561 SHOWCASE - THE BEST OF THE BEST

By Samantha Roseff: On Saturday, April 27th, Coach Gad Jacob and News Era Prep hosted the 2nd annual 561 showcase. This was an invite-only showcase featuring the best of the best football athletes of the 561 county. But some athletes truly outshined during this event. 

Xavier Reid | West Boca | 2026 | Defensive tackle 

Xavier Reid is only a sophomore but he should be on your radar. During the 1v1 portion of the showcase, he won one after another and was named MVP. When asked how he was able to accomplish this he stated it was all about “mindset” he “didn’t want to lose at all so [he] came and said I’m going to win”. When asked how he will prepare for the future he said that he is “going to get stronger, faster, and work on my football IQ, and will do everything that I need to do to prepare”. He already has 4 Division 1 offers and more to come. He does not only excel on the field but he does in the weight room. 

Preston Ricks | Santaluces | 2026 | Defensive End 

Preston Ricks won multiple 1v1s throughout the day. When asked how he accomplished this, he said that he “wasn’t thinking and just reacted off the offensive line”. To get ready for the next season and his future he said he is committed to “keep working” and he will “get better from spring and summer [I will] work hard and keep doing what I am doing”. Not only is he a beast on the field but is a great wrestler as well. He has only been wrestling for 2 years but placed at every single meet but one just season. Placed 2nd in districts and ranked 14th in the state in the 190 weight class. 

Matis Gibson | Palm Beach Central | 2025 | ATH 

Matis Gibson transferred to PBC last year from Wellington. During the showcase, Matis went 14 for 15 in 1v1s. He said “I have been working hard to get bigger and stronger” he mentioned that “other schools don’t lift like us”. He also mentions that PBC trains differently because they have Coach K as a strength and conditioning coach. He also mentions that PBC “takes recovery very seriously, we take ice baths, yoga, and stretch”. Coming into this he was able to be “well rested” which “ultimately put me at the top today”. 

Kamari Walcott | Atlantic | 2026 | Wide Receiver 

Kamari was named MVP out of all of the wide receivers. He caught pass after pass while getting past the defensive back each time. He said he does this because “all it is, is confidence. I have been working on the offseason and getting ready for spring”. Kamari is only a sophomore but has a great mindset when preparing for spring and the fall season, he said he will “keep working, keep my head down, don’t pay attention to social media, and keep being me”.  

Chance Rouston | Palm Beach Central | 2026 | Quarterback 

Just this past year Chance transferred from Boca where he recorded 4400 yards and 50 TDs, to PBC. When asked about this he said, “Palm Beach Central has always been a good team and his goal now is to keep my head down and get that ring”. He also said, “you have to have a certain mentality when you get on the field. You can have friends on and off the field but when you step in between lines you have to be a competitor”. To keep his energy “you have to stay who you are on and off the field and keep your and your team level”. At the showcase Chance was hitting target after target he said he was especially able to do this with his teammates because of “the connection we have and the chemistry we have built”.