Who Were the Top Junior Performers (Part 2) in Lakeland?

Who Were the Top Junior Performers (Part 2) in Lakeland? By Michael Wholey 3/5/21 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 the top Junior performers were.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-242884 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/Nyla-Harris-206x300.jpg" alt="" width="206" height="300" />[player_tooltip player_id="91555" first="Nyla" last="Harris"] (Lake Highland Prep) 6’2 Forward Harris has long been considered one of the nations top post players. She helped Lake Highland Prep complete an undefeated season winning the 4A State Championship with two solid performances. In the semi-final game vs Bishop Kenny, Harris dropped 13 points on 5/7 from the field to go along with 6 rebounds going head-to-head with University of Miami signee [player_tooltip player_id="91482" first="Jasmyne" last="Roberts"]. In the championship game, Lake Highland Prep blew Lincoln Park out 84-30 and Harris was an impressive 10/11 from the field and led her team in scoring with 21 points along with 6 assists and 5 steals. Lake Highland Prep is extremely talented and return everyone but Senior [player_tooltip player_id="91496" first="Kayla" last="Blackshear"] and with Harris leading the way, I expect Lake Highland Prep to be right back in Lakeland taking home the 4A State Championship again next year!   <img class="size-medium wp-image-208806 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/Stefanie-Ingram-No-Name-2-1-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />[player_tooltip player_id="91585" first="Stefanie" last="Ingram"] (Lake Highland Prep) 5’7 Guard Ingram has been the heart and soul for the Highlanders all season. The UCF verbal commit was quiet in the semi-final game on the offensive end but put up big numbers in the championship game. She shot 75% from the field going 6/8 for 14 points go along with 10 rebounds and 7 assists with only 2 turnovers. Ingram has been putting together well-rounded floor games all season from the point guard position. The big, strong guard is one of the state’s top two-way players getting after it just as hard on the defensive end as she does on the offensive end. She handles the ball, finds her own scoring opportunities both from 3 and at the rim, sets up her teammates for easy buckets and covers the opposing teams point guards picking her up full court for a majority of the game.   <img class=" wp-image-259324 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/Sophia-Marrero-2019-PC-scaled-e1614653250132-196x300.jpg" alt="" width="117" height="179" />[player_tooltip player_id="243988" first="Sophia" last="Marrero"] (Lincoln Park Academy) 5’5 Junior All of Marrero’s field goals were from 3 in Lakeland going ¾ in the semi-final game in Lincoln Park Academys 48-37 win over American Heritage Delray. She struggled in the championship game vs Lake Highland Prep going 2/6 with 6 turnovers but Marrero has been one of the state’s top 3-point shooters averaging over 3 made 3-pointers per game!     <img class="alignright wp-image-208665 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/71-Jaela-Davis-e1614653326143-246x300.jpg" alt="" width="172" height="210" />[player_tooltip player_id="91581" first="Jaela" last="Davis"] (Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate) 5’8 Guard Brooks DeBartolo is very Senior lead team. Davis being the lone Junior starter did all she could to try and lead BDCS to victory but in the end it was not enough falling to Miami Country Day 66-44. In the semi-final game Davis was 4/13 from the field including 2/7 from 3 for 10 points. The 5’8 guard is an athletic slasher who can score from the outside as well as at the rim. With the Lady Phoenix losing 5 to graduation, Davis will be leaned on next year as the teams go to player!   <img class="size-medium wp-image-204319 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/09/80-Enjulina-Gonzalez-2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="154908" first="Enjulina" last="Gonzalez"] (Miami Christian) 5’9 Guard Gonzalez in my opinion is one of the state’s most under rated players. Miami Christian took home the 2A State Championship winning both their games in convincing fashion. In the semi-final win Gonzalez was quiet in the 71-34 blowout win vs City of Life Christian. In the championship game she was active on both ends of the floor scoring 13 points on 4/7 from field to go along with 6 rebounds and 5 steals. The 5’8 wing is long and athletic and plays with a smooth, calm demeanor making things look easy on the offensive end of the floor.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-259325 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/Daimelys-Morera-2019-MS-Tryout.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="244206" first="Daimelys" last="Morera"] (Miami Christian) 5’10 Forward Morera has been Miami Christian unsung hero all season. Versus City of Life she went 5/9 for 11 points and then followed that up with an 8 point and 5 rebound effort in the championship game vs Florida A&M. The 5’10 forward moves well for her size and plays strong and aggressive down low. She can play inside using her strength and size and can also step out to the high post and the perimeter playing face up. Ameari Logan (Florida A&M) 5’6 Guard Logan was efficient in the semi-final match up going 6/8 from the field for 16 points in the blowout win vs First Baptist 66-22. In the championship game, Logan did a little bit over everything to try and help the Baby Rattlers take down Miami Christian but in the end it wasn’t enough. The 5’6 guard was 4/13 from field and 8/11 from the FT line for 16 points to go along with 12 rebounds and 6 steals. Throughout the game she attacked the paint and rim consistently drawing contact which is why she got to the line 11 times along with going to the offensive glass from the perimeter.   Sophia Chevres Rosado (City of Life Christian Academy) 5’5 Guard Chevres was City of Life’s lone double digit scorer in their semi-final loss to Miami Christian using the free throw line to fill up the stat sheet. She finished with 13 points going 8/10 from the FT line. It was a tough matchup for COLCA but Chevres played hard on both ends doing what she could to try and help her team pull up the win. In the end, Miami Christian doubled up City of Life winning 71-34 but Chevres doubled her season average in a solid effort. Coach Dewrie Buggs runs a solid program and always has his teams playing well. With the graduation of Camila and Josie De Pool-maisonet, he will need big things from Chevres next season!   Mimi Larry (Port St Joe) 5’10 Wing/Forward Larry led her team in scoring with 11 points playing all but 1 minute in the semi-final loss to eventual 1A State Champion Ponce De Leon. Larry had been consistent all season for the Tiger Sharks finishing the season as the teams 2nd leading scorer. Port St Joe returns its nine top scorers next season and should be a big factor in Lakeland and Larry will be a valuable piece for them to get back!   Neveah McCoy (Ponce De Leon) 5’10 Forward McCoy was a monster on the boards in both games in Lakeland helping lead Ponce De Leon to the 1A State Championship game. In two games she averaged 9 rebounds per game to go along with 5 points. In the semi-final game she grabbed 11 rebounds giving Ponce De Leon the interior presence they needed in the 52-38 win over Port St Joe. While in the championship game she grabbed 7 boards to go along with 5 steals and ¾ from the free throw line in the 40-37 win to take home the trophy!   Jordan Douglas (Trenton) 5’7 Guard Trenton lost to Hawthorne in the 1A semi-final 43-32 despite Douglas dropping 13 points. She knocked down 3 3-pointers to go along with 4 rebounds and 2 steals. She was Trenton’s lone player in double figures in the loss. Michael Wholey is the Senior Scout of <a href="http://www.x.com/PGHFlorida">Prep Girls Hoop Florida</a> and he can be reached directly at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or on <a href="http://www.x.com/WholeyPrepHoops">Twitter</a> or <a href="http://www.Instagram.com/WholeyPrepHoops">Instagram</a> at <a href="http://www.x.com/WholeyPrepHoops">@WholeyPrepHoops</a>.