Battle For Number One

<strong>Battle For Number One - Who Is Florida’s Number One Team? </strong> By Michael Wholey 1/29/21 2:00 PM EST <em>Florida has multiple teams ranked in the top 25 nationally and is loaded with talented teams and players this 2020-21 season.  As the regular season wraps up, who is number one? Let’s take a look at how the top eight teams matched up against each other.  </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>DME Academy</strong> <strong>Record: </strong>20-2 <strong>Record vs Top 8: </strong>6-1 11/13              Central Pointe Acad    63-58               WIN 11/30              Lake Highland Prep     49-48               WIN 12/21              Lake Highland Prep     54-41               WIN 1/1                  Montverde Academy  67-59               WIN 1/14                American Heritage      73-68               WIN 1/15                St. Thomas Aquinas    77-75               WIN 1/27                IMG Academy            58-68               LOSS 2/5                  IMG Academy 2/8                  Central Pointe Academy <strong> </strong> DME was undefeated versus the top 8 as well, as in the entire state of Florida until they fell to IMG Academy this week.  Despite the loss, DME Academy holds the # 1 spot based on the fact that they are 6-1 vs the top 8 and have played the most challenging schedule of all the teams.  They have two games vs top 8 teams next week with a rematch on the schedule vs IMG, followed by a game vs Central Pointe later in the week.  It has been an impressive 2020-21 season for DME led by the trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91653" first="Chloe" last="Kitts"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91557" first="Sydney" last="Shaw"]</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91577" first="Amiya" last="Evans"]</strong> and look for them to finish the season strong with several potential post season events they are likely to compete in including the Geico Nationals that will be in Fort Myers again this year set for late March and early April. <strong> </strong> <strong>Montverde Academy</strong> <strong>Record: </strong>17-3 <strong>Record vs Top 8: </strong>2-1 11/20              Central Pointe Acad    77-63               WIN 12/31              Central Pointe Acad    60-48               WIN 1/1                  DME Academy            67-59               LOSS 1/29                Lake Highland Prep <strong> </strong> Montverde is 17-3 overall and 2-1 vs the top 8 in Florida, falling to DME Academy on New Year’s day at the Tampa Bay Invitational.  Coach Jennings laid out a national schedule and has played some of the top teams in the country matching up against teams from Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, Tennessee, and Ohio.  They are as deep and talented as anyone in the country with four D-1 signees (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91554" first="Janiah" last="Barker"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91559" first="Jordana" last="Codio"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219953" first="Fernanda" last="Ovalle"]</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219954" first="Fatima" last="Diakhate"]</strong>) as well as a number of highly recruited underclassmen (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219934" first="Rusne" last="Augustinaite"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245281" first="Cori" last="Allen"]</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219933" first="Mjracle" last="Sheppard"]</strong>, <strong>Vivian Iwuchukwu</strong>, as well as several others).  Today’s matchup vs Lake Highland Prep is a big one, as the two teams battled for the number one spot all last year and LHP took down Montverde 57-47, helping secure their spot at Geico Nationals<strong>.  </strong> <strong> </strong> <strong>IMG Academy</strong> <strong>Record: </strong>11-4 <strong>Record vs Top 8: </strong>2-0 1/22                American Heritage      73-64               WIN 1/27                DME Academy            68-58               WIN 2/5                  DME Academy <strong> </strong> Like Montverde, IMG Academy has played a national schedule taking on teams from Washington DC, Texas, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Alabama, and Ohio.  All four of their losses came in a three week stretch between December 10-28 falling to Duncanville (TX), Hoover (AL), The Webb School (TN), and Hazel Green (AL).  They appear to be hitting their stride picking up two big wins this past week vs American Heritage and DME Academy.  DME still holds the # 1 spot based on strength of schedule and quality of opponents, but the February 5 rematch vs DME Academy will be a big one with potentially a number of post season implications.  The squad is led by recently nominated McDonald’s All-American <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32623" first="Grace" last="VanSlooten"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91558" first="Kailyn" last="Gilbert"]</strong> who dropped 40 points in the win over DME Academy! &nbsp; <strong>Lake Highland Prep </strong> <strong>Record: </strong>18-3 <strong>Record vs Top 8: </strong>0-2 11/30              DME Academy            49-48               LOSS 12/21              DME Academy            54-41               LOSS 1/29                Montverde Academy <strong> </strong> Lake Highland finished last year as the number one team in Florida, but it will be tough for them to go back-to-back since they have fallen to DME Academy twice.  And while number one overall might not be on the table, they are still the favorites to take home the 4A State Championship.  Louisville signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91555" first="Nyla" last="Harris"]</strong> is averaging a double-double leading LHP in both scoring (18.1 PPG) and rebounding (11.1 RPG) while <strong>Bri Rivera</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91649" first="Eleecia" last="Carter"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="217664" first="Lexi" last="Blue"]</strong>, <strong>Ariana Woodard</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="243995" first="Priya" last="Gupta"]</strong>, <strong>Ari Woodard</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91596" first="Sierra" last="Godbolt"]</strong> have been a strong supporting cast all season.    With everyone but Harris, Gupta, and Godbolt coming back, Lake Highland is set up to be one of the state’s top team for several years.  A win over Montverde could bump them up into the top 3. <strong> </strong> <strong>American Heritage (Plantation) </strong> <strong>Record: </strong>18-4 <strong>Record vs Top 8: </strong>1-3 11/27              Wekiva                        63-61               LOSS 1/14                DME Academy             73-68               LOSS 1/19                St. Thomas Aquinas    67-71               WIN 1/22                IMG Academy             73-64               LOSS &nbsp; American Heritage is 18-4 on the season with a strong win vs St. Thomas Aquinas and tough losses to Wekiva, DME Academy and IMG Academy.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118146" first="Ta’Niya" last="Latson"]</strong> transferred in from Georgia and has been their go-to player all season.  She was recently nominated to the McDonald’s All-American team and is signed to go to Florida State.  Fellow Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91565" first="Emani" last="Theodule"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91566" first="Joey" last="Delancy"]</strong> have given American Heritage three consistent perimeter threats.  They are the defending 5A state champs and are the favorites to repeat! <strong> </strong> <strong>St. Thomas Aquinas </strong> <strong>Record: </strong>19-4 <strong>Record vs Top 8: </strong>1-2 12/29              Central Pointe Acad    56-46               WIN 1/15                DME Academy            77-75               LOSS 1/19                American Heritage      67-61               LOSS &nbsp; St. Thomas Aquinas has played a strong schedule and have sought out tough opponents.  They had a quality win over Christmas break vs Central Pointe Academy but have lost to DME Academy (2 points), American Heritage (6 points), and Miami Country Day (3 points) all by single digits in January.   STA is deep and talented and are the favorites to repeat as 6A state champs.  To get it done, they will continue to depend on a balanced attack of Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="220011" first="Maya" last="Williams"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219942" first="Reina" last="Green"]</strong>, and <strong>Bre Gustave</strong> with a strong group of underclassmen in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="221678" first="Kamryn" last="Corporan"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91641" first="Karina" last="Gordon"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219942" first="Reina" last="Green"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="151282" first="Alancia" last="Ramsey"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="248694" first="Nyla" last="McFadden"]</strong>. &nbsp; <strong>Wekiva</strong> <strong>Record: </strong>19-2 <strong>Record vs Top 8: </strong>1-0 11/27              American Heritage      63-61               WIN &nbsp; Wekiva is 19-2 and has a strong early season win vs American Heritage.  Their two losses came at the hands of Pickerington Central out of Ohio and Florida State University HS last week in a non-district in state game.  In addition to taking down American Heritage, they have quality wins over Miami Senior HS, Brooks DeBartolo, Colonial, and Dr. Phillips.  6A is always one of the toughest classifications and Wekiva has a shot at winning the whole thing. Most of that will depend on they play of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="243885" first="Jada" last="Eads"]</strong>.  The Sophomore phenom is averaging 20+ points per game and is a human highlight film. &nbsp; <strong>Central Pointe Academy</strong> <strong>Record: </strong>18-4 <strong>Record vs Top 8: 0-4</strong> 11/13              DME Academy            63-58               LOSS 11/20              Montverde Academy  77-63               LOSS 12/29              St. Thomas Aquinas    56-46               LOSS 12/31              Montverde Academy  60-48               LOSS 2/8                  DME Academy &nbsp; Central Pointe jumped onto the Florida prep scene last year.  With a roster that is heavy on international players, they have put together tough schedules and have assembled a quality roster.  They are led by USF signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219996" first="Daniela" last="Gonzalez"]</strong> along with [player_tooltip player_id="219994" first="Naylee" last="Cortes"], <strong>Silkiaris Vazquez</strong>, <strong>Betzaliz Delgado</strong>, and newcomer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="248447" first="Sofia" last="Munoz"]</strong>.  February 8 will be a big match up for Central Pointe as they fell to DME early in the season in November 63-58.  It will be great to see how both teams have evolved over the course of the season playing in week 1 and then again at the tail end of the season. &nbsp; All in all, Florida has as much talent both individually and team wise as any state in the country.  With 3-4 teams ranked nationally in the top 25 throughout the season and 3 players making the McDonald’s All-American team, it has a been a fun season in Florida and will be fun to see how it wraps up! Stay tuned. &nbsp; <strong>Michael Wholey</strong> is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech.  Wholey and the rest of the Prep Girls Hoop staff, seek to cover the entire state of player, keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news.  Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information.  If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops. &nbsp; &nbsp;