Florida’s Top Prospects Kick Off the Season
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Florida’s Top Prospects Kick Off the Season – Seffner Christian Pre-Season Classic Recap By Michael Wholey 11/16/20 5:00 PM EST Seffner Christian in Tampa kicked off the High School season hosting 6 quality teams for a two day preseason classic…
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Continue ReadingFlorida’s Top Prospects Kick Off the Season – Seffner Christian Pre-Season Classic Recap
By Michael Wholey 11/16/20 5:00 PM EST
Seffner Christian in Tampa kicked off the High School season hosting 6 quality teams for a two day preseason classic that featured some of the states’ top talent. We were there to take in some of the action.
FHSAA rules dictate the first date eligible to play regular season games is Monday November 16 and any games played prior to that date do not count towards teams regular season record. All games were played in conjunction with Seffner Christian Pre-Season Classic and despite their being fans and officials, these games were essentially exhibition games. With that being said, the two day event featured 6 quality teams with 6 quality teams and a ton of talent.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday November 13
5:30 PM IMG Academy v Brooks DeBartolo
7:00 PM Tampa Bay Tech v Lake Wales
8:30 PM Seffner Christian v Braden River
Saturday November 14
1:00 PM Seffner Christian v Tampa Bay Tech
2:30 Brooks DeBartolo v Lake Wales
4:00 PM Braden River v IMG Academy
O’Mariah Gordon O’Mariah Gordon 5'6" | PG Braden River | 2021 State #27 Nation FL , Janiah Barker Janiah Barker 6'2" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #3 Nation FL , Kailyn Gilbert Kailyn Gilbert 5'8" | CG IMG Academy | 2022 State FL and Amiya Evans Amiya Evans 6'2" | PF DME Academy | 2022 State FL were the headliners of the events and they did not disappoint.
In two games, Gordon went for 27 points, 8 assists & 4 steals in game # 1 v Seffner Christian and 35 points, 9 steals, 9 rebounds & 2 assists in game # 2 vs IMG Academy. Game # 1 put Gordon (a recent Florida State signee in the 2021 class) v one of the states top 2022 prospects Kailyn Gilbert Kailyn Gilbert 5'8" | CG IMG Academy | 2022 State FL . The matchup of Gilbert v Gordon was a good one as
Gilbert went for 25 points but ultimately it was unsigned 2021 Cheyenne Stubbs Cheyenne Stubbs 5'7" | CG Braden River | 2021 State FL who stole the show going for 30 points in a 92-69 blowout which saw Braden River shoot 73% from the field including 7/11 from 3! Issa Bucket did a great job of capturing the weekends highlights, you can the Gordon v Gilbert matchup here:
While the Gordon v Gilbert was the most anticipated matchup on day # 1, the Seffner Christian v Tampa Bay Tech was the marque matchup on day # 2 pitting three of the countries top 2022 prospects on the floor against each other at the same time. The matchup lived up to the hype as Gordon went off for 46 points for Seffner Christian while Janiah Barker Janiah Barker 6'2" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #3 Nation FL went for 27 and teammate Amiya Evans Amiya Evans 6'2" | PF DME Academy | 2022 State FL went for 26 and Tampa Bay Tech pulled out the 82-81 victory. Check out the highlights here:
Throughout the weekend, Gordon showed why she is states # 1 prospect in the 2021 class and headed to Tallahassee next season to suit up for the Florida State Seminoles. Her speed and scoring ability is just at a different level and is super fun to watch when she turns it out.
Gilbert put her elite level athleticism and scoring ability on display all weekend two. She plays tremendously hard on both ends of the floor and dropping 46 on anyone is impressive not to mention two 6’3 nationally ranked post players in Janiah Barker Janiah Barker 6'2" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #3 Nation FL and Amiya Evans Amiya Evans 6'2" | PF DME Academy | 2022 State FL .
Check out Evan’s highlights:
The tag team of Evans and Barker was fun to watch. At 6’3 they both have solid interior games but also showcased their ability to play face up and on the perimeter as well. The two compliment and play off each other very well (especially in the high/low game). The front courts of Evans/Barker has to be one of if not the best front court in the country alongside the front court of Lake Highland Prep with Kayla Blackshear Kayla Blackshear 6'1" | PF Lake Highland Prep | 2021 State #61 Nation FL and Nyla Harris Nyla Harris 6'2" | PF Lake Highland Prep | 2022 State #34 Nation FL .
Check out Barker’s highlights:
Who else played well?
Barker, Gilbert, Gordon and Evans were not the only players in the gym. In addition to Cheyenne Stubbs Cheyenne Stubbs 5'7" | CG Braden River | 2021 State FL who we mentioned above several other players stood out with their play.
5’10 Forward Nicole Carreno Nicole Carreno 5'10" | SF Seffner Christian | 2024 State FL was impressive in her Varsity High School debut for Seffner Christian. While still young and raw, her strength and body type will allow her to be an effective high and low post player who will continue to improve throughout the season as her comfort level grows and she gains more experience.
Recent Loyola Marymount University signee 6’1 Forward Ava Toone Ava Toone 6'1" | PF IMG Academy | 2021 State FL was solid in her performance for IMG Academy. The stretch four showed her ability to play inside/out displaying her 3 point range while also not shying away from banging inside and mixing it up in the paint.
For Brooks DeBartolo Jaela Davis Jaela Davis 5'7" | CG Brooks DeBartolo | 2022 State FL , Brionna McClinton Brionna McClinton 5'9" | SF Brooks DeBartolo | 2021 State FL , Amarie Goodwin Amarie Goodwin CG Brooks DeBartolo | 2021 State FL and recent Saint Leo signee Triniti Youngblood Triniti Youngblood 5'7" | CG Brooks DeBartolo | 2021 State FL lead most of the scoring for Brooks DeBartolo over the weekend. Senior Ayonna Simmons returned from an ACL injury she suffered last season to make a big impact on the boards. In the win over Lake Wales, 10 Lady Phoenix hit the scoring column.
2021 5’4 Shooter Ellie DiGiacomo was knocking them down all weekend from 3 for Braden River and 2024 Jade Thompson Jade Thompson 5'6" | CG Seffner | 2024 State FL was solid in her High School debut running the poing guard position.
Conclusion
The 2022 class is loaded with talent. Janiah Barker Janiah Barker 6'2" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #3 Nation FL is the highest ranked prospect nationally while Kailyn Gilbert Kailyn Gilbert 5'8" | CG IMG Academy | 2022 State FL is considered top 20 and Amiya Evans Amiya Evans 6'2" | PF DME Academy | 2022 State FL is ranked in the top 50. Most recruiting sites also including Nyla Harris Nyla Harris 6'2" | PF Lake Highland Prep | 2022 State #34 Nation FL , Tonie Morgan Tonie Morgan 5'9" | PG FSUHS | 2022 State #18 Nation FL , Jordana Codio Jordana Codio 6'1" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State FL , and Sydney Shaw Sydney Shaw 5'9" | SG DME Academy | 2022 State FL while you also have recent UCF verbal commit Savannah Henderson Savannah Henderson 6'1" | SF Timber Creek | 2022 State #46 Nation FL , Mizzou verbal commit Addison Potts Addison Potts 6'0" | CG South Fort Myers | 2022 State FL , Mya Kone Mya Kone 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL , Paris Gaines Paris Gaines 6'3" | PF Jones | 2022 State FL , Joey Delancy Joey Delancy 5'8" | CG American Heritage | 2022 State FL , Michiyah Simmons Michiyah Simmons 5'8" | PG Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL , and a host of other talented prospects all in one class. The entire 2022 class is super deep and extremely versatile where a college coach can fill a variety of its needs no matter what they are looking for. Need a shooter? Want an inside/out post? Need a long, athletic versatile wing? Looking for a scorer who is a walking bucket? The 2022 class has it all in Florida.