Hometown Heroes | Southeast alum and Florida Gators senior Brian Poole adds to Tropicana Field legend
If Brian Poole played every game at Tropicana Field, then he'd join former NBA star Dominique Wilkins with the nickname, "The Human Highlight Film."
At last weekend's East-West Shrine game in St. Petersburg, Poole logged his second highlight reel play in two career games at the Trop.
The latest was a 98-yard interception return that vaulted the East into a 9-0 lead.
The West, though, won the game 29-9 behind Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who tossed three touchdowns.
But it was Poole, a University of Florida senior and former Southeast standout, that executed a mesmerizing read from his cornerback position for a pick six.
"I saw the one receiver line up on the ball and the other line up off the ball, so I knew he was going to try work in the slot and I just jumped the route," Poole told the Associated Press, referencing Malcolm Butler's game-saving interception for New England in last year's Super Bowl. "The quarterback didn't see me."
LPoole's first game at the St. Pete venue that is home to the Tampa Bay Rays came in 2012 when he was a high school senior.
The then-Southeast cornerback snatched an interception and returned it 93 yards for a score during the annual Under Armour All-American game.
Poole, though, injured his collarbone late in the first half and did not return.
DANIELLE VALLEY -- Swam a career-best 9 minutes, 43.37 seconds to win the 1,000-yard freestyle event for Wisconsin's swimming and diving team during a meet at Southern Cal. The Lakewood Ranch alum broke her previous personal-best time in the event by more than six seconds. Valley, a junior, also clocked in at 4:44.81 to capture the 500-yard freestyle title.
LUKE HANNER -- A Lakewood Ranch alum, Hanner took second place in the 200-yard freestyle for Drexel in a recent swim meet against Georgetown. Hanner turned in a time of 1:44.38. That was just .36 seconds behind teammate Matthew Klotz to produce a one-two finish in the event for the Dragons.
DESMOND LINDSAY -- Last year's second-round draft pick of the New York Mets was recently tabbed the organization's eighth-best prospect, according to BaseballEssential.com. The former Out-of-Door Academy standout hit .263 last season between the Gulf Coast League and New York Penn League. Lindsay didn't feature much for the Thunder as a senior due to an injury, but he did get a crack at Rookie League and short-season A ball following the Mets drafting him 53rd overall.
"... The Mets feel that Lindsay can turn out to be a five-tool player when healthy," the website said.
The reigning National League pennant winners, who developed pitchers Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom, have a recent track record for homegrown talents finding their way to the big league club down the road.
Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017 or via email at jdill@bradenton.com. Follow him on Twitter@Jason__Dill and like his Facebook page at Jason Dill Bradenton Herald.
This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Hometown Heroes | Southeast alum and Florida Gators senior Brian Poole adds to Tropicana Field legend ."