Who Were the Top Senior Performers (Part 1) in Lakeland?
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Who Were the Top Senior Performers (Part 1) in Lakeland?
By Michael Wholey 3/6/21 9:00 AM EST
This past week, Florida concluded its high school season in Lakeland, hosting the top 4 teams in each class at the RP Funding Center and crowning 6 new state champions. Let’s take a look at who the top Senior performers were.
Kendal Cheesman Kendal Cheesman 6'2" | PF HB Plant | 2021 State FL (Plant HS) 6’2 Wing/Forward
Cheesman might have had more of an impact on her team than any other single player in Lakeland. Simply put she was amazing in the two games in Lakeland leading Plant to their first ever state championship. The 6’2 Wing/Forward signed with Vanderbilt in the fall and put her versatility on full display. In the semi-final matchup vs Oakleaf Cheesman dropped 21 points on 8/17 shooting and grabbed 16 rebounds and had 5 steals. She followed up that performance with 24 points on 10/11 shooting (4/4 from 3-point land) to go along with 18 rebounds vs Miami Senior HS. It was an impressive and efficient performance from the Senior shooting 65% from the field in Lakeland while averaging 17 rebounds per game. She is a tough matchup that can play the wing and forward spot mixing it up between playing on the perimeter and sliding down low. She is a very active player who plays hard on both end of the floor and uses her height and length to be a very effective rebounder. Look for Cheesman to potentially be this year’s Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida!
Nyla Jean Nyla Jean 5'7" | PG HB Plant | 2021 State FL (Plant HS) 5’8 Guard
Jean combined with Cheesman made a very challenging duo for opposing teams to shut down. Running the point guard position, the Georgia State signee helped distribute the ball to Cheesman in scoring positions while also attacking in transition getting to the rim consistently. In the semi-final matchup vs Oakleaf, Jean lived at the FT line shooting 14/19 from the free throw line scoring 26 points while also dropping 5 assists and 3 steals. She followed that up with a 14-point, 4 assist, and 4 steal performance in the championship game leading Plant to the 7A FHSAA State Championship by defeating Miami Senior HS 52-40. Concluding her career on tap, Jean proved to be a leader on the court, with excellent ball skills in the open floor and a dangerous offensive threat in transition consistently pushing the tempo. She has great court vision, gets her teammates involved by sharing the basketball, is a big-time competitor and is very good on both sides of the basketball.
Kiara Cruz Kiara Cruz 5'4" | SG Miami Sr HS | 2021 State FL (Miami Senior HS) 5’4 Guard
Cruz might have had one of the biggest jumps in her role from last season to this season. With Miami Senior HS losing 4 Seniors from last year’s 7A State Championship team, Cruz jumped from averaging 7 points per game last season to doubling that and leading this year’s team in scoring with 14 points per game. In the semi-final matchup, she was a bit quiet from the scoring standpoint going 2/10 from the field scoring 7 points but played all 32 minutes playing both guard positions and had 4 assists to go along with 4 rebounds to help Miami advance to the finals by beating Palm Beach Lakes 46-39. In the championship game, Cruz shot the ball better going 6/13 from the field scoring 14 points but in the end, it was not enough and Miami fell to Plant 52-40. Cruz had a big Senior year and remains as one of the state’s top unsigned prospects.
Zaida Gonzalez Zaida Gonzalez 5'9" | CG Palm Beach Lakes | 2021 State FL (Palm Beach Lakes HS) 5’8 Guard
Gonzalez was one of the state’s top scorers all season averaging over 20 points per game. She would have needed another 20+ point performance to advance to the state championship game. In the end she finishes with 16 points on 7/15 shooting to go along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The FIU signee had a big Senior year and has a great college career ahead of her. She is a big guard who can play multiple positions. Her combination of height, athleticism and strength allow her to get into the paint and finish at the rim vs contact and over defenders. She has a smooth, calming presence about her with the ball in her hands often making things look easy on the offensive end.
Samara Spencer Samara Spencer 5'8" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2021 State FL (St Thomas Aquinas) 5’8 Guard
Simply put, Spencer was very, very good in Lakeland playing 63 of 64 possible minutes across two games. In the semi-final game vs Charlotte, she got it done from all aspects of the game scoring 24 points on 7/14 from the field to go along with 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Versus Wekiva in the championship game, Spencer struggled from the field shooting 4/16 but she got to the FT line knocking down 8/12 for 17 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 5 steals. Spencer is a competitive scoring guard who finds a way to be productive on the offensive end. Her fearless mentality attacking the paint and rim consistently gets her to the free throw line, shown by her 25 free throw attempts in 2 games. She is not just aggressive on the offensive end as she is very active on the defensive end running through passing lanes and applying ball pressure. The Arkansas signee is a versatile guard that can play both guard positions and is always a threat with the ball in her hands in open space!
Trinity Hardy Trinity Hardy 5'10" | SF Winter Haven | 2021 State FL (Winter Haven HS) 5’9 Guard
Hardy was aggressive on the offensive end in the semi-final match up vs Wekiva scoring 20 points on 8/24 shooting to go along with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Hardy’s offensive performance was not enough as Winter Haven fell to Wekiva 68-60 with Wekiva advancing the championship game. Hardy is headed to West Point next season to suit up for the Army Women’s basketball program next season. She is a big, strong combo guard who can handle the rock and has a college ready body.
Jayla Murray Jayla Murray 6'1" | SF Winter Haven | 2021 State FL (Winter Haven HS) 5’8 Guard
Murray came off the bench and along with Hardy did everything they could to try and lead Winter Haven to championship game. On 7/15 shooting she scored 17 points. But it was on the offensive glass where she was most impressive grabbing 10 offensive rebounds while only playing 16 minutes due to foul trouble. Murray’s rebounding stats are an attribute to her high motor and consistent energy she plays with. On the court, she never stops moving and always seems to be around the ball playing hard on both ends of the floor.
Mikyala Tolivert (Palm Bay HS) 5’8 Guard
Tolivert put impressive back-to-back offensive performances in Lakeland scoring 18 points in the semi-final win vs St. Augustine and following that up with 16 points championship game vs American Heritage. For the tournament she was 6/15 from 3 and snatched 7 steals. The Georgia State signee surpassed 2,000 career points earlier in the season. She is a skilled perimeter player that with good strength and size from guard spot. She is a high-level scorer who can score in a variety of ways – knocking it down from 3, attacking in transition and breaking down defenders 1on1 and getting to the rim!
Tatyana Wyche Tatyana Wyche 6'2" | C American Heritage | 2021 State FL (American Heritage Plantation) 6’2 Forward
In the semi-final matchup vs Clearwater, American Heritage dominated the game from start to finish. While sister and teammate Taliyah Wyche Taliyah Wyche 6'2" | C American Heritage | 2021 State FL was limited due to foul trouble, Clearwater had no answer for Tatyana as she was an impressive 7/9 from the field scoring 14 points while also hauling down 4 rebounds and controlling the paint. She followed that up with a 7 point and 13 rebound performance in the championship game vs Palm Bay helping lead American Heritage to the 5A State Championship. The 6’2 forward has great length and athleticism and can play inside as well as at the high post and the perimeter. She is a scoring threat down low while also impacting the game as a shot blocker and a rebounder and runs the floor in transition very well with very few post players being able to stay with her.
Taliyah Wyche Taliyah Wyche 6'2" | C American Heritage | 2021 State FL (American Heritage Plantation) 6’2 Forward
It is hard to write about one Wyche and not write about the other as they play off of each other so well. While Tatyana got it done on the offensive end in the 66-29 blowout win vs Clearwater, Taliyah was the team’s high scorer for Palm Bay scoring 14 points on 8/11 from the FT Line while also grabbing 7 rebounds. The state championship victory over Palm Bay was Taliyah and sister Tatyana 4th consecutive state championship, an incredibly impressive feat. The two twin towers head to University of Florida next season and look to bring their winning ways to Gainesville.
Michael Wholey is the Senior Scout of Prep Girls Hoop Florida and he can be reached directly at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or on Twitter or Instagram at @WholeyPrepHoops.