City Rankings: Jacksonville’s Top 5 Forwards in the 2024 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 class is one of the most talented classes in Jacksonville and on the First Coast. In this article, we take a look at the top 5 forwards in Jacksonville, FL. Many of these players are versatile and talented and can match up against any one of the First Coast. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='248345' first='Clare' last='Coyle'] / 6'1 F / Bishop Kenney </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coyle had a great summer session and left the "live" period as one of the top 2024 forwards in the state of Florida. Coyle spent the live period on ECU's Family 2023 team, playing against some of the top 2023 prospects in the country. Coyle more than held her own and showed her skills on the basketball court. She had a strong presence in the paint, rebounded well on both ends of the court, and scored around the rim. During the "live" period, Coyle showed a lot of versatility on the wing. She attacked the rim, drew double teams, and dished the ball to open teammates. Last high school season, Coyle averaged 9 points per game and 8 rebounds per game. Next season, the term double-double will likely be part of the conversation when her name is mentioned. MVP may also be a part of the conversation as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='217663' first='Sydney' last='Roundtree'] / 6'0 F / Bishop Kenny </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roundtree had a great summer session and garnered some impressive D-1 offers. Her skills just jumped off the table this summer: the athleticism, the defensive abilities, and the speed getting up and down the court in transition. Roundtree had a strong presence in the paint, rebounding well, blocking shots, and scoring. Some of her scores were very impressive and really showcased Roundtree's athleticism. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349326' first='Nykeria' last='Thomas'] / 5'10 F / Mandarin </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas is one of the most versatile players in the 2024 class, especially offensively. She is the consummate slasher and best offensive player on this list. Last year Thomas averaged nearly 14 points per game. She has the offensive skillset to lead the city in scoring, but she is so selfless, that she is likely to lead in assists before winning the scoring title. Thomas played a lot at the point guard position last season and averaged 4.2 assists per game. She is also deadly in the transition game as a passer and as a finisher. Thomas is a good defensive player and can play on the wing and in the painted area. She plays the passing lanes very well, and is great at blocking shots and protecting the rim against teams on the fastbreak. She is at her best in transition defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='248283' first='Kennedy' last='Hill'] / 5' 9 F / Andrew Jackson </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hill is the fastest player on this list and can really move up and down the court. Hill has placed in the State in track and field for the past 2 years and that speed shows on the court. Hill is at best when she gets a rebound or loose ball in the open court and takes it coast to coast. Hill is great at finishing the break and can finish through contact. Defensively, Hill can cover guards and forwards due to her quickness and foot speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kae'Dynce Jones / 6'1 F / Ribault </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is the wildcard on the list and has the potential to be a standout on the defensive end. She can defend the middle of the paint and also defend on the wings. Jones has a great vertical jump and is a natural shot blocker. Offensively, Jones does a good job of finishing around the paint and running the floor in transition. Jones played well during the Spring AAU season and is poised to make great contributions this upcoming season at Ribault. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->