First Coast Media Day Observations
In this article:
It was great talking to this year’s players and coaches at the 5th Annual First Coast Basketball Media Day. Here are some notes and observations from the event. Last year, Orange Park High School was one of the main basketball…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt was great talking to this year’s players and coaches at the 5th Annual First Coast Basketball Media Day. Here are some notes and observations from the event.
Last year, Orange Park High School was one of the main basketball stories on the First Coast. They were selected as Clay county’s number 1 team and they did not disappoint. The Raiders came within one game of going to Lakeland for the Final 4. Eris Lester Eris Lester 5'10" | SF Montverde Academy | 2024 State FL was again magnificent and added a lot of explosiveness and skill to her game. Orange Park also had two seniors in Nia Brown and Sam Hardison who were also special last year.
Orange Park
This year Orange Park was mentioned, but nothing like last year. At media day, Coach Nesmith appeared to be embracing the role of the underdog. Everyone knows how special Eris Lester Eris Lester 5'10" | SF Montverde Academy | 2024 State FL is, but it’s no secret about the shooting of Autumn Nesmith, Piera Alexander Piera Alexander 5'6" | PG Orange Park | 2024 State FL , and Hailey Revak Hailey Revak 5'4" | SG Orange Park | 2024 State FL . The Raiders are reloading and they will figure it out.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood lost a lot last year to graduation and a player transfer. One player who is still there is Jada Jones Jada Jones 6'4" | PF Sandalwood | 2023 State FL and she alone will keep Sandalwood in the basketball conversations on the First Coast.
Bartram
Aja Pollard Aja Pollard 5'10" | SF Bartram Trail | 2023 State FL and newly transferred guard Angelina Kouchis Angelina Kouchis 5'5" | SG Bartram Trail | 2023 State FL were at Media day and they and their head coach were extremely optimistic about the upcoming season. Bartram lost some quality players through graduation and transfers, but Pollard, Kouchis, and Freshman Audrey Beyer Audrey Beyer 5'10" | SG Tocoi Creek | 2026 State FL could prove to be a tough matchup for teams on the First Coach. Pollard is one of the most athletic players on the First Coast and can beat you from the outside and she is even more deadly going to the goal. Kouchis brings good ball handling and a good shooter’s touch to Bartram this season. Beyer could be one of the best Freshmen to come through Bartram. She should provide a similar or greater spark to what Kendall Kane Kendall Kane 6'0" | SF Beachside | 2025 State FL provided last year.
Paxon
Paxon had a good season last year and is looking to have another good season this year. The addition of Nina Kamma-Hill will give Paxon another quality guard who can score, and also give them more depth coming off the bench. Paxon was a good team last year, but this year they will not catch anyone by surprise. Ansley Hicks Ansley Hicks 5'6" | CG Paxon | 2024 State FL and Kennedy Waymer Kennedy Waymer PG Paxon | 2024 State FL were one of the best backcourts in the city last season and they will once again be a force to be reckoned with.
Ridgeview
Ridgeview will have a new coach on the sidelines and he is excited about the talent he inherited: Paetyn Miller Paetyn Miller 5'6" | CG Ridgeview | 2023 State FL returns as one of the better senior guards on the First Coast. She can shoot the three and also handle the ball. Ridgeview also returns Nia Blocton Nia Blocton 6'0" | PF Ridgeview | 2024 State FL one of the best bigs on the First Coast. Blocton has averaged a double-double each of her first two seasons in high school. Sophomore Nacoya Blocton Nacoya Blocton 6'0" | PF Ridgeview | 2025 State FL (6’0 PF) also returns, and she may be one of the most versatile players on the First Coast. Nacoya Blocton Nacoya Blocton 6'0" | PF Ridgeview | 2025 State FL has the ability to play on the inside and the outside and is one of the best stretch 4s on the First Coast. (Pictured Above: Nia Blocton Nia Blocton 6'0" | PF Ridgeview | 2024 State FL , Paetyn Miller Paetyn Miller 5'6" | CG Ridgeview | 2023 State FL , and Nacoya Blocton Nacoya Blocton 6'0" | PF Ridgeview | 2025 State FL ).
St Johns Country Day
Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL is on verge of setting some major records this year. Coming off a Summer and Fall of a lifetime, Scott was like a kid in the candy store at Media Day. There are a lot of milestone accomplishments ahead of Scott. At Media Day, she was focused on team goals and the love she has for her teammates. Scott’s teammate Mary Kate Kent Mary Kate Kent 5'6" | SG St. Johns Country Day | 2024 State FL was present and Kent will handle a lot more point guard duties this season and take some of the pressure off of Scott. This season will be a memorable one for St John Country Day and a special season for Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL .
The above storylines were just some of the main talk at Media Day. We will follow these stories and all of the stories on the First Coast throughout this upcoming season.