Who are Top Teams in Florida – Part One
In this article:
Who are Top Teams in Florida – Part One By Michael Wholey 11/1/21 9:00 AM EST The start to the 2021-22 high school season is just weeks away. Last year’s season was shortened due to COVID with a number of…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWho are Top Teams in Florida – Part One
By Michael Wholey 11/1/21 9:00 AM EST
The start to the 2021-22 high school season is just weeks away. Last year’s season was shortened due to COVID with a number of teams playing half their normal number of games. All appears to be heading back to normalcy and the expectation is a full slate of games. With several Florida teams finishing in the top 50 of national rankings, Florida Prep Hoops is on the map for having some of the country’s top players and teams. We take a look at who the top teams in Florida are.
Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, FL)
Any list of teams in the state of Florida, has to start with Lake Highland Prep. LHP finished last season 19-1 with a state championship and a top 10 national ranking with their only loss of the season coming to St. Paul VI in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Invitational in New York in April. Lake Highland Prep is as deep and as talented as any team in Florida. Headlined by University Louisville verbal commit Nyla Harris Nyla Harris 6'2" | PF Lake Highland Prep | 2022 State #34 Nation FL , the 6’2 Forward is a scoring and rebounding machine and is a huge presence inside and one of the state’s top players. UCF verbal commit Stefanie Ingram Stefanie Ingram 5'7" | CG Lake Highland | 2022 State FL is the teams beating heart who sets the tone for the team’s energy. She is a capable ball handler who is tough and physical and does all the team’s dirty work. Sophomores Lexi Blue Lexi Blue 6'1" | SF Lake Highland Prep | 2024 State FL and Brianna Rivera, Junior Eleecia Carter Eleecia Carter 5'7" | CG Lake Highland Prep | 2023 State FL , and Senior Sierra Godbolt Sierra Godbolt 5'7" | PG Lake Highland | 2022 State FL give the team additional ballhandling, outside shooting, and depth. While Sophomore transfer Camila De Pool-Maisonet and incoming Freshman Ari Woodard might be the added juice and firepower to keep Lake Highland Prep at the top.
Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL)
Montverde Academy and Lake Highland Prep were 1-2 all last season with Montverde finishing the season 21-2 and one of their two losses coming at the hands of Lake Highland Prep. No team has improved more through additions to their roster more than Montverde Academy. Prep Girls Hoops Florida # 1 and # 8 ranked players in the 2022 class Janiah Barker Janiah Barker 6'2" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #3 Nation FL and Jordana Codio Jordana Codio 6'1" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State FL along with 5’10 2023 Guard / Wing Cori Allen Cori Allen 5'10" | SG Montverde Academy | 2023 State FL from Tennessee have all enrolled at Montverde Academy. Barker, Codio, and Allen join a Montverde Academy that was ranked in the top 5 nationally all of last season and welcome back 6’0 Xavier signee Fernanda Ovalle Fernanda Ovalle 5'11" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State FL (Xavier signee), 6’5 UCF signee Fatima Diakhate Fatima Diakhate 6'6" | C Montverde Academy | 2022 State FL and the 2023 duo of 5’10 Rusne Augustinaite Rusne Augustinaite 5'10" | CG Montverde Academy | 2023 State FL and 5’10 Mjarcle Sheppard. Montverde will once again play one of the toughest schedules in the country, traveling to several tournaments all across the country but mark your calendar of Saturday January 29 when Lake Highland Prep and Montverde Academy will face off for potentially state bragging rights and national ranking implications.
American Heritage (Plantation, FL)
American Heritage Plantation finished last season 25-2 and the 5A state champions. Their two losses came at the hands of Montverde Academy and Winston-Salem Christian National in January. AH took town three Florida State Champions HB Plant, St, Thomas Aquinas and Miami Christian as well as a number of other impressive wins against some of the state’s top teams. The team has lost four of their top 5 scorers with Sydney Shaw Sydney Shaw 5'9" | SG DME Academy | 2022 State FL ’s departure to DME Academy surely will make an impact along with Florida signees Taliyah Wyche Taliyah Wyche 6'2" | C American Heritage | 2021 State FL and Tatyana Wyche Tatyana Wyche 6'2" | C American Heritage | 2021 State FL and point guard Daniela Aronsky all graduating. The team will rely heavily on production Joey Delancy Joey Delancy 5'8" | CG American Heritage | 2022 State FL . Delancy was the teams 3rd leading scorer, averaging 11.5 points as well as teams leader in assists averaging 7.0 assists per game. Ta’Niya Latson Ta’Niya Latson 5'8" | CG American Heritage | 2022 State #47 Nation FL is the highest profile transfer in addition to Janiah Barker Janiah Barker 6'2" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #3 Nation FL . Latson did it all last season for Westlake in Atlanta, GA leading them to a 22-0 record, a Georgia AAAAAA state championship, a Geico National Championship and a # 1 overall national ranking. Latson had 31 points in the 70-50 win over Paul VI to win Geico nationals and averaged 23.2 points on the season.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
St Thomas Aquinas finished the season 17-4 and concluded it with a state championship. STA returns one of the deepest rosters in the state that includes University of Richmond verbal commit 6’1 Forward Jada Green Jada Green 6'0" | PF St. Thomas Aquinas | 2022 State FL , Jada’s younger sister 2023 5’9 super athletic guard Reina Green Reina Green 5'10" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL , two of the states’ top undecided guards Bre Gustave and Maya Williams Maya Williams 5'6" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2022 State FL , as well as 2023 combo guard Karina Gordon Karina Gordon 5'8" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL . But quite possibly the biggest impacts comes with their two transfers 2023 6’1 Forward Alancia Ramsey Alancia Ramsey 6'0" | PF St Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL and 2024 guard Kamryn Corporan Kamryn Corporan 5'3" | PG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL and incoming Freshman Nyla McFadden Nyla McFadden 5'11" | SF St. Thomas Aquinas | 2025 State FL . Very few teams have the option of going 8 deep with as much talent as St. Thomas Aquinas can. With the talent of the returning players and the new additions of transfers and incoming Freshman, St. Thomas is one of the strongest and deepest teams in the state and the favorites to repeat as FHSAA State Champions in 6A.
Central Pointe Academy (Kissimmee, FL)
Central Pointe Academy was one of the state’s top surprises last season going 31-2 with their two losses coming to AZ Compass Prep and Montverde Academy. They lost San Diego signee Harsimran Kaur Harsimran Kaur 6'4" | C Central Pointe Academy | 2021 State FL but return essentially the rest of their entire squad. Some unknowns lie with head coach Wesley Arocho departing during the playoffs last season and it is unknown who will lead the squad. But whoever is leading the way, the teams success will come down to the play of Silkiari Vazquez Silkiari Vazquez 5'5" | PG Central Pointe Academy | 2022 State FL , Daniela Gonzalez Daniela Gonzalez 6'0" | SF Central Pointe Academy | 2022 State FL , Betzalys Delgado Betzalys Delgado 5'8" | CG Central Pointe Academy | 2023 State FL , and Naylee Cortes Naylee Cortes 5'11" | PF Central Pointe Academy | 2022 State FL . The squad is long, deep, skilled and play extremely unselfish and excellent team ball.
Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, FL)
Blanche Ely finished 18-2 and after beating St Thomas Aquinas three times during the regular season and playoffs, could not take care of them a fourth time to advance to Lakeland. Ely and St Thomas likely will face each other 4-5 times again this season and have arguably two of the most talented rosters in the entire state. While STA can go 8 deep, Ely might be able to go 9-10 deep and not skip a beat. 2022s Michiyah Simmons Michiyah Simmons 5'8" | PG Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL , Zaria Blake Zaria Blake 6'0" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL , Mya Kone Mya Kone 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL , 2023s Amaji Smith Amaji Smith 5'10" | SF Hollywood Hills HS | 2023 State FL and Ashleigh Battle Ashleigh Battle 5'2" | PG Blanche Ely | 2023 State FL , and 2024s Janessa Kelley Janessa Kelley 5'9" | SG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL , Gianna Corbitt Gianna Corbitt 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL , Charise Martin, and Laketrice Peterson Laketrice Peterson 6'2" | CG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL give Blanche Ely a loaded roster. Playing in the same district as St. Thomas Aquinas will certainly make things interesting. If you have a chance to watch this talented team, they will be worth the price of admission.
You can learn more about the following teams in part two later in the week:
- DME Academy
- Colonial HS
- Clearwater HS
- IMG Academy
- Palm Bay
We will look to continue to cover all across the state of Florida. Our audience supplies us with some of our best information. Keep us updated on Florida news be emailing me at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or DM’ing me through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.