2022 Sunshine State Showdown – Top Scorers 17U
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2022 Sunshine State Showdown – Top Scorers 17U By Michael Wholey 4/18/22 3:00 PM EST The 2022 Sunshine State Showdown is annually Florida’s biggest travel team event in the state and serves as a warm-up event two weeks before the…
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Continue Reading2022 Sunshine State Showdown – Top Scorers 17U
By Michael Wholey 4/18/22 3:00 PM EST
The 2022 Sunshine State Showdown is annually Florida’s biggest travel team event in the state and serves as a warm-up event two weeks before the April evaluation period. Welcoming 120 teams in eight divisions from 10U all the way to 17U, we take a look at the top individual scorers in 17U.
Elle Blatchford (All Alabama 2023 UAA / Sequoyah HS) – Class of 2023
Blatchford came into Florida and put together a stellar weekend, leading All Alabama in scoring in their 3 games. Blatchford came out of the gates and dropped 19 points vs a tough Essence 17U EYBL squad doing everything she could to lead her team to victory but fell short then followed that up with a game high 21 points vs Tampa Thunder Team Dupree 17U on Sunday. At 5’11, Blatchford has excellent height for a point guard and a well-rounded offensive and defensive skill set, using her height and length effectively on both ends of the floor. As a scorer, she did it in a variety of ways by attacking off the dribble, getting to the rim, drawing fouls to get to the free throw line and knocking down open shots.
Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL (Miami Suns Team Fowles 17U EYBL / Miami County Day) – Class of 2024
Nelms was a consistent presence inside for Team Fowles all weekend, showcasing her ability to play inside and out. She has excellent hands, doing a good job getting involved with a number of 50/50 balls and pursuing balls on the offensive and defensive boards. She has range out to the 3-point line and does a good job using her height and mass. She dropped a game high 20 Points versus Candace Parker Hoop Dreams Elite 17U 3SSB, scoring a majority of her points in the paint, finishing well at the rim, while also stepping out and knocking down the 15-footer from the high post.
Alancia Ramsey Alancia Ramsey 6'0" | PF St Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL (Essence Purple 17U EYBL / St. Thomas Aquinas) – Class of 2023
Ramsey was the focal point in the paint all weekend, helping lead Essence to the 17U Championship in the 17U Courage bracket. The 6’1 power forward went for 18 points vs All Alabama 2023 UAA on Saturday and then followed it up with a game high 19 points vs FGB Team CW UAA 11th on Sunday in the championship game. Ramsey is a talented and skilled offensive player that plays with a strong passion and aggressiveness that is unmatched by her opponents. Her old school mentality consistently stands out as she plays a very physical game down low and is not afraid to mix it up with players in the paint no matter if they are bigger or smaller than her!
Jada Eads Jada Eads 5'6" | PG Lake Highland Prep | 2024 State FL (Central Florida Elite 17U 3SSB / Wekiva HS) – Class of 2024
Eads was one of the state’s most prolific scorers all season for Wekiva High School, helping lead them to Lakeland and the 6A State Championship game before falling to Alancia Ramsey Alancia Ramsey 6'0" | PF St Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL and St. Thomas Aquinas. Eads brings her dynamic playmaking and impressive scoring ability to the 3SSB circuit for Central Florida Elite. Only playing Sunday, Eads came right into the event and went to work, dropping 19 points vs ECEDAO (out of Puerto Rico). Eads got it done in a variety of ways, knocking down four 3-pointers, getting the free throw line going ¾, and attacking the rim with an aggressive and fearless nature!
Ashukamayah Phillips (Building Good Habits 17U / Okeechobee HS) – Class of 2023
I was not very familiar with Phillips game prior to the Sunshine State Showdown but throughout event she proved to be a consistent scoring threat for Building Good Habits 17U squad including scoring a game high 19 Points v The Compound Team Carn on Sunday. Phillips got it done early, dropping 12 of her 19 in the first half helping her squad jump out to a 30-19 lead.
Emma Risch Emma Risch 6'2" | PG Palm Bay | 2023 State #23 Nation FL (East Coast United Family 2023 / Palm Bay Magnet) – Class of 2023
Risch stepped out when her team needed her, staging a second half come back, leading her ECU Family 2023 squad to a 53-44 victory over Miami Suns Team Fowles on Sunday. Risch is a big point guard who is verbally committed to Notre Dame. Playing both the point guard position and off the ball when teammate 2023 Alonya Waldon Alonya Waldon 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL moved over as the team’s main ball handler. At 6’2, Risch shoots a high percentage from the 3, can attack off the dribble, and gets to the rim using her long strides and ability to extend high over defenders. She knocked down three 3-pointers in the game, including two big ones in the second half, for a game high 18 points.
Kiara Williams Kiara Williams 6'1" | PF Palm Bay Magnet | 2024 State FL (East Coast United Family 2023 / Palm Bay Magnet) – Class of 2024
While Risch was getting it done from the perimeter vs the Miami Suns, Williams was getting it done in the paint. The undersized 6’1 forward, played an extremely physical game, going head-to-head with the Miami Suns interior post players Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL and Khyala Ngodu Khyala Ngodu 6'2" | PF Dillard | 2023 State FL on her way to 18 Points in Sundays game. Williams has an excellent combination of athleticism and power. She plays bigger than her 6’1 frame and is not afraid to mix it up down low. She plays hard, aggressive, and physical and is a presence in the paint and an excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor. She finished well in the paint vs contact, grabbing offensive rebounds for put-backs, as well as putting it to the floor driving right.
Asya Lara Barnes Asya Lara Barnes 6'0" | SF DME Academy | 2025 State FL (Compound Basketball Team Carn / Bellcreek Academy) – Class of 2025
Barnes was one of the youngest players in the 17U division, playing up as a member of the class of 2025. She dropped a team high 18 Points on Sunday versus Miami Suns Gold showcasing her 6’1 frame along with a versatile skillset that she can play inside and out. Playing multiple positions, Barnes knocked down open shots from the perimeter, put the ball to the floor both in the open court and from the wing, as well as dropped a couple dimes to her teammates for easy buckets.
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 WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.