Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational – Class of 2022 Stand Outs

<strong>Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational – Class of 2022 Stand Outs</strong> By Michael Wholey 1/7/21 9:00 AM EST <em>The Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational established in 2016 presented by Florida’s Sports Coast hosted one of the largest high school events in Florida last week in Wesley Chapel at the Wiregrass Sports Complex.  The event hosted over 100 Varsity Girls and Boys teams from December 29-January 1 from all across the country including a number of the Florida’s top teams.  We take a look at some of the class of 2022s top performers.</em> &nbsp; <strong><img class=" wp-image-371691 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/495A6411.jpg" alt="" width="109" height="164" />[player_tooltip player_id="219996" first="Daniela" last="Gonzalez"]</strong> (Central Pointe Academy) – 5’10 Wing/Forward Gonzalez is a USF signee.  USF Head Coach Jose Fernandez was in attendance with Asst Coach Danny Hughes to take in the game vs St. Thomas Aquinas.  Gonzalez battled ’23 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="151282" first="Alancia" last="Ramsey"]</strong> from STA in a very physical low post battle.  The long, athletic wing/forward displayed her versatility by stepping out to the 3-point line and knocking down a couple from outside.  But she was most effective down low and was not afraid to mix it up with Ramsey. &nbsp; <strong>Aryanna Hicks</strong> (Charlotte HS) – 5’5 Guard Hicks is a Niagara signee.  At 5’5, she is a small, quick point guard who is a bucket getter.  Whether knocking down the open shot off the catch, pulling up mid-range off the dribble, or getting all the way to the rim, Hicks has a scorer’s mentality and is a consistent 15+ points per game scorer. &nbsp; <img class=" wp-image-371807 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/495A6410.jpg" alt="" width="128" height="192" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219994" first="Naylee" last="Cortes"]</strong> (Central Pointe Academy) – 5’10 Forward I was looking for a current or former WNBA/Women’s college player to compare Cortes too.  I struggled with a female comparison but would put her as a hybrid between Draymond Green from Golden State, Steven Adams from OKC, and Montrez Harrell in the NBA.  She is a strong, blue-collar bruiser who can play both the wing and forward spot.  She plays hard and physical on both ends of the floor and is an impact offensive rebounder, consistently going to the offensive glass. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="153377" first="Kristen" last="Lowers"]</strong> (Charlotte HS) – 5’9 Shooting Guard Lowers is a young, long, guard/wing.  She plays hard on both ends and attacks the rim aggressively.  Her long, lanky build is intriguing as she is a skilled player who with added strength has a ton of potential. &nbsp; <strong><img class=" wp-image-339008 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/Jackson-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="129" height="171" />[player_tooltip player_id="243991" first="Phillicia" last="Jackson"]</strong> (Clearwater HS) – 6’2 Center Jackson is a 6’4 back to the basket center who finishes well around the rim.  She is tough to move in the paint due to her size and mass.  Her presence inside is a force and very consistent when she is in the game.  She scored 10+ points on offensive rebound put back and dump passes from the guards.  She is one of the only 6’2+ posts that are available in the class of 2022. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91555" first="Nyla" last="Harris"]</strong> (Lake Highland Prep) – 6’2 Forward Harris consistently showcases her ability to play inside and out, shooting a high percentage from the perimeter and finishing well at the rim.  The Louisville signee is extremely skilled, has a versatile skill set, and is a steady performer.  Her combination of offensive skill and basketball IQ at 6’2 is extremely rare and unique and makes her one of the top players in the country. &nbsp; <strong><img class=" wp-image-340815 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/IMG_4233-216x300.jpg" alt="" width="123" height="171" />[player_tooltip player_id="91582" first="Nia" last="Brown"]</strong> (Orange Park) – 6’0 Wing Long, lanky wing who can play inside and out.  She does a good job flashing to the high post and getting into the interior of opposing teams’ defenses.  She has 15 feet range, can put the ball to the floor going right, and has a strong build with good athleticism.  The 6’0 wing is headed to Chipola College in Mariana, FL where she will play in the top junior college conference in the country. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91596" first="Sierra" last="Godbolt"] </strong>(Lake Highland Prep) – 5’7 Guard Godbolt is a short, strong point guard who is back on the court after missing most of last season due to a knee injury.  She was not as quick and explosive as she was prior to the injury, which may be due to her not being 100% yet or could just be a confidence thing as she tries to get comfortable being back on the court.  She did a good job running the PG position for LHP, directing traffic, handling pressure, finding the open player, and attacking off the dribble when the situations allowed it. &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.