City Rankings: Top 10 Players in Orange Park

When you take a look at the Orange Park Top 10 list, you see that it has D1 all over it. Several players have already committed to play and others have already received numerous offers. Half of these prospects are not only top prospects in Clay County, but top prospects in the State, and Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL is ranked nationally as one of the top 2023 players in the country.

Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL is a generational talent and is the number one player on the First Coast. Already committed to playing at Arkansas, Scott is poised to have a season for the ages. Actually, she had one last year. She averaged 31.5 points per game, knocked down 90 three-pointers, and shot threes at a 40 percent mark. Two games come to mind when I think about Scott’s basketball performances. In her 8th grade year, she was playing in a winter league final. Her team was trailing with seconds to play. Scott stole the inbounds play at halfcourt and proceeded to maneuver through the defense. As the clock went to zero, Scott and scored the game-winning shot – with her left hand. Her last year’s performance at UNF against San Jose Prep also comes to mind. Scott was playing against some really talented future college players and she made everything look easy. There will be a lot more of that this year. Looking for some records to be falling, right along with the threes.

Fantasia James Fantasia James 5'10" | SF Oakleaf | 2023 State FL / 2023 / 5’10” SF / Oakleaf

James is an excellent basketball player and hands down one of the top 2023 players in the State of Florida. James has committed to playing at FIU in Miami. She plays on both sides of the court and that just makes her so worthy of the rankings and recognition. She can drive the ball and finish on either side of the goal. She shoots threes at a high percentage and can really string a lot of them together. James also has a flare for the big moments and the big games. She brings a certain tenacity to the court plays with an edge. Look for a big season from James as she looks to make a run for the top spot in the county.

Kaylah Turner Kaylah Turner 5'5" | PG Oakleaf | 2023 State FL / 2023 / 5’6″ / Oakleaf

Kayla is a great talent and has one of the best midrange games around. In an era where the three is “king, Turner turns the clock back to a time when the midrange game was supreme. Turner plays with great energy and tenacity and she will pick a team apart in the paint. Defensively, she is like a shark in the water when she detects any weakness in an opponent’s game. She knows how to steal the ball with great on-ball defense and also by playing in the passing lanes. Turner plays an all-around game and Alabama A&M University is getting a great player.

Eris Lester Eris Lester 5'11" | SF Montverde Academy | 2024 State FL / 2024 / 5’10” SG / Orange Park

Lester continues to make the case as the top 2024 on the First Coast and in the State of Florida. She has that motor that won’t quit. She is excellent in the transition game, deadly in the paint, and a killer midrange game. Lester is adamant about getting to the basket and has an array of ways to get there – whether it’s a jump stop in the paint or just a straight explosion to the basket. Lester knows how to score the ball and does so in every way possible. Heading into her Junior season, Lester has already received numerous offers and she will continue to receive them. Grab the popcorn and enjoy Lester’s journey this upcoming season.

Nia Blocton Nia Blocton 6'0" | SF Ridgeview | 2024 State FL / 2024 / 6’2″ C / Ridgeview

Blocton has a good offensive game and that part continues to expand every day. Blocton’s defense and her ability to dominate on that end of the floor make her a special player. She plays with an edge and is the top shot blocker in Clay County. Blocton is a force in the middle and attacks the glass for rebounds and offensive putbacks. She is always amongst the state leaders in this department. Blocton does a good job from the free throw line and in and can really hurt a defense with the ability to go left or right. She is also one of the best bigs in transition. She fills the wings very well and can finish once she gets the ball in her hands. Look for another record-breaking season for the elder Blocton.

Kamiya Jones Kamiya Jones 5'6" | SG Oakleaf | 2023 State FL /2023 / 5’7″ SG / Oakleaf

Jones is one of the top three-point shooters in Clay County. She can drive the ball, but her preference is shooting it from behind the arc. Jones has a shooter mentality and it was evident last year in a game where Jones had double-digit misses and still continued putting it up from behind the arc. Over the past year, Jones has improved in the ball handling department and can handle the ball on breaks, press breaks, and in offensive sets. She has also looked to penetrate more and did a good job of it during summer ball and the travel season.

Nacoya Blocton Nacoya Blocton 6'0" | PF Ridgeview | 2025 State FL /2025 / 6’0″ PF / Ridgeview

Nacoya Blocton Nacoya Blocton 6'0" | PF Ridgeview | 2025 State FL is a do-everything player. She is one of the only power forwards who can step out and knock down the three. She can do a lot of things on the court and some of it is just from reacting to the defense and making a play. She has shown that she can make reverse layups, snag errant passes out of the air and knock down long jumpers as if she is a guard. Defensively, she can defend on the wings and also play in the middle. She also does a good job of rebounding the ball.

Piera Alexander / 2024 / 5’8″ PG / Orange Park

Alexander played well last season and really made the offense go for Orange Park. Alexander was that player that got everyone involved in the offense. The players who don’t create off of the dribble benefit from Alexander’s selfless game. This year Alexander will be expected to do the same, but she will need to “eat” as well to fill the void left by Sam Hardison and Nia Brown.

Ja’nease Bender Ja’nease Bender 5'10" | CG Oakleaf | 2024 State FL / 2024 / 5’10” F / Oakleaf

Look out for Bender this year. Of all the players on this list, she will likely make the biggest jump in productivity. She has athleticism off the charts and a hunger for the game. Bender had some good moments last year and even played well in the district finals. She moves fluidly on the court and she is definitely more confident going into her junior season.

Paetyn Miller Paetyn Miller 5'6" | CG Ridgeview | 2023 State FL / 2023 5’7″ PG / Ridgeview

Miller is known for putting up the threes, but there is more to her game. She is the primary ball handler, she is responsible for getting the ball inside to her twin towers, and is the number one option in breaking the press. Miller has a great work effort and nobody works on their game more than she. Last season she averaged 11 points per game last season, 4.2 assists, and knocked down 35 three-pointers. Miller will look to increase the total threes and her shooting percentage. As in the past, she will be counted on for leadership

We stopped at ten, but there are a lot of quality players in Orange Park. We will eventually list Clay’s top players by class, and players like Mary Kate Kent Mary Kate Kent 5'6" | CG St. Johns Country Day | 2024 State FL , Hailey Revak Hailey Revak 5'4" | SG Orange Park | 2024 State FL , Victoria Noble, Trista Brown Trista Brown 5'6" | PG Oakleaf | 2025 State FL , Autumn Nesmith Autumn Nesmith 5'6" | SG Orange Park | 2024 State FL , etc will surface.

If you know of any players in Clay County or on the First Coast that we should be talking about, contact Hunter Keith on Twitter @hunterkeithl or by email at Hunterkeithl@gmail.com.