High School Ball – Top Performers in Week 1

In this article, we look at just a few guards on the First Coast and from around the state who had a very productive first week in high school basketball.

Maggie Lauber Maggie Lauber 5'6" | SG Durant | 2023 State FL   /  2023 /   5’5  PG / Durant 

Lauber is one of the best unsigned Senior guards in the state.   Lauber was a week 1 standout averaging 14 points, 7 steals, and  6 assists for the week.   The fleet-footed Senior hit the game-winner to defeat Armwood and followed that up with a game in which she posted 16 points, 14 steals, and 8 assists.  REPEAT: 14 steals.  Lauber is a crafty guard who is athletic and fast   She can handle the ball and get to the rim,  and she wreaks havoc on opposing point guards.  

London Jenkins London Jenkins 5'4" | PG Fleming Island | 2024 State FL   /  2024  /   5’6 PG /  Fleming Island

Jenkins had a standout week averaging 23 points, 8 points, and 7 steals over a  game stretch.   Jenkins is one of the fastest guards on the First Coast. She plays downhill and gets to the rim consistently.  She can knock down the three-ball,  has a nice runner in the paint., and flourishes in the transition game.   Defensively,  the point guard is quick and knows how to play the passing lanes very well.   She is also a good on-the-ball defender.   

Abby Knauff Abby Knauff 5'9" | SG Bolles | 2025 State FL /  2025  /  5’6 SG  /  Bolles

Knauff had a usual week of high school basketball.  Knauff had a 31-point performance and a 20-point performance this week.    Knauff knows how to put the ball in the basket and can do it from anywhere on the court:   Threes, in the paint,  drives to the goal and scores off of offensive rebounds.  In 2021, Knauff came on the scene and had an MVP-like year. She is off to a similar start this year and will catch no one by surprise this time around.      

Nykeria Thomas Nykeria Thomas 5'10" | CG Mandarin HS | 2024 State FL   / 2024  /  5’8 CG  /  Mandarin

Thomas had a 17-point,  5 assists, and 5 steal performance last week.  Thomas is one of the most versatile guards on the First Coast.   She can play the 1, 2, and 3 positions and play inside and out.  Thomas has shown early in the season that she can knock down the three-ball.   Defensively, Thomas is long and athletic and plays the passing lanes very well. She can defend on the wings and also can mix it up in the paint.

Ki’Ajanae Gordon /  2023  / 5’8 CG  /  Durant

The Senior guard was a week 1 standout, averaging 13 points, 6 steals, and 5 rebounds per game.  Gordon was very instrumental in the victory of Armwood,  going for  18 points and knocking down 4 three-pointers on six attempts.   Gordon also played well on the defensive end, averaging over 6 steals per game.   Gordon posted 7 steals and 9 steals in back-to-back games.