Who Were the Top Sophomores Performers (Part 1) in Lakeland?
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Who Were the Top Sophomores Performers (Part 1) in Lakeland? By Michael Wholey 3/2/21 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…
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Continue ReadingWho Were the Top Sophomores Performers (Part 1) in Lakeland?
By Michael Wholey 3/2/21 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 some of the the top Sophomore performers were.
Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL (Oakleaf HS) 5’8 Guard
Scott has been a scoring machine all year establishing herself as one of the states’ most dynamic players. In the semi-final matchup vs eventual state champion Plant, Oakleaf lost 69-52. Scott was guarded tightly all night by Plant defenders and still managed to drop 26 points, unfortunately it took 28 shots to do so, as she went 7/28 from the field, 3/17 from 3-point land, and 9/13 from FT line to go along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Scott transferred from Bolles and with her, Fantasia James Fantasia James 5'10" | SF Oakleaf | 2023 State FL , and Kaylah Turner Kaylah Turner 5'5" | PG Oakleaf | 2023 State FL at Oakleaf for two more years, look for them to be back in Lakeland for next 2 years.
Fantasia James Fantasia James 5'10" | SF Oakleaf | 2023 State FL (Oakleaf HS) 5’9 Guard
James has been playing the role of Robin to Scott all season with several breakout performances. In the sem-final game vs Plant, James played almost the entire game doing everything she could to help get Oakleaf to the championship. In the end, she finished with 15 points on 6/9 from the field. She is a big guard who can score in a variety of ways, is very athletic and plays hard and with a ton of energy. The Sophomore trio of Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL , Fantasia James Fantasia James 5'10" | SF Oakleaf | 2023 State FL and Kaylah Turner Kaylah Turner 5'5" | PG Oakleaf | 2023 State FL are going to be a problem in 7A for next 2 years!
Karina Gordon Karina Gordon 5'8" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL (St Thomas Aquinas) 5’8 Guard
Gordon put together two consecutive impressive offensive performances in Lakeland to help lead St Thomas to the 6A State Championship. In the semi-final matchup vs Charlotte, Gordon’s stat line says it all as she got it done in several ways shooting 9/16 from field, 4/7 from 3, for 24 points to go along with 9 rebounds. Gordon and Senior teammate Samara Spencer Samara Spencer 5'8" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2021 State FL combined for 48 of its teams 62 points, helping lead STA to the 62-48 win over Charlotte. In an encore performance, Gordon followed her 24-point performance up with 15 points vs Wekiva to take home the 6A State Championship 62-60. Gordon played all 32 minutes in the championship game and has established herself as one of the state’s top Sophomores.
D’Yanis Jimenez D’Yanis Jimenez 5'9" | PG Charlotte | 2023 State FL (Charlotte HS) 5’8 Guard
Jimenez has been really good all season. She is a talented, dynamic, crafty scoring guard who is dangerous in the open floor. In the semi-final matchup vs St Thomas, STA threw a couple different defenders and and defenses at her. In the end Jimenez finished with 14 points on 4/16 shooting and 5/8 from FT line with 9 rebounds. It was not enough as St Thomas came away with the 62-48 win.
Emma Risch Emma Risch 6'2" | PG Palm Bay | 2023 State #23 Nation FL (Palm Bay HS) 6’2 Guard
Risch has been really good all season. In the semi-final matchup vs St. Augustine, she finished with 11 points on 4/11 shooting to go along with 4 assists. She was one of four players on the deep Palm Bay roster to reach double figures to advance the Pirates to the championship game, defeating St Augustine convincingly 67-32. In the championship game, Risch went 5/14 from the field for 12 points to go along with 6 rebounds. Ultimately it wasn’t enough as they fell to American Heritage 41-36. Risch has been on the exposure scene for quite some time and has a very unique skill set to go along with extraordinary height and length making her one of the state’s top prospects. Palm Bay is deep across several classes and expect the Pirates to be a factor for several years!
Jazmine Major Jazmine Major 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL (Palm Bay HS) 5’5 Guard
Major stepped up in the semi-final game vs St. Augustine going for 5/9 from the field including 2/2 from 3 for 12 points. She established herself as the team’s floor general setting her teammates up for easy buckets accumulating 6 assists and helping her team have 4 players in double figures. Major struggled in the championship game but it is obvious the young Sophomore is a playmaker that can run the team’s offense and find her spots to score.
Liv Fuller Liv Fuller 5'10" | SF Clearwater | 2023 State FL (Clearwater HS) 6’0 Forward
Fuller has been dominant all season. Clearwater struggled vs American Heritage in the semi-final matchup but Fuller was the lone bright spot. She managed 13 points on 4/6 from field to go along with 6 rebounds. She is a high-level athlete with an impressive vertical and a high motor. She continues to develop her offensive game and with a young core group of Freshman and Sophomores, Clearwater should be a factor in Lakeland for next several years.
Eleecia Carter Eleecia Carter 5'7" | CG Lake Highland Prep | 2023 State FL (Lake Highland Prep) 5’7 Guard
Lake Highland Prep finished the season undefeated and as the 4A State Champions. In Lakeland, Carter was impressive scoring in double digits in both the semi-final and championship game and showcasing her deep 3-point range. In the semi-final matchup vs Bishop Kenny Carter knocked down 4/8 from 3 to drop 16 points to go along with 4 assists. She followed that up in the championship game with 4 more 3-pointers on 4/7 shooting for 14 points and dropped 4 more assists. Lake Highland Prep is as deep and as talented of a high school roster as I have seen personally. With just one Senior, it is very possible that Lake Highland Prep can continue this success for the next 2-4 years!
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.