Who Are the Top 5 Teams in South Florida?
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By Michael Wholey 11/14/22 9:00 AM EST The Tri County area of South Florida has traditionally been one of the strongest and most competitive areas of the state. Four of seven state champions came out of South Florida in 2022…
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Continue ReadingBy Michael Wholey 11/14/22 9:00 AM EST
The Tri County area of South Florida has traditionally been one of the strongest and most competitive areas of the state. Four of seven state champions came out of South Florida in 2022 and 2021 and three of seven state champions came out of South Florida in 2020. Westminster Academy, Miami Country Day, Blanche Ely, and Miami Senior HS have all won a state championship in the last 3 years and St. Thomas Aquinas, American Heritage, and Miami Christian have won multiple championships. We take a look at who the top 5 teams are coming out of the region.
St. Thomas Aquinas
The reigning 6A State Champs take the number one spot as they return a solid core and have added several impact transfers. The loss of Alancia Ramsey Alancia Ramsey 6'0" | PF St Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL due to injury is a significant blow but with the recent addition of 6’2 Ka’Zahria Johnson Ka’Zahria Johnson 6'2" | C St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL (2024) from Norland and the improvement of 6’1 Nyla McFadden Nyla McFadden 5'11" | SF St. Thomas Aquinas | 2025 State FL (2025) this summer, the Raiders will still be the team to beat in the area. The Raiders will be led by Sun Sentinel Player of the Year Karina Gordon Karina Gordon 5'8" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL (2023) and Mater Lakes transfer Khadee Hession Khadee Hession 5'10" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL . Reina Green Reina Green 5'10" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL (2023) is one of the state’s most athletic players and Kamryn Corporan Kamryn Corporan 5'3" | PG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL (2024) is a versatile playmaker who will also see an increased role this year and will be key in the team’s success. As always, St. Thomas Aquinas will have to face Blanche Ely multiple times, in what has turned into a very emotional and competitive rivalry that has accounted for each of the last three 6A State Championships.
Westminster Academy
The reigning 3A State Champs come in at number 2, led by the class of 2025 top prospect Lena Girardi Lena Girardi 5'10" | SF IMG Academy | 2025 State FL . With the addition of Markeli Jones-Tynes Markeli Jones-Tynes 5'9" | PG Westminster Academy | 2025 State FL transferring in from Calvary Christian, the Lions have two premier 2025 guards, giving Westminster Academy the top backcourt in South Florida! Sharpshooter Abby Price Abby Price 5'11" | SG Westminster Academy | 2025 State FL (2025) and 6’1 Taelynn Carey (2023) give WA scoring, depth, and versatility, making the Lions the favorite to repeat as 3A State Champs and an extremely tough team to beat this season!
Miami Country Day
Coming off of a tough season injury wise, the Spartans look to return back to dominance as their core will be a year older and healthy. 6’1 Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL (2024) will lead the way after a big summer with the Miami Suns with FAU signee Kristina Godfrey Kristina Godfrey 5'7" | PG Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL (2023) running the point guard position. Fellow 2023 Aicha Keita Aicha Keita 6'1" | SF Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL will return after missing significant time due to injury will provide a major boost. Jalynn Belton Jalynn Belton 5'10" | SF Miami Country Day | 2027 State FL (2027) had a huge summer, picking up major BCS interest from a number of major universities and will have a key role despite being just in 8th grade while Sofia Mendez Sofia Mendez 5'7" | CG Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL (2024) will be an integral piece to the team’s success bringing a second ballhandler and superb 3-point shooting. Look for the 3A State Championship to come down to who makes it out of South Florida between Westminster Academy and Miami Country Day, having won two of the last three championships and only one getting the opportunity to move onto Lakeland.
Blanche Ely Tigers
Competing in arguably the toughest district and region in the state, the Tigers have consistently been a contender the last few years and this year will be no different. Coming off a strong summer with Team Knight on the 3ssb circuit, the duo of 2024s Gianna Corbitt Gianna Corbitt 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL and Janessa Kelly will lead the way for the Tiger’s this season. Expect for 2023 Tamara Battle and 2024 Laketrice Peterson Laketrice Peterson 6'2" | CG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL to see an increased role this season as well.
Somerset Silver Palms
The Stallions are new to a list of schools who have consistently been contenders in recent years. They return a core of some of the state’s top prospects in the class of 2024-2027 with a mix of ball handlers, post players, and shooters. Expect for 2024s Unique Horton Unique Horton 6'2" | PF Miami SouthRidge | 2024 State FL and Shanaii Gamble Shanaii Gamble 5'10" | SF Somerset Academy Silver Palms | 2024 State FL , 2025 Dianka Hardisson Dianka Hardisson 5'5" | PG Somerset Academy Silver Palms | 2025 State FL , and 2027 Victoria Valle Victoria Valle 5'7" | PG Doral Academy | 2027 State FL to have breakout seasons. 2026 Stephanie Vega Stephanie Vega 5'7" | SF Somerset Silver Palms | 2026 State FL could also see a jump in production this season on a young but deep Stallion roster.
Other Notable Teams:
American Heritage (Plantation), Palmer Trinity, Miami Senior, Somerset Prep North Lauderdale, King’s Academy, North Broward Prep
Michael Wholey is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech. Wholey and the rest of the Prep Girls Hoop staff, seek to cover the entire state of player, keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news. Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information. If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.