Eustis hoops duo Turner, Belgrave sign to play at the next level

EUSTIS — Benny Turner and Kyle Belgrave wanted to leave the Eustis High School boys basketball program in better shape than it was when they joined the program.

Both believe they accomplished their goals and were recently rewarded for their efforts with national letters of intent to compete at the next level.

Turner signed to play at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andulusia, Alabama, while Belgrave will play for Polk State College in Winter Haven. The pair signed during a ceremony in the Panther Den. 

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“I can’t wait to get to college,” said Turner. “I think Lurleen B. Wallace Community College will be a great place for me to build more character and become a man. It’s a chance to get out on my own, while getting an education and continue playing basketball.”

Said Belgrave: “I wanted to stay in Florida, but I wanted to be far enough away from home that I feel like I were on my own some and not able to go home every night. I wanted to feel more independent that if I were at home.”

Belgrave was the Panthers’ leading scorer last season, averaging 17.3 points per game. A 6-foot-5 forward, Belgrave pulled down 4.3 rebounds and averaged 1.4 blocks per game. 

Turner, a 6-foot-4 swingman, averaged 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the Panthers in 2020-21. Part of Turner’s season was spent transitioning to point guard, the role Eustis coach Wesley Green believes he will fill at L.B Wallace. The persistence he showed while learning the nuances of playing the point, according to Green, will serve him well at the next level. 

Benny is a high-character young man,” said Green. “When he came here from Joliet (Illinois), we were doing things he wasn’t familiar with, but worked very hard to learn things. Playing the point is more mental than it is physical and Benny is very mentally tough, and getting the chance to contining playing basketball is his reward.”

Green said Belgrave’s biggest attribute is his resilience.

“Kyle didn’t even make our team as a freshman,” said Green. “He went from not at all — junior varsity and varsity — to making the team as a sophomore and really working his tail off between his junior and senior years. And he did a lot of that outside in the summer heat, because of COVID.”

Both had to make adjustments as seniors, accepting more of a leadership role with the graduations of high scoring Bradley Douglas and others. As a result, the Panthers started slowly, but picked up steam as the season wore on.

Eustis finished with a 10-12 record, but won six of its last eight regular-season games and advanced to the Class 4A-Region 2 semifinals. 

“We went through a phase at the start of the season,” said Turner. “We were used to others being in control, like (Douglas) and it took awhile to learn that we had to step up as seniors. We learned you can’t just call yourself a leader because you’re a senior.”

Said Belgrave: “It takes a lot more than and we didn’t realize that at the start of the season. At the end of the year, we were comfortable with that role, not at the start.”

Turner and Belgrave will take solid academic credentials with them to the next level. Turner said he is leaving Eustis with 3.2 grade-point average, while Belgrave said he sports a 3.4 GPA. 

They’ll also leave the Panthers with what both feel is solid advice for success.

“Stay focused,” said Belgrave.

“You’re Eustis Panthers,” said Turner. “Don’t ever give up and keep pushing. And most important, while you’re disciplined and doing what coach expects, have fun. Don’t ever forget you’re playing a game. Do what you need to do, but also have fun.”