Fab Fifteen Teams to Watch in the 2019-2020 Season

<em>The Sunshine State has a lot of very talented squads throughout the state with big areas like Miami, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers/Cape Coral, Sarasota/Bradenton, and many others places like Gainesville and Tallahassee that are home to some of the best colleges in the US. Here </em>is<em> our Fab 15 teams that are set up to have spectacular seasons in the sunny state of Florida:</em> &nbsp; <strong>Miami Country Day</strong> is the obvious choice to top the list as they were the only Florida team last year to crack National rankings and have won six straight titles. They lost some talent, but they return a slew of stars for the upcoming season. Their biggest return (in size too) is 6-9 Senior Chantell Gonzalez. They also have 5-9 Junior Sydney Shaw, 5-6 Sophomore Emani Theodule, and 5-7 Freshman Kristina Godfrey to round out all four classes that make up an exciting backcourt. MCDS finished at 26-2 with their lone, regular season loss being by 1 point to Tampa Bay Tech. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 1rem">Speaking of </span><strong style="font-size: 1rem">Tampa Bay Tech</strong><span style="font-size: 1rem">, they made the cut. They finished last season by winning the 8A State Championship with a record of 29-3. This team kept all of their core players, so they may be even better this season with none of their key returners being Seniors either. Returning for the Titans is nationally ranked Sophomore Janiah Barker and fellow Sophomore Amiya Evans. Their three key returning Juniors are Jasmine Peaks, Jayla Murray, and K'Nisha Godfrey. This team is stacked again this year, and they even have a chance to get better in the future.</span> &nbsp; <strong>Braden River</strong> won their first 20 games of the season before finishing 24-2 at the hands of two teams in our Fab 15. The Pirates return one of the best dynamic duos in the state with nationally ranked Junior O'Mariah Gordon and Senior Julia Rodriguez who contributed 75% of the team's points last year. Outside of those two, look for Sophomore Isabella Patterson to step up as an under the radar teammate. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Lake Highland Prep</strong> returns a lot from a 26-5 team from the previous season. The most notable of returnees is Kayla Blackshear and Zanoria Cruz who will be the most important upperclassmen in this operation. Sophomores Sierra Ingram and Sierra Goldbolt will continue to develop with incoming Freshman Eleecia Carter who is already an important piece to this team. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Wekiva</strong> finished last season by winning the 9A State Championship and return a ton of leadership after their 26-6 campaign. The Mustangs return their fab four Seniors in Myanna Garrett, Danesha Boles, Emerielle James, and Brierra Williams. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Palm Beach Lakes</strong> is the recipient of a Leonard HS transfer in Senior Zaida Gonzalez. The Rams do lose more than the previously mentioned teams, but getting a solid transfer like Zaida is a huge help to a team who went 22-3 last winter. They also return Seniors Keishmy Ayuso and Sh'Naya Anderson who can put some points on the board. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>St. Thomas Aquinas</strong> loses a pair of stars after their 23-7 year, but they return three other bright stars along with a transfer. Seniors Belle LaChance and Angelee Rodriguez join fellow upperclassmen Junior Samara Spencer to form a trio of talented Raiders. STA also welcomes Freshman Karina Gordon who played last season with Miami Country Day. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Florida Prep</strong> is the smallest school on the list, but they dominate at the 2A level. They played an amazing strength of schedule and started the season with a  4-8 record against mostly bigger schools before finishing at 22-9. It was smooth sailing to win the 2A State Championship with returning Junior Aleah Sorrentino and Freshman Emma Risch.  Antonio Alexe is another name to watch as she will be the lone Senior this year. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>P.K. Yonge</strong> had the best record of any team on the list, and they are another group with a dynamic duo. Senior Courtney Moore and Junior Mya McGraw are two of the best in the state who helped lead this team to a 28-2 record last season with their only in-state loss coming to Miami Country Day. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Carrollwood Day School</strong> only lost their second and very last game to complete a 27-2 season without any Seniors on their side.  This is potentially the deepest team on this list as they have eight players who can make a huge impact during any game. Five of those eight are Seniors consisting of Tarryiona Gary, Nabaweeyah McGill, Tiasia McMillan, Maliyah Perry, and Jaden Harris. Aryana Dizon is a Junior who is tough in the post to go along with two Sophomores to finish off that top eight with Milahnie Perry and Ceniya King. &nbsp; The <strong>Sandalwood</strong> Saints will look to capture a 20-win season after just falling short with a record of 19-7. I can't imagine they will have any trouble reaching that goal as they return nationally ranked Senior Caitlin McGee. Other than her, Seniors Amari Wright and Nadya Matthews round out a solid senior class. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Bishop Kenny</strong> does not lose much, and they return a dynamic duo who could compete with any two in the state. Senior Cara McCarthy has great court vision, Junior Jasmyne Roberts can do a little bit of everything, and Sophomore Maddie Millar can flat out score the rock. They will look to improve on a very impressive 29-3 season. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Father Lopez</strong> always seems to put a good team together with a stunning 27-3 finish last year. The Green Wave do lose a key player, but they return some ballers too. Seniors Tiera White, Gabby Watson, and Taneja Robinson are three defensive wizards who will help lead, along with Sophomore Lauren Stewart, their group to another successful season. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Somerset Prep</strong> comes in with the losingest record from last season at 13-10. However, this 3A crew didn't lose a single player to graduation, and they return six strong players. Alexis Gibbs is the solo Senior just as Christina Grant is the only Junior to be back this year. A quartet of Sophomores is a massive part of what fuels the Hurricanes with Michiyah Simmons, Mya Kone, Zaria Blake, and Kourtnee Gilbert. &nbsp; The <strong>Timber Creek</strong> Wolves ended last year with a 23-5 record thanks in large part to three returning players. One Senior in Jourdan Avery, one Junior in Zora Fray Chinn, and one Sophomore in Savannah Henderson were the three players who averaged double-digit points for this team returning their core trio. &nbsp; &nbsp;