The Top 10 Varsity Girls Teams in Florida
Top 10 Varsity Girls Teams in Florida regardless of class for 2020-21 Season By Michael Wholey 11/2/20 9:00 AM EST The 2019-20 High School season ended crowning seven state champions: 1A – Hawthorne, 2A – Florida Prep, 3A – Carrollwood…
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Continue ReadingTop 10 Varsity Girls Teams in Florida regardless of class for 2020-21 Season
By Michael Wholey 11/2/20 9:00 AM EST
The 2019-20 High School season ended crowning seven state champions: 1A – Hawthorne, 2A – Florida Prep, 3A – Carrollwood Day, 4A – Lake Highland Prep, 5A – American Heritage Plantation, 6A – Blanche Ely, and 7A – Miami Senior HS. As graduation has taken some of the state’s top players away to college and incoming Freshman and transfers have given some of these rosters a new look. The FHSAA calendar allowed teams to host their first practice of the season starting Monday October 26 and to play their first game November 16 while the FHSAA State Championship is scheduled to be played February 24-27. As we transition from the fall to winter season in high school sports in Florida, we take a look at 10 of the state’s top teams regardless of classification.
American Heritage (Plantation)
Hard to argue this one, American Heritage (Plantation) is coming off a 3-peat winning state championships in 2018, 2019, 2020 and return 6’3 twin towers Taliyah Wyche and Tatyana Wyche Tatyana Wyche 6'2" | C American Heritage | 2021 State FL (who are University of Florida verbal commits) and Senior Point Guard Daniella Aronsky Daniella Aronsky 5'8" | CG American Heritage | 2021 State FL . Add into the mix three big time transfers with 2022 Sydney Shaw Sydney Shaw 5'9" | SG DME Academy | 2022 State FL and Emani Theodule Emani Theodule 5'6" | CG American Heritage | 2022 State FL departing Miami Country Day and 2022 guard Joey Delancy Joey Delancy 5'8" | CG American Heritage | 2022 State FL coming over from Nova High School and American Heritage (Plantation) is a pre-season favorite to win a state championship and a potential national ranking.
Blanche Ely
Blanche Ely is also coming off a state championship. Their roster is loaded with talent top to bottom headlined by 2021 University of Miami verbal commit Ja’Leah Williams Ja’Leah Williams 5'9" | CG Blanche Ely | 2021 State FL . The roster is arguably the deepest in the state with 2022 Michiyah Simmons Michiyah Simmons 5'8" | PG Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL , Zaria Blake Zaria Blake 6'0" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL , and Mya Kone Mya Kone 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL all healthy and set up to have a solid high school season. Add in a healthy Mikhia Lumsdon Mikhia Lumsdon 5'7" | CG Blanche Ely | 2021 State FL set to make her return for her Senior season and Freshman phenom Janessa Kelley Janessa Kelley 5'9" | SG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL , it is going to be hard to take down the Blanche Ely Tigers. And if that was not enough, Prep Girls Hoops Florida’s # 1 rated 2024 Gianna Corbitt Gianna Corbitt 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL has transferred to Blanche Ely from Miami Country Day (where she played major minutes as an 8th grader).
Lake Highland Prep
Lake Highland Prep is consistently amongst the state’s and nations top teams and this year will be no different. Coach Al Honor will take the floor with 2021 Kayla Blackshear Kayla Blackshear 6'1" | PF Lake Highland Prep | 2021 State #61 Nation FL (Alabama verbal commit), 2022s Stefanie Ingram Stefanie Ingram 5'7" | CG Lake Highland | 2022 State FL and Nyla Harris Nyla Harris 6'2" | PF Lake Highland Prep | 2022 State #34 Nation FL , and 2024 Lexi Blue Lexi Blue 6'1" | SF Lake Highland Prep | 2024 State FL . Those four are as strong as you are going to see a high school team put together in their starting 5. The front court of Blackshear and Harris are the best front court in the state and a major force on the paint. Ingram and Blue will round out the perimeter and Lake Highland Prep will be set up for a major season this year!
Miami Country Day
Miami County Day has had too much success to count them out. They graduated two Seniors Chantell Gonzalez Chantell Gonzalez 6'8" | PF Miami Country Day | 2020 State FL and Milani McCormick and also had 4 departures with Olivia Delancy Olivia Delancy 6'0" | SF Bogie HS | 2022 State FL (Carrollwood Day School), Sydney Shaw Sydney Shaw 5'9" | SG DME Academy | 2022 State FL (American Heritage Plantation), Emani Theodule Emani Theodule 5'6" | CG American Heritage | 2022 State FL (American Heritage Plantation), and Khadee Hession Khadee Hession 5'10" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL (American Heritage Delray) all transferring. In a typical situation that would destroy any roster. But Miami Country Day is always flush with talent and it appears they are taking the “next woman up” mentality only adding one transfer, 2023 Aicha Keita Aicha Keita 6'1" | SF Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL (Cypress Bay). The Spartans will lean on uncommitted 2021 6’0 forward Andrea Daley Andrea Daley 6'0" | SF Miami Country Day | 2021 State FL , and the extremely talented 2024 young Forward Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL (who is back 100% healthy), 2023 guards Kristina Godfrey Kristina Godfrey 5'7" | PG Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL and Isabella Guevara Isabella Guevara 5'6" | PG Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL , and 2024 Charisse Martin Charisse Martin 5'7" | CG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL . Coach Ochiel Swaby has built Miami Country Day into a national powerhouse. Sometimes there is addition by subtraction. Don’t count Miami Country Day out … there are too many wins, championships, and tradition to count them out being a factor in this years season!
Tampa Bay Tech
Based off last year’s rosters with pretty much all players returning, I had Tampa Bay Tech as the state’s # 1 team. Tampa Bay Tech will rely on the talented front court of Janiah Barker Janiah Barker 6'2" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #3 Nation FL and Amiya Evans Amiya Evans 6'2" | PF DME Academy | 2022 State FL who are both ranked top 50 nationally. I don’t believe there will be a bigger team in the state with three 6’3+ players adding Mya Lamar Mya Lamar 6'2" | C Tampa Bay Tech | 2021 State FL (transfer from Strawberry Crest) to the front court with Barker and Evans it is going to be tough to get a shot off or a rebound in the paint. Going into the offseason, I had Tampa Bay Tech as the # 1 team in the state but there has been some turnover of the roster over the past few months. Mississippi State verbal commit K’Nisha Godfrey K’Nisha Godfrey 5'9" | CG Tampa Bay Tech | 2021 State FL has recently made the decision to enroll early, 2021 Jazmine Peaks has transferred to Winter Haven and it is unknown what is happening with 2021 Jayla Murray Jayla Murray 6'1" | SF Winter Haven | 2021 State FL . Losing 2-3 of these players are a huge hit to the roster while if all 3 were suiting up this season for Tampa Bay Tech, I would say that is the strongest starting 5 in the state!
Palm Bay Magnet
Palm Bay went 23-6 last year and lost in the regional championship to Jones and were led by 2021 Mikyla Tolivert Mikyla Tolivert 5'7" | CG Palm Bay | 2021 State FL who averaged 30.9 PPG last season. Tolivert returns along with Amaya Bozeman Amaya Bozeman CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2021 State FL and they welcome a host of transfers from neighboring Florida Prep who won the 2A State Championship. 2023 6’1 Point Guard Emma Risch Emma Risch 6'2" | PG Palm Bay | 2023 State #23 Nation FL is the number 1 ranked 2023 in the state and averaged 16 PPG, 7 RPG, and 2 APG last season. In addition 2021 6’2 Forward Emani Burks Emani Burks 6'2" | PF Palm Bay | 2021 State FL , 2022s 5’6 Guard Shamya Joiner, 5’11 Forward Paige McDonald Paige McDonald 5'11" | SF Cocoa HS | 2022 State FL , 2023s 5’5 PG Alonya Waldon Alonya Waldon 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL , 5’6 Guard Jazmine Major Jazmine Major 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL , and 2024 Kiara Williams Kiara Williams 6'1" | PF Palm Bay Magnet | 2024 State FL averaged a combined 30+ points and 20+ rebounds per game for Florida Prep. It will be interesting to see how these two rosters combine to play together as one unit at the high school level but it should not be much of an issue as they all play together with East Coast United in travel ball. This revamped roster makes Palm Bay Magnet arguably the most talented roster in the state.
Seffner Christian
Seffner Christian lost to eventual state champion Carrollwood Day School last season in the regional championship and finished the season with an overall 23-6 record. They return their Freshman phenom 5’3 guard Nini Davenport Nini Davenport 5'3" | PG Seffner Christian | 2023 State FL who averaged 10.6 PPG and looks to build on that in her Sophomore campaign as well as Seniors 6’0 Wing/Forward Chimera Iloanya Chimera Iloanya 6'1" | PF Seffner Christian | 2021 State FL (Tennessee State verbal commit) who averaged close to a double double with 9.6 PPG and 8.9 RPG along with Tajah Spaulding Tajah Spaulding 5'7" | CG Seffner Christian | 2021 State FL who averaged 9.2 PPG. The X-factor is one of the state’s top players in 2022 guard Kailyn Gilbert Kailyn Gilbert 5'8" | CG IMG Academy | 2022 State FL who comes to Seffner Christian from Tampa Prep. Gilbert is a human highlight film and averaged 32 PPG and 11 RPG last season for Tampa Prep. Seffner Christian is known for being a very balanced offensive team who shares the ball and typically have 4-5 players in double digits. The big question here is how Gilbert fits into that system as she immediately becomes the teams best player and elevates Seffner Christian to one of the states top 10 teams.
Winter Haven HS
When you talk about the road to Lakeland and the FHSAA state playoff system, you can not leave the Winter Haven Lady Blue Devils out of the discussion. A program built into a powerhouse by Ladawn Gibson and current Head Coach Johnnie Lawson has kept things rolling. Winter Haven in my opinion is the toughest class in the state with Tampa Bay Tech, Blanche Ely, Dillard, Wekiva, Fort Myers, Braden River, Dillard, St. Thomas Aquinas, Dunbar, and Nova along with a host of other tough squads. Last season they knocked off Tampa Bay Tech in the regional championship only to fall to eventual state champion Blanche Ely in Lakeland. Winter Haven returns their three top scorers uncommitted 2021 5’9 Guard Trinity Hardy Trinity Hardy 5'10" | SF Winter Haven | 2021 State FL (who lead team with 16.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG. 3.7 APG, and 4.3 SPG), 2021 5’5 Guard Jazmine Spencer Jazmine Spencer 5'6" | CG Winter Haven | 2021 State FL who averaged 8.6 PPG, and 2022 5’10 Wing/Forward Kayla Smith Kayla Smith 5'10" | SF Winter Haven | 2022 State FL who averaged 12.4 PPG and 5.1 RPG. In addition, the Lady Blue Devils welcome 2021 Jazmine Peaks who was the leading scorer and floor general for Tampa Bay Tech last season averaging 12.2 PPG and 3.6 RPG. All things said, the squad will be fun to watch and we know Coach Lawson will have them ready to play by the end of the season and playing hard brining their hard hats along with them!
Central Pointe Academy
The dark horse in this years season is the relatively new and unknown Central Pointe Christian Academy from Kissimmee, FL led by Head Coach Wesley Arocho. Central Pointe will field two teams this year assembling a national squad and a regional squad. The national squad is led by a core group of 8 players mainly international. The Tigers will be led by 2021 6’4 Harsimran Kaur Harsimran Kaur 6'4" | C Central Pointe Academy | 2021 State FL , 2022s 5’5 Silkiari Vazquez Silkiari Vazquez 5'5" | PG Central Pointe Academy | 2022 State FL , 5’9 Naylee Cortes Naylee Cortes 5'11" | PF Central Pointe Academy | 2022 State FL , 6’1 Gabriela Ahumada Gabriela Ahumada 6'1" | SF Central Pointe Academy | 2022 State FL , 6’0 Daniela Gonzalez Daniela Gonzalez 6'0" | SF Central Pointe Academy | 2022 State FL , 5’8 Betzalys Delgado, 2024 5’5 Freshman Damaris Alarcon Damaris Alarcon 5'5" | PG Central Pointe Academy | 2024 State FL , and 2025 5’4 Jayshlynn Vega Jayshlynn Vega 5'4" | PG Central Pointe Academy | 2025 State FL . The squad has had some success during the pre-season competing in some local events including defeating American Heritage (Plantation) in October. They have not been shy of scheduling as they have games set up against West Oaks Academy, IMG Academy, DME Sports Academy, Montverde Academy, Braden River, St. Thomas Aquinas, American Heritage (Plantation), as well as competing in the She Got Game event in Atlanta, Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational, and both of SUTS Report events Polk County Hoopfest (Winter Haven) and New Years Classic (Coral Springs).
Carrollwood Day School
There has been some drama in the off season at Carrollwood Day School with long time head coach Karim Nohra stepping down and then resuming his coaching responsibilities in the pre-season. Last year’s 3A State Champions graduate last year’s top two scorers Tarriyonna Gary Tarriyonna Gary 5'9" | SF Carrollwood Day | 2020 State FL and Texas A&M Corpus Christi signee Nabaweeyah McGill Nabaweeyah McGill 6'2" | PF Carrollwood Day | 2020 State FL but return Vermont verbal commit 6’2 Forward Ary Dizon Ary Dizon 6'2" | PF Carrollwood Day | 2021 State FL , 2022 5’7 Guard Milahnie Perry Milahnie Perry 5'7" | CG Carrollwood Day | 2022 State FL who is one of the states most improved players, 5’11 Freshman Leah Bullard Leah Bullard 6'1" | PF Dr Phillips | 2024 State FL who has a ton of potential and will play a much bigger role this season as well as 2022 Olivia Delancy Olivia Delancy 6'0" | SF Bogie HS | 2022 State FL who transfers from Miami Country Day.
These are our top 10 pre-season teams but there are so many more talented teams that will compete to take these teams down and bring home a state championship. It is hard to count out last year’s 7A State Champ Miami Senior HS. 2020 University of Central Florida signee Colleen Bucknor Colleen Bucknor 5'11" | PF Miami High | 2020 State FL is hard to replace but Coach Sam “Boozer” Baumgarten always has the Lady Stingrays playing. Vanderbilt verbal commit Kendal Cheesman Kendal Cheesman 6'2" | PF HB Plant | 2021 State FL will have her HB Plant squad in the conversation. In 6A Wekiva is always in the mix, O’Mariah Gordon O’Mariah Gordon 5'6" | PG Braden River | 2021 State #27 Nation FL is not going to let Braden River go down without a fight, Dunbar, Lincoln, and Fort Myers are always in the conversation, and who knows what will happen the super region of St. Thomas Aquinas, Nova, Dillard, and Blanche Ely in Broward County. In 5A American Heritage (Plantation) has had it locked down the last 3 years but Pine Forest, Jones, Miami Norland, are always strong and Palm Bay will be much improved. In 4A you can’t count Bishop Kenny out and 2021 University of Miami commit Jasmyne Roberts Jasmyne Roberts 5'10" | CG Bishop Kenny | 2021 State FL and 2022 Maddie Millar Maddie Millar 5'9" | CG Bishop Kenny | 2022 State FL . In 3A Master’s Academy is coming off a tough loss in the state championship to Carrollwood Day and Cardinal Mooney has Sophomore phenoms Jordyn Byrd Jordyn Byrd 6'3" | PF Cardinal Mooney | 2023 State #25 Nation FL and Olivia Davis Olivia Davis 5'7" | CG Cardinal Mooney | 2023 State FL . In 2A FAMU DRS hopes Stony Brook verbal commit Erin Turral Erin Turral 5'6" | CG FAMU DRS | 2021 State #77 Nation FL can put them back in the mix along with her twin sister Erica Turral Erica Turral 5'6" | CG Lincoln | 2021 State FL and in 1A Wildwood is always in Lakeland and Kailani Lindsey Kailani Lindsey 6'1" | PF Wildwood | 2023 State FL will try and keep it that way. DME Academy, IMG Academy, and Montverde Academy will also be strong competing independently and will face many of these teams in the regular season.
The FHSAA calendar looks like this for the 2020-21 season.
October 26 – First Practice
November 6 – Pre-Season Classic
November 16 – First Game
January 23 – Last District Game
January 30 – Last Regular Season Game
February 2-5 – District Tournament
February 11-19 – Regional Tournament
February 24-27 – State Championship
Who will live up to expectations? Who will under achieve? Who will overachieve? 2020 has already been a crazy year so who knows what the 2020-21 High School season has in store for us. We just hope that all players, coaches, and teams are able to compete safely and remain healthy and we make it to Lakeland in February and are able to crown a state champion. We will follow the teams and its players closely throughout the season and look forward to a fun and competitive 2020-21 High School season.
**This article has been updated as of November 9, 2020 to revise Gianna Corbitt Gianna Corbitt 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL now attending Blanche Ely and K’Nisha Godfrey K’Nisha Godfrey 5'9" | CG Tampa Bay Tech | 2021 State FL graduating early from Tampa Bay Tech to enroll in Mississippi State.