Guard Play at South Jax Summer League 2022 – Part 1
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Summer leagues have started all across the First Coast and here is a review of some of the experienced guards and some of the revelations from Week 1 of the South Jax Summer League 2022 at Providence High School. …
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Continue ReadingSummer leagues have started all across the First Coast and here is a review of some of the experienced guards and some of the revelations from Week 1 of the South Jax Summer League 2022 at Providence High School.
Riley Talbert Riley Talbert 5'9" | SG Bishop Kenny HS | 2024 State FL (Bishop Kenny HS 2024 ). Talbert was all over the court, shooting the three, shooting the mid-range jumper, and pulling down rebounds on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Talbert is a stat stuffer and she does it all on the basketball court. Her shooting was really impressive and she really had the three-ball cooking. Talbert rebounds well for a guard and she did a nice job of passing to open teammates.
Eris Lester (Orange Park HS 2024) has picked up where she left off last year and is taking the ball downhill with a vengeance. It’s her team now that Nia Brown and Samantha Hardison have moved on. Lester is one of the top Sophomores in the State and she entered this Summer on the heels of some major college offers. Lester will be the leader this season on the court for sure and will be a quiet leader off of the court.
Autumn Nesmith Autumn Nesmith 5'6" | SG Orange Park | 2024 State FL (Orange Park 2024). Nesmith looked comfortable on the court and totally out from behind the shadows. Her decision-making and her confidence were the two things that stood out on the courts. With the exit of Sam Hardison, Nesmith will be an important piece of the puzzle for the Lady Raiders next season.
Piera Alexander Piera Alexander 5'6" | PG Orange Park | 2024 State FL G (Orange Park FL 2024). Alexander was in her point guard role, facilitating and putting teammates in good positions to score. Last year she did a great job of spreading the ball around to Lester, Brown, Hardison and teammates. This year she will look to do the same thing and get more involved in the scoring department.
Paetyn Miller Paetyn Miller 5'6" | CG Ridgeview | 2023 State FL (Ridgeview HS 2023 ) did a good job of handling the ball and running the offense. As in the past, those duties will fall directly on her shoulders. In addition to shooting the rock which is Miller’s forte, she will have to run the offense and get the ball to the “twin” Blocton Towers (Nia and Nacoya Blocton Nacoya Blocton 6'0" | PF Ridgeview | 2025 State FL ), who may be the best Forward-Center duo on the First Coast.
Abby Knauff Abby Knauff 5'9" | SG Bolles | 2025 State FL (Bolles HS 2025 ) Knauff made some good shots and is already in top form. She’s been killing on the AAU circuit and her shot is as smooth as “butter”. Knauff and her team will be tough to contend with when the season kicks in next year. As with most teams that are playing in the summer league, the chemistry with new teammates will have to be developed.
Ella Stakem Ella Stakem 5'7" | SG Bolles HS | 2024 State FL (Bolles HS 2024 ) Stakem can really shoot and she was impressive shooting the three-ball and handling the rock. Stakem’s defense was also impressive. She was really getting after it against Orange Park’s Lester and Alexander and it highlighted the serious young talent on the floor.
Stakem, Knauff, Hilary Englert Hilary Englert 5'10" | SF Bolles | 2024 State FL , and Georgia Avret will undoubtedly be the leaders of the Bulldog’s team next year. When the chemistry develops with some of the new players, this team will be in the thick of things again on the First Coast.
In our next review of the Summer League, we will look at some of the new guards and returning guards who are getting their chance and turning heads in the process.