Who are Top Teams in Florida – Part Two
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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. Earlier in the week, we took at look at Lake Highland Prep, Montverde Academy, American Heritage Plantation, St, Thomas Aquinas, Central Pointe Academy and Blanche Ely in part 1, now we take a look at some additional teams in part 2.
DME Academy (Daytona Beach, FL)
DME Academy made major upgrades at both the guard and post positions via the additions of transfers this summer. 2022 Auburn verbal commit Sydney Shaw Sydney Shaw 5'9" | SG DME Academy | 2022 State FL and 6’2 Forward Amiya Evans Amiya Evans 6'2" | PF DME Academy | 2022 State FL join forces with Chloe Kitts Chloe Kitts 6'2" | SF Faith Christian Academy | 2022 FL give DME Academy a big 3. With three extremely talented players at the guard, wing and post position. 5’10 Rollins College verbal commit Emily McIntosh Emily McIntosh 5'11" | SF St. Augustine | 2022 State FL and 5’9 Guard Sophia Rueppell Sophia Rueppell 5'9" | PG Bishop Kenny | 2023 State FL round out DME’s starting 5, and give them one of the strongest starting 5s in the state.
Colonial High School (Orlando, FL)
Colonial High School might be one of the state’s most under rated teams in the state. Last year they played one of the state’s toughest schedules finishing 16-10 and taking on some of the state’s top teams such as Lake Highland Prep, DME Academy, Palm Bay, Central Pointe Academy, Montverde Academy, Wekiva, Central Pointe, Miami Country Day amongst others. With all six of their top scorers being Freshman and Sophomores, the Grenadiers return all of their scoring and rebounding from last year and look to build on a solid season. Sophomores Carmen Richardson Carmen Richardson 5'8" | CG Colonial | 2024 State FL , Dezmariah Soto Dezmariah Soto 5'3" | CG Faith Christian | 2024 State FL , Camryn Patterson Camryn Patterson 5'9" | CG Southeastern Preparatory Academy | 2024 State FL , and Raeanne Eccleston Raeanne Eccleston 6'2" | PF Colonial HS | 2024 State FL are coming off excellent Freshman seasons as key contributors. While Sophya Barreiro Sophya Barreiro 5'4" | CG Colonial | 2023 State FL and Milan Santos Milan Santos 5'3" | PG Colonial HS | 2023 State FL return for their Junior seasons and Senior Camila Zbysnki gives them some additional outside shooting. Colonial competes in 7A and will have to get past Timber Creek to go deep in the playoffs. With their 6 top players being Sophomores and Juniors, Colonial should have two years to make a deep run to Lakeland and bring a home 7A State Championship. Is this their year?
Clearwater High School (Clearwater, FL)
If Colonial High School is not one of top Florida teams that is least talked about then it has to be Clearwater High School. Last year’s team went 24-5 and were led by Beckham Hockley Beckham Hockley 5'7" | PG Sickles | 2024 State FL in scoring with 14.2 points per game, Liv Fuller in rebounding with 8.9 rebounds per game, Ace Sturdivant Ace Sturdivant 5'10" | CG Clearwater | 2023 State FL in assists with 3.7 assists per game, and Kyleigh Welsh Kyleigh Welsh 6'3" | PF Clearwater HS | 2022 State FL led the team in blocks with 4.3 blocks per game. All four players are one year older with Hockley now entering her sophomore season, Fuller and Sturdivant entering their junior season, and Welsh enters her Senior season. Add in 6’4 Senior Phillicia Jackson Phillicia Jackson SG Clearwater | 2022 State FL and Clearwater HS starting 5 can go up against just about anyone in the state. They have two things to overcome – depth is a major issue and they do not play a very tough schedule but in 5A, look for Clearwater to make some noise!
IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
IMG Academy has added some fire power to go along with 6’1 Catalina Ion Catalina Ion 6'1" | SF IMG Academy | 2022 State FL . IMG welcomes two major impact players with Arizona verbal commit Kailyn Gilbert Kailyn Gilbert 5'8" | CG IMG Academy | 2022 State FL transferring to IMG Academy from Seffner Christian and Oregon verbal commit Grace VanSlooten Grace VanSlooten 6'3" | PF IMG Academy | 2022 State #23 Nation FL transferring in from Ohio. Ion, Gilbert, and Vanslooten give IMG a big 3 with Ion being a versatile, skilled guard/wing who can play multiple positions and put the ball in the basket. Gilbert is one of the nations top athletes who is extremely aggressive on both ends of the floor and never take a play off. While Vanslooten is a force inside, has excellent touch around the rim, and is extremely skilled and mobile for her size.
Palm Bay (Melbourne, FL)
Mikyla Tolivert Mikyla Tolivert 5'7" | CG Palm Bay | 2021 State FL is a Freshman at Georgia State, Emani Burks Emani Burks 6'2" | PF Palm Bay | 2021 State FL is now at South Alabama, and Paige McDonald Paige McDonald 5'11" | SF Cocoa HS | 2022 State FL transferred to Cocoa HS. But 2023 Emma Risch Emma Risch 6'2" | PG Palm Bay | 2023 State #23 Nation FL lead the team in scoring, 2024 Kiara Williams Kiara Williams 6'1" | PF Palm Bay Magnet | 2024 State FL led them in rebounding, and Alonya Waldon Alonya Waldon 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL was 2nd on the team in assists and steals behind Tolivert. Add in Jazmine Major Jazmine Major 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL and Tyra King Tyra King 6'1" | PF Palm Bay Magnet | 2024 FL alongside Risch, Williams, and Waldon and Palm Bay is talented and deep. They were 23-4 with losses to Lake Highland Prep, Central Pointe Academy, Montverde Academy, and American Heritage (Plantation). Palm Bay enters the season as one of the state’s top 10 teams but for them to get into the top 5, they will have to win the big games versus the likes of Lake Highland Prep, Central Pointe Academy, Montverde Academy, American Heritage (Plantation), DME Academy and others.
Miami Country Day (Miami, FL)
If you are going to talk about top teams in Florida, you can not make a list without Miami Country Day. How can you argue with their success??? Having a lock on 3A, Miami Country Day will always play the top teams in Florida and have a reserved seat in Lakeland for the final 4. 2023 Guard Kristina Godfrey Kristina Godfrey 5'7" | PG Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL and 2024 Forward Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL are the teams top two returning players. Both will need to be dependable, consistent and productive night in and night out filling up the stat sheet and putting the ball in the bucket. 5’7 2024 Guard Sofia Mendez transferring in from Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart will give them some added scoring. They will need more production and quality play from Bella Guevara and Kaliyah Morales Kaliyah Morales 5'7" | PG Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL on the perimeter and look for a breakout season from Aicha Keita Aicha Keita 6'1" | SF Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL .
Other notable top teams to watch this season are:
- Miami Senior HS
- Wekiva
- Bishop Kenny
- Carrollwood Day
- FAMU
- Miami Country Day
- King’s Academy
- Brooks Collegiate
- South Fort Myers
- Winter Haven
- Seffner Christian
- Cardinal Gibbons
- Grandview Prep
- Oakleaf
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.