Previewing the Tampa Bay Invitational: Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">By Michael Wholey 12/27/22 11:00 PM EST</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>The Tampa Bay Christmas invitational has expanded over the last few years from a one site - eight team event into a four facility event hosting over 100 teams boys and girls from 10 different states including Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.  With over 70 Florida teams in attendance, Prep Hoops will be in the gym to take in all the action.  Here is a preview of the event and who to see. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DIVISIONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>She Got Game Classic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Lake Highland Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Montverde Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Bishop McNamara (MD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Olmsted Falls (OH)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">South Shore (NY)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Bolingbrook (IL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Pickerington Central (OH)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The Webb School (TN)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">River Ridge (GA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Rutgers Prep (NJ)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>ENG Sports</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">DME National</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Miami Country Day</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Palm Bay Magnet</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">St. Thomas Aquinas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Example Academy National (IL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">George Rogers Clark (KY)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Penn Charter (PA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Grace Christian Sandford (NC)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Clearwater Beach</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Blanche Ely</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Colonial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Sevier County HS (TN)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Luella HS (GA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The Galloway School (GA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Good Counsel (MD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Bishop Guertin (NH)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Souderton Area HS (PA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Bishop McGuinnes (NC)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Homewood Flossmoor (IL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">St. Mary's Ryken HS (MD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>She Got Game Classic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Lake Highland Prep and Montverde Academy will compete in the events top bracket (She Got Game Classic) with national rankings on the line.  Competing against Bishop McNamara (MD), Olmsted Falls (OH), South Shore (NY), Bolingbrook (IL), Pickerington Central (OH), The Webb School (TN), River Ridge (GA), and Rutgers Prep (NJ) this bracket will decide what level these two Florida teams are.  Lake Highland Prep will lean heavily on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217664' first='Lexi' last='Blue']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243885' first='Jada' last='Eads']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91649' first='Eleecia' last='Carter']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248449' first='Arianna' last='Woodard']</strong> while Montverde Academy will lean on their five D1 signees <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219934' first='Rusne' last='Augustinaite']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='245281' first='Cori' last='Allen']</strong>, <strong>Jordy Griggs</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='142823' first='Sahnya' last='Jah']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219933' first='Mjracle' last='Sheppard']</strong>, and <strong>Lety Vasconcelos</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>ENG Sports</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">DME National, Miami Country Day, Palm Bay Magnet, and St. Thomas Aquinas will compete against Example Academy National (IL), George Rogers Clark (KY), Penn Charter (PA), and Grace Christian Sandford (NC) in one of the top brackets.  With half the field from Florida, a lot will be decided in the MaxPreps rankings and an insight into who will be the front runners for an appearance in Lakeland and to bring home an FHSAA state championship.  DME National will look to double digit scorers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385124' first='Dominika' last='Paurova']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='852071' first='Olivia' last='Schmitt']</strong>, while Miami Country Day will need big performances by D1 signees <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91642' first='Kristina' last='Godfrey']</strong> and <strong>Naveyah Damon</strong> as well as Junior phenom <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217667' first='Kayla' last='Nelms']</strong> and 8^th grade sensation <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='214184' first='Jalynn' last='Belton']</strong>.<strong>  </strong>Palm Bay has a ton of talent led by Notre Dame signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91638' first='Emma' last='Risch']</strong> as well as fellow back court mates <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='166170' first='Alonya' last='Waldon']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219932' first='Jazmine' last='Major']</strong> and their monster post player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219923' first='Kiara' last='Williams']</strong> while St. Thomas Aquinas will need big performances from East Carolina signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91641' first='Karina' last='Gordon']</strong>, fellow Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219942' first='Reina' last='Green']</strong> and Junoirs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219927' first='Ka'Zahria' last='Johnson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219924' first='Khadee' last='Hession']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349421' first='Kalia' last='Harrington']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221678' first='Kamryn' last='Corporan']</strong>, <strong>Mya Johnson</strong> and Sophomore sensation <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248694' first='Nyla' last='McFadden']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Clearwater Beach</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Loaded with talent as well Blanche Ely and Colonial will compete against a number of out of state teams including Sevier County HS (TN), Luella HS (GA), The Galloway School (GA), Good Counsel (MD), Bishop Guertin (NH), Souderton Area HS (PA), Bishop McGuinnes (NC), Homewood Flossmoor (IL), and St. Mary's Ryken HS (MD). Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217668' first='Gianna' last='Corbitt']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219925' first='Janessa' last='Kelley']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219988' first='Charisse' last='Martin']</strong> will look to lead Blanche Ely while Colonial will rely on a more balanced attack with perimeter players <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243892' first='Carmen' last='Richardson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243934' first='Milan' last='Santos']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='166212' first='Sophya' last='Barreiro']</strong> and interior players <strong>Raenne Eccleton</strong> and <strong>Jasmyne Gibson</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Michael Wholey</strong> is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech.&nbsp; Wholey and the rest of the Prep Girls Hoop staff, seek to cover the entire state of player, keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news.&nbsp; Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information.&nbsp; If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->