| MIAMI LAKES, Fla. (orangebowl.org) – This spring, the Orange Bowl is hosting two events in South Florida to help academically-qualified high school student-athletes receive exposure to college coaches and scouts from all across the country – the fourth-annual Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Cleveland Clinic Florida and the inaugural Orange Bowl Florida Girls High School Basketball Showcase. The Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Cleveland Clinic Florida is a free one-day event, conducted in association with the National Football Foundation (NFF) and its local chapters (there are five other similar events in various markets nationwide), that will bring together academically qualified high school seniors from Florida and football coaches from NCAA Division II, III and NAIA programs across the country. The Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Cleveland Clinic Florida provides an unprecedented opportunity for young student-athletes to use their athletic and academic skills to earn collegiate scholarships, and ultimately a college degree. |
| This year’s event will take place on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, FL and is completely free for all student-athletes and college coaches. In the event’s first three years, more than $3 million in scholarships/aid have has been awarded to high school student-athletes to study and play football at the collegiate level. Nearly 200 student-athletes have been recruited by colleges and universities since the inception of the event. Last year, the Showcase had over 40 colleges in attendance and 69 student-athletes received over an estimated $1 million in financial aid. St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, FL (NAIA) awarded 17 student-athletes with financial contributions, the most of any college in attendance. “South Florida has an abundance of talented and academically qualified student-athletes who are looking to continue their careers at the collegiate level. They just need the exposure,” said High School Showcase Chair Matthew Morrall. “Every year we look forward to providing this opportunity for high school seniors and for college coaches to connect with these young men to further their education. College coaches from around the country can develop relationships with the area’s high school coaches and evaluate football players in one trip and one location.” To be eligible to participate in the 2020 Showcase, student-athletes must be graduating high school seniors who have not accepted a scholarship offer from a NCAA Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision) program. In addition, they must meet the following academic qualifications:Earn a 2.5 GPA or higher in 16 Core Courses (please visit www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/core-courses for a description of NCAA Eligible Core Courses); ANDEarn an SAT score of 920 (math and verbal only) or higher; ORHave a composite ACT Score of 18 or higher or a sum score of 68 or higher The Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase is presented by Cleveland Clinic Florida and is joined by associate sponsors Bank of America, Cicis Pizza, Florida Power & Light Company, Hard Rock Hotel Hollywood, Salata and Windhaven Insurance. For more information about the Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Cleveland Clinic Florida and to register, please visit www.orangebowl.org/showcase/. On March 21, 2020 at Nova Southeastern University, the Orange Bowl is hosting its first ever Orange Bowl Florida Girls High School Basketball Showcase to give junior and senior girls basketball players the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior colleges from around the country. Similar to the football showcase, a series of drills and scrimmages will be run that will best display each player’s various talents at their respective positions. During the basketball showcase, players and universities will have the opportunity to meet to discuss financial aid opportunities for the participating athletes. Participants must be a graduating high school senior or a high school junior who has not accepted a scholarship offer from a Division I basketball program. In addition they must meet the following qualifications:Have a 2.5 GPA or higher in 16 Core Courses (please visit http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/core-courses for a description of NCAA Eligible Core Courses); ANDHave an SAT score of 920 (math and verbal only) or higher (NAIA Requirement: 970 if test was taken after May 1, 2019); OR Have a composite ACT Score of 18 or higher or a sum score of 68 or higher The Orange Bowl Florida Girls High School Basketball Showcase is possible thanks in part to associate sponsors Cicis Pizza, Cinch Home Services, Salata and TD Bank, American’s Most Convenient Bank.For more information and to register for the Orange Bowl Florida Girls High School Basketball Showcase, please visit www.orangebowl.org/basketballshowcase/. |
| About the Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is a 370-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. With its primary mission since being created in 1935 to bring tourism to South Florida through an annual football game and events, it has also maintained a legacy of charitable contributions and community outreach. Orange Bowl community outreach efforts are comprised of four pillars: youth sports, fundraising and community events, academic programs and scholarships, and legacy gifts. The Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 2, 2021. The Orange Bowl also led a community-wide effort to bring the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship to South Florida. It will be played on Jan. 11, 2021. For more information on the 2020-2021 Orange Bowl events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program presented by Panera Bread, log on to orangebowl.org or follow the @OrangeBowl on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. About Cleveland Clinic Weston Cleveland Clinic Weston, part of Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region, is a nonprofit, multi-specialty, academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. With locations in Weston, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Parkland, West Palm Beach, Wellington, and Palm Beach Gardens, Cleveland Clinic Weston has more than 250 physicians with expertise in 55 specialties. The medical campus is fully integrated and includes diagnostic centers, outpatient surgery and a 24-hour emergency department located in the state-of-the-art hospital. Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region now includes Cleveland Clinic Indian River and Cleveland Clinic Martin Health and has hospitals and outpatient centers in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The Florida region is an integral part of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where providing outstanding patient care is based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic are experts in the treatment of complex conditions that are difficult to diagnose. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Florida, visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org. |
