Justice Phillips, a junior at Bronson High School, has been named the UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week for his impressive performance on the basketball court and leadership off it.
Phillips, a shooting guard who has stepped up to play point guard at the start of the season due to injuries among teammates, has proven he can handle the role with a couple of impressive games out of the gate. He scored a career high 37 points in Bronson's season opener and followed that up with 34 points in their second game.
"I am fit to be a leader and I understand that a lot of the younger kids are looking up to me," Phillips said. "It's my job to embrace that role, carry myself a certain way, and make sure I set an example of how hard you are supposed to play each and every day."
Phillips' ability to score from anywhere on the court makes him a dangerous player to have to defend. He remains focused on maintaining his strong performance and knows there's still lots of season to go.
"I was ecstatic when I heard I was the athlete of the week," Phillips said. "It felt really good to know the hard work got noticed. I play with confidence, not cocky, and I don't want people to take that the wrong way. Playing basketball is my safe space – that's my peace, and I hope to be playing it for a long time."
Having lived in Bronson since he was 5 years old, Phillips hopes to help his team build on their early-season success and make the community proud by the end of the year. He is also dedicated to supporting the younger players on the team.
"I want them to know they can come to me for anything," Phillips said. "I know as one of the older guys that I need to step up on and off the court and I'm ready for the role"
Each weekly winner is eligible for a $2,500 scholarship at the end of the season, with the UF Health High School Athlete of the Year to be named at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 academic year.