In a town where community means everything, there’s a renewed energy surrounding Plant City High School boys varsity basketball. Much of that spark comes from their new head coach Chris “CT” Senoga-Zake.
For Coach CT, stepping into the role isn’t just about wins and losses. It’s about continuing a tradition while building something deeper.
“My goal with the boys basketball team is to continue the winning tradition, capture our first district championship in eight years, and continue building each season. While winning is important, the ultimate goal is to help develop our boys on and off the court in order to prepare them for adulthood and for success in life,” says Senoga-Zake.
That mindset reflects the heart of Plant City itself—a place where people look out for one another and invest in the next generation.
Now in his seventh year of coaching, CT brings a wealth of experience to the Raiders. Before arriving at Plant City High School, he served as head coach at King High School from 2018 to 2023. His journey started much earlier, though. He grew up playing at Seminole Presbyterian (now Cambridge Christian), attended FSU for a year, and went on to play and graduate from the Citadel before competing professionally overseas for more than seven years.
After traveling the world through basketball, his path ultimately led him back home with a purpose.
“I wanted to find a way to give back to our youth and community. While opportunities arose to coach at different levels, I wanted to focus on developing our boys and essentially helping them continue their academic journey at the collegiate level, whether that is academically or athletically. Our goal is to expose our young men to the endless opportunities that come with the game of basketball,” says Senoga-Zake.
That sense of giving back isn’t just talk, it’s a core part of the program he’s building.
Plant City is one of the few remaining communities that honors tradition. “Our goal is to build a tradition of giving back to the community, continuous development of our youth, helping local businesses in the off-season, and having our graduates continue that cycle by paying it forward in mentorship or availability,” says Senoga-Zake.
On the court, the Raiders showed resilience throughout CT’s first season. Despite battling key injuries, the team found ways to compete—and win—often in dramatic fashion.
“We won several buzzer beaters and continued to get better as a team as the season progressed,” Senoga-Zake reflects.
Standout performances highlighted the year, including senior forward Simeon Hogan, who averaged 13.7 points and 7.9 rebounds and ranked 10th in the state in 7A basketball with eight double-doubles. Senior Akeim Young also made his mark, averaging 15.3 points and earning multiple honors, including making the 2nd team federal division, TBBCA Top 25, and the Hillsborough County Senior All-Star team—where he was crowned this year’s 3-point champion.
But for CT, the focus is already on what’s next.
“I want to continue building in the off-season and take the time to develop the areas that need improvement, especially with this upcoming season’s addition of the shot clock. Seasons come and go, and the team changes every year with seniors graduating, the development of our younger guys, and new additions, so it is important that we have a really strong foundation to build on yearly,” he adds.
That work is already underway. The program will host a summer camp at Plant City High School from June 15–18 for kindergarten through middle school students, run by Coach Billy Teeden. CT also trains athletes privately in individual and group settings during the summer when time allows. He can be contacted for personal training on Instagram @CSZ_Training.
Community support has played a major role in the team’s momentum, both on and off the court. The program partnered with Snap Raise and Elite Logos for fundraisers this season and looks forward to building more relationships with local businesses in the years ahead.
CT is also quick to recognize those behind the program, giving a special shoutout to assistant coach Jordan Kelly and local coaches dedicated to developing Plant City youth, including Coach Stephen Graham, Billy Teeden, Terrance McGriff, Renaldo Garcia, and Dan and Derrick Delgardo. “I would like to thank Plant City staff and especially my AD Pastor Randall Humphrey, who has been a great mentor, for the opportunity to be a coach at PC,” Senoga-Zake adds.
Local businesses and community leaders have stepped up in meaningful ways as well. Ali Sobh, owner of Hungry Howie’s and a pillar in the Plant City community, provided pre-game meals for every home game and stayed actively connected with the team throughout the season. Jeff Arnold of Plant City Champions for Youth has also supported the program through an ongoing partnership. “Last, but not least, I would like to thank hometown legend Pastor Pewee Callins for sponsoring us for pre-season and always showing support,” he adds.
Though he’s spent time playing and coaching in many places, CT still calls this area home. He grew up in Tampa and has spent the last eight years in nearby Zephyrhills, but he’s a familiar face around Plant City.
With the Raiders on the rise, CT has a simple message for the town: “As we continue to grow, I would love for the community to rally together and come and show support to our young Raiders. Our Raiders are fun, competitive, and will only continue to grow and get better from here.”
In Plant City, that kind of energy is contagious—and if this first season is any indication, the best is yet to come.
