2023: First Coast Making A Case As Basketball Central

With the new 2023 rankings out, the First Coast has strong ties to six of the top 30 prospects on the list. The case can be made that the First Coast is the top area in the State for girl's basketball. It's debatable and speaks well for the state of girl's basketball in the State as a whole.   [player_tooltip player_id='91651' first='Taliah' last='Scott'] is ranked number 3 on the PGH list and the case can be made for number 1 and that would strength the claim even more. In this article, we make the case why the First Coast might be the new "Basketball Mecca" in the State when it comes to girl basketball.   [player_tooltip player_id='91651' first='Taliah' last='Scott'] /2023 / 5'9 / St Johns Country Day PGH #3   No one player's name has been mentioned more in high school basketball than [player_tooltip player_id='91651' first='Taliah' last='Scott']'s name. The things that have been covered and written about: the shooting records, the high schools, the colleges, the scoring average, Team USA, ESPN rankings etc. The early committment to Arkansas. On the court Scott was tops in the State last season with an average of nearly 32 points per game and she knocked down 90 three pointers.   [player_tooltip player_id='91660' first='Fantasia' last='James'] / 2023 / 5'10 / Oakleaf / PGH #14   James knock down the game winner at the buzzer in a District Semifinal game as a Sophomore . She was a force as a Sophomore, especially on the defensive end. She was often matched up inside with a legitimate center and she just battled her way along with her team all the way to Lakeland to play in the State playoffs. James wasnt satisfied. She worked hard in the off season to increase her outside scoring. In the District Finals, James knocked down 6 threes to take home the District title. She won Districts with Kayla Turner by her side. [player_tooltip player_id='91651' first='Taliah' last='Scott'] had moved on to St Johns Country Day. James averaged 18.4 points per game last season and she recently committed to FIU.   [player_tooltip player_id='91643' first='Jada' last='Jones'] / 2023 / 6'4 C / Sandalwood/ PGH #20   There haven't players as physically dominant as [player_tooltip player_id='91643' first='Jada' last='Jones'] has been in her high school career. Every game, Jones is game planned for and she faces double and triple teams every game. Jones has averaged nearly a double-double over the last three years (13.7 points and 9.2 rebounds). Jones has received numerous offers from major colleges in the country.   [player_tooltip player_id='166160' first='Kaylah' last='Turner'] / 2023 / 5'5 PG / Oakleaf / PGH #23   Turner is one of the top guards in the State. She is a blur on both ends of the court. Offensively, she scores at all levels and her midrange game is masterful. Turner is equally dangerous on the defensive end and makes a living harassing the opposition and stealing the ball. Last season, Turner averaged 14.2 rebounds per game and an amazing 5 steals per game. Turner is taking her talents to Alabama A&M University.   [player_tooltip player_id='247118' first='Sophia' last='Rueppell'] / 2023 / 5'9 PG/ Bishop Kenny   Rueppel recently committed to Kennesaw State after receiving numerous D-1 offers. Rueppel can do it all on the court. She can shoot it from all levels and she can run the point and keep everyone involved. Rueppell is deadly from the three point line and can knock them down in flurries. She has a natural feel for the game and is just a baller.   [player_tooltip player_id='166166' first='Asiana' last='Britt'] / 2023 / 5'7 G / DME Academy / PGH #30   Britt has honed her basketball skills in Daytona, but she was a household name at Highland Middle School and at Ribault before she transferred south her Sophomore year. Britt is a tough player to contain on the courts. She can beat you on the outside or on the inside. She is masterful at playing through contact and creating a scoring opportunity every time she has the ball in her hands. Britt is very good rebounding guard as well.   These players collectively make the case for the First Coast being considered as the top basketball area in the State of Florida. That's not only factoring in the 2023 class, but also taking in to consideration some young players in the 2024 2025, and 2026 classes.   2024: [player_tooltip player_id='331745' first='Eris' last='Lester'], [player_tooltip player_id='247154' first='Yakiya' last='Milton'], [player_tooltip player_id='217663' first='Sydney' last='Roundtree'], [player_tooltip player_id='248345' first='Clare' last='Coyle'], etc.   2025: [player_tooltip player_id='346820' first='Abby' last='Knauff'], [player_tooltip player_id='346822' first='Lamiyah' last='Hogans'], etc   2026 : [player_tooltip player_id='248551' first='Alanna' last='Tatum'], [player_tooltip player_id='400785' first='Audrey' last='Beyer'], [player_tooltip player_id='400786' first='Imani' last='Henderson'], etc   The case has been made and the debate will continue. Having six players ranked in the top 30 in the PGH 2023 rankings is indicative of the talent level on the First Coast. If you ask these six 2023 players, they will tell you that the best talent in the State of Florida is on the First Coast of Florida. With 7 of the top 40 in the 2024 class residing on the First Coast as well, the First Coast just might be "Basketball Central" in the State of Florida.

With the new 2023 rankings out, the First Coast has strong ties to six of the top 30 prospects on the list. The case can be made that the First Coast is the top area in the State for girl's basketball. It's debatable and speaks well for the state of girl's basketball in the State as a whole.