Preseason Top 5 Players in North Florida Area
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Media Day has come and gone and it was exciting to talk to the players from across the First Coast. The season is about to start and it wouldn’t be normal without listing the Preseason top 5 players on the…
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Continue ReadingMedia Day has come and gone and it was exciting to talk to the players from across the First Coast. The season is about to start and it wouldn’t be normal without listing the Preseason top 5 players on the First Coast. Only one Junior made the top 5 list, but there are probably 5 juniors in the top 10 on the First Coast. Every Senior listed on this list has committed to a D-1 school and they are all special players. This is the list of the top 5 players on the First Coast.
Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL / 5’8 SG / 2023 / St John’s Country Day
Hands down, Scott is the top player on the First Coast. It’s now being debated as to whether she is the greatest female to ever play on the First Coast and that alone supports her position on this list. Scott is poised for a special season this year. Scott can shoot the rock and she will approach 100 three-pointers again this upcoming season. Last year she made an amazing 90 three-pointers and averaged 31.5 points per game. Look for a lot of records to fall this upcoming season.
Eris Lester Eris Lester 5'10" | SF Montverde Academy | 2024 State FL 5’11 SF / 2024 / Orange Park
Lester is the lone Junior on this list and her basketball star has gone through the roof. If it wasn’t for the obvious choice at number one, Lester would be sitting in the top spot and that is no disrespect to anyone on this list. It’s more about the work that Lester has done to put herself in this position. She is a tireless worker who looks to better herself every single day. Lester has made vast improvements in her game and looking to see what is in store for her Junior season. Lester has developed a nice jumper from anywhere on the court. She can get to the rim and she has a killer mid-range game as well. Lester is very good on defense and is still one of the best players on the offensive glass and in transition. She is determined to be number one on this list and for that reason her Junior campaign is going to be one to remember.
Fantasia James Fantasia James 5'10" | SF Oakleaf | 2023 State FL / 5’10 SF / 2023 / Oakleaf
Being third on this list of generational talent is nothing to scoff at. James has been one to improve her game each year as well. Her three-point jump shooting in her junior season was outright incredible. Her 7 threes in the District finals were just a culmination of her season last year. James was still a force on the defensive end, defending in the paint and out on the wing. Rebounding and blocked shots are also two of James’s strengths that have been seen over the past few years. She is relentless on the boards and on defense. The lack of size sometimes causes James to play on the inside and she is a matchup nightmare when she is on offense. Her ability to get to the rim is already elite and guarded by a 5 is like giving her a free layup. James was special last year and look for the same this upcoming season.
Kaylah Turner Kaylah Turner 5'5" | PG Oakleaf | 2023 State FL / 5’5 PG / 2023 / Oakleaf
Turner is the best on-ball defender on this list and her defensive abilities are at the elite level. She sometimes single-handedly disrupts an opponent’s offense and she is known to steal the ball and get quick buckets. Turner averaged over 5 steals per game and that was no accident. Offensively, she has a motor that won’t quit and she has a pull-up jumper in the mid-range area that is “different”. No one in high school uses the midrange game the way Turner does. She can turn a fast break opportunity into a midrange in the paint. Turner can also shoot the ball from the three which shows the work that she has put in over the years as well.
Sophia Rueppell Sophia Rueppell 5'9" | PG Bishop Kenny | 2023 State FL 5’9 PG / 2023 / Bishop Kenny
Rueppell is one of the best guards on the First Coast and what makes Rueppell special is her feel for the game. From the first time seeing her play, that is what stood out. Compound that with a high basketball IQ and you have a special player. Rueppell can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court and she can run an offense like a well-oiled machine. As a Junior, she was content with being the floor general and scoring wasn’t needed from her position. With Maddie Millar gone, her team will have to get the points from somewhere and Rueppell will likely be one of the players to fill that void. Another void left by Millar is the leadership void. Rueppell will be asked to help fill that void as well.
There are some quality basketball players on the First Coast. We will revisit the top 5 at the end of the season to see if any players on the First Coast can break into this Top 5 list. There are quiet a few players who have a chance.