First Coast Recap of 2021 - 2022 Season - Clay County MVPs.

There were so many great players who played this year in high school on the First Coast. In this article, we highlight the players from Clay County that were selected as MVP of their class. This article will also highlight some of the other top players in these classes who also had special performances this past basketball season. <img class="size-medium wp-image-401406 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/20211207_203314-scaled-crop-1266x832-1647431843-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />Top Freshman – [player_tooltip player_id="370059" first="Nacoya" last="Blocton"] 2025, 6’0″ F (Ridgeview) Blocton had a very solid year as a Freshman. Her season-ending statistics are very impressive. She finished the season with nearly a 10 point per game average, and she also averaged 8.9 rebounds per game, and 3.3 steals per game. Blocton fits the description of a bonafide stretch four. At 6’0" she can score in the paint, but she can also shoot it from long range. The power forward connected on 27 three-pointers this season. Blocton was a force in the middle and playing next to her sister [player_tooltip player_id="331713" first="Nia" last="Blocton"] (one of the top Sophomores and Bigs on the entire First Coast) made for a very formidable frontcourt and some interesting postgame conversations on the ride home. Victoria Noble (Fleming Island) and [player_tooltip player_id="248555" first="Trista" last="Brown"] (Oakleaf) also played well as Freshmen and both will have increased roles in their Sophomore season. <img class="size-medium wp-image-401407 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/20211130_192054-scaled-crop-1266x832-1647431914-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />Top Sophomore – [player_tooltip player_id="331745" first="Eris" last="Lester"] 2024, 5’10” G (Orange Park). The growth that Lester made from last year to this year was impressive, and she was exceptional last year as a Freshman. This past basketball season, Lester took her game to another level. She averaged 20.5 points per game, but this year the scoring was different and included more of a diverse attack: midrange jumpers, attacks to the basket, long-range shooting, and scores after offensive rebounds. Lester also averaged over 8 rebounds and 3 steals per game. [player_tooltip player_id="331713" first="Nia" last="Blocton"] also had a great campaign for her Sophomore season averaging over 15 points, 12 rebounds per game, 2.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/09/Taliah-Scott-crop-1210x795-1647435386-crop-412x271-1647435422.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-401434 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/09/Taliah-Scott-crop-1210x795-1647435386-crop-412x271-1647435422-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>Top Junior – [player_tooltip player_id="91651" first="Taliah" last="Scott"] 2023, 5’9″ G (St John Country Day). Scott came out as the top Junior in Clay county, but her former teammates ([player_tooltip player_id="91660" first="Fantasia" last="James"] and [player_tooltip player_id="166160" first="Kaylah" last="Turner"] ) were in the discussion for the top Junior in Clay county. These three players are not only the top 3 juniors in Clay County but are the top 3 juniors on the First Coast. Taliah Scott is a once-in-a-lifetime talent and her skill measures up to her notoriety: she can shoot from anywhere on the court; she can take the ball to the hoop with the best of them; she handles the ball at an elite level (left and right); and she knows how to put the ball in the basket. Scott averaged an impressive 31.5 points per game, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3.4 steals per game. Scott also knocked down an incredible 90 three-pointers and shot an impressive 40 percent from behind the three-point line. [player_tooltip player_id="91660" first="Fantasia" last="James"] (Oakleaf) had an excellent year and took her game to a whole new level. She was already a defensive force and a really good offensive player in the paint, but this year she added a consistent jump shot to her game and knocked down 44 three-pointers. James averaged 18.4 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id="166160" first="Kaylah" last="Turner"] (Oakleaf) also had an exceptional year as well. Turner’s ability to steal the ball and her mid-range game were exceptional. Turner finished the season with a 14.2 points per game average and an impressive 5 steals per game. <img class="size-medium wp-image-401415 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/20220215_203328-scaled-crop-1266x832-1647434019-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />Top Senior – [player_tooltip player_id="91582" first="Nia" last="Brown"] 2022 6’0 F (Orange Park). Nia Brown was the best senior in Clay County this past season, and she also raised her game to a whole new level during her Senior campaign. Her confidence and her ball-handling abilities were the most noticeable difference in her game. Brown averaged 13 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game. Brown showcased her ability to put the ball on the floor and get to her spots in the paint. She also had a very smooth mid-range game this year that included some great footwork in the paint. Brown’s defense was splendid as usual, where she averaged an impressive 4.1 blocks per game. Her ability to block shots and keep the ball in play was amazing. She was also masterful at erasing the mistakes of others on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id="248620" first="Avery" last="Cannon"] (Fleming Island) had a very good senior year as well. The talented guard averaged 17.6 points per game and connected on 80 three-pointers for the season. In the upcoming articles, we will look at the MVPs of Duval and St John counties for this past basketball season on the First Coast.