes,” Wholihan added. “Sophia has also put a lot of work in the weight room and has become bigger, stronger, and quicker. Sophia will always strive to do her best and make all around her better.”
McCartney recently signed to play for the U.S. Military Academy, and Wholihan said he is “looking forward to the rest of the season and following Sophia at West Point.”
Congratulations to Neumann forward Sophia McCartney, the ITG Next Florida December 2023 Female Athlete of the Month.
