Tampa Bay Christmas Inv'l – Class of 2022 Stand Outs Part 2

Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational – Class of 2022 Stand Outs Part Two By Michael Wholey 1/10/21 9:00 AM EST The Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational established in 2016 presented by Florida’s Sports Coast hosted one of the largest high school events in Florida this 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 part two of some the class of 2022s top performers.   <img class=" wp-image-339820 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/Jada-Green-HS-Pic-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="146" height="183" />[player_tooltip player_id="154841" first="Jada" last="Green"] (St. Thomas Aquinas) – 6’0 Forward Green is a Richmond signee who played hard and was active on both ends of the floor. She is a rim runner who finished well catching in transition as well as vs contact on putbacks off offensive rebounds. She is a very active and live body, who is one half of a deadly duo down low for STA as there are not many high schools in the country who can match up with both Green and [player_tooltip player_id="151282" first="Alancia" last="Ramsey"] down low.       [player_tooltip player_id="91572" first="Breanna" last="Gustave"] (St. Thomas Aquinas) – 5’8 Guard Gustave is a strong guard with a solid build and is a threat to knock down the open three when left open. She is a capable ball handler and played some back up PG when Williams and Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="221678" first="Kamryn" last="Corporan"] were out of the game. Gustave is most effective attacking off the dribble from the wing and baseline, utilizing her strong build and broad shoulder to finish at the rim in traffic and vs contact.   <img class=" wp-image-370196 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/Taja-Stephens-Western-4-223x300.jpeg" alt="" width="192" height="259" />[player_tooltip player_id="153108" first="Taja" last="Stephens"] (Western HS) – 5’9 Guard Stephen plays a lot of roles Western’s team, leading them in scoring, often guarding the opposing team’s best player, and serving as a primary ball handler. She is a steady performer who has very consistent play every time I see her. She is a skilled all-around offensive player, not doing any one thing exceptionally well but a lot of things well. Stephens shoots a very high percentage from the floor, as she does not force many shots, and is very patient on the offensive end and has excellent shot selection. She has a high IQ, plays unselfish, and plays hard on both ends. She has the potential to make a college program very happy as she would be a solid four-year contributor in the right situation.   [player_tooltip player_id="248838" first="Dyani" last="Gregoire"] (Western HS) – 5’4 Combo Guard Gregoire is a transfer from Deerfield Beach, and this is my first time seeing her with Western HS. She is a quick, feisty point guard who played both the PG and SG position for Western. Gregoire was most effective on the defensive end, applying ball pressure and disrupting Clearwater’s ability to get into its half court offense.   <img class=" wp-image-371843 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/495A2725.jpg" alt="" width="231" height="154" />[player_tooltip player_id="220011" first="Maya" last="Williams"] (St. Thomas Aquinas) – 5’5 Point Guard Williams has consistently been a stock riser over the last 12 months and it was great to see her in an increased role for STA. Williams started at the PG position, handling the ball, knocking down open 3s and playing pressure defense on opposing guards. Williams is small, feisty and plays aggressive and will play a huge role as to whether St. Thomas can repeat as state champions. Tyana Walker (DME Academy) – 5’10 Wing Walker does a great job picking her spots to find scoring opportunites on a very talented DME roster. She has been instrumental in DME’s 17-1 record and national ranking. She is a long, athletic wing who uses length well defending and is a very solid rebounder from the perimeter spot. She is the team’s 4th leading scorer averaging 9.6 PPG and is also averaging 4.2 RPG. She has the ability to cause havoc on defense, applying ball pressure, using her length and athleticism and getting into opposing player’s space.   <img class=" wp-image-249691 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/IMG_7937-293x300.jpeg" alt="" width="148" height="152" />[player_tooltip player_id="91577" first="Amiya" last="Evans"] (DME Academy) – 6’2 Forward Evans is a UCF signee and a major presence on the court. She is a very imposing player on the court because she is very strong, is legit 6’2, and has a solid lower body with broad shoulders. She uses all of this to move opposing players around in the low post, both on the boards and when trying to score on the low block. She can stretch things out to the perimeter but is most effective 5 feet and in.   [player_tooltip player_id="248651" first="Samantha" last="Hardison"] (Orange Park) – 5’9 Guard Hardison stood out for Orange Park as a skilled combo guard with good height and length. She has a low-key presence on the court, going with the flow of the game and just goes about her business. She is solid on both ends of the floor and very rarely comes out of the game.   <img class="wp-image-371845 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/Syd-278x300.jpeg" alt="" width="200" height="216" />[player_tooltip player_id="91557" first="Sydney" last="Shaw"] (DME Academy) – 5’8 Guard Shaw has been putting on a show this high school season at her new school DME Academy. After leading Miami Country Day and American Heritage Plantation to state championships at her prior stops, Shaw is looking to lead DME to a potential appearance in the Dick’s Sporting Goods National Championship in hopes to bring the # 1 spot in the country back to Florida in April. She is an Auburn signee, who is very dynamic with the ball in her hands and drops buckets in a variety of ways. When she is in the “zone”, Shaw can go on 10-0 runs by herself by knocking down deep 3-pointers and attacking defenders off the dribble with her multiple open court and 1v1 moves.   [player_tooltip player_id="248564" first="Cortney" last="Smith"] (Bolles HS) - 5’9 Forward I had not seen Smith before but left impressed her ability to be effective as an undersized forward, playing mainly as a face up 4. She displayed a variety of skills on the offensive end, finding open players for easy baskets with her court vision and solid passing skills, as well as shooting a high percentage from the field, and being a double-digit rebounder.   [player_tooltip player_id="248836" first="Carlee" last="Janikowski-Warden"] (Carrollwood Day School) – 6’2 Forward Carlee is one of three players for Carrollwood Day over 6’0, making them extremely deep and intimidating in the paint. Janikowski-Warden is a solid rebounder and shot blocker who can play the forward and center spot. There are very few players available in the class of 2022 over 6’0, and she is one. As we enter the late signing period, she can potentially be a hot prospect for colleges looking for a presence in the paint, a good rebounder, and finisher in the paint.   Michael Wholey 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.