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By FRANK PASTOR
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 26, 2001
TAMPA -- Sickles graduate Renea Phelps surprised everyone -- including herself -- when she accepted a scholarship to Central Florida Community College.
Phelps, the Times 2000-01 county player of the year, originally planned to sign with Tampa.
But she said a two-year school is a better fit athletically and academically.
"I knew I had a lot of improving to do," she said.
Phelps, a 6-foot small forward, averaged team-highs of 19 points and eight rebounds while leading Sickles to a school-best 25-2 record last season. She also became the first player -- boy or girl -- in the Gryphons' four-year history to score 1,000 career points, finishing with 1,497.
"We revolved everything around Renea for the most part," Sickles coach Jackie Metroka said. "I'm going to lose nine seniors, but she was definitely the heart of the team."
Phelps, who qualified academically to play Division II basketball, hopes to transfer to a four-year school in two years.
"Whether it's Division I or Division II, it doesn't matter," she said. "I just want to get an education."