St. John Paul II Catholic High School Basketball Player Mario Forbes Named ITG Next Florida Male Athlete of the Month for February 2024
Coming as a result of his on-court play during January, St. John Paul II Catholic High School basketball player Mario Forbes has been voted the ITG Next Florida Male Athlete of the Month for February 2024. The junior received a total of 74.80% of possible votes over three other finalists, who were as follows: Keystone Heights soccer player Aaron Wiley, Forest soccer player Brantley Wigginton, and Frostproof basketball player Sevastian Rosado.
Forbes, who is among Florida’s top rebounders this season, had a stellar January on the court, as he helped lead St. John Paul II to a combined 4-6 record during the month.
Despite the under-.500 record, Forbes’ impact was still evident. Across those 10 games, he averaged a double-double for the Panthers at 17.6 points per game and 16 rebounds per game, while also averaging 0.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. Forbes actually had a double-double in all but one of those 10 games.
The St. John Paul II standout’s most notable performance in that slate of games was a 20/20 performance in a 55-51 home victory over Munroe on Jan. 16 in which Forbes had 23 points, 25 rebounds, two steals, and four blocks.
Forbes also flirted with a 20/20 game three other times in January, which came in a win over Leon and in losses to Chiles and Lincoln.
Taking a bigger look at Forbes’ overall season, the St. John Paul II star posted a double-double in all but three games during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 18.1 points, 15.7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1.2 blocks per game. Forbes also scored more than 20 points in 13 different games and collected more than 20 rebounds in four different games during that span.
The Panthers went 12-15 overall this season and reached the Class 2A regional quarterfinals round of the 2024 state tournament.
Congratulations once again to St. John Paul II basketball player Mario Forbes, the ITG Next Florida Male Athlete of the Month for February 2024.
