Previewing the Tampa Bay Invitational: Part 1
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By Michael Wholey 12/27/22 11:00 PM EST 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…
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Continue ReadingBy Michael Wholey 12/27/22 11:00 PM EST
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.
DIVISIONS
She Got Game Classic
Lake Highland Prep
Montverde Academy
Bishop McNamara (MD)
Olmsted Falls (OH)
South Shore (NY)
Bolingbrook (IL)
Pickerington Central (OH)
The Webb School (TN)
River Ridge (GA)
Rutgers Prep (NJ)
ENG Sports
DME National
Miami Country Day
Palm Bay Magnet
St. Thomas Aquinas
Example Academy National (IL)
George Rogers Clark (KY)
Penn Charter (PA)
Grace Christian Sandford (NC)
Clearwater Beach
Blanche Ely
Colonial
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)
St. Mary’s Ryken HS (MD)
She Got Game Classic
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 Lexi Blue Lexi Blue 6'1" | SF Lake Highland Prep | 2024 State FL , Jada Eads Jada Eads 5'6" | PG Lake Highland Prep | 2024 State FL , Eleecia Carter Eleecia Carter 5'7" | CG Lake Highland Prep | 2023 State FL , and Arianna Woodard Arianna Woodard 5'10" | PG Lake Highland Prep | 2025 State FL while Montverde Academy will lean on their five D1 signees Rusne Augustinaite Rusne Augustinaite 5'10" | CG Montverde Academy | 2023 State FL , Cori Allen Cori Allen 5'10" | SG Montverde Academy | 2023 State FL , Jordy Griggs, Sahnya Jah Sahnya Jah 6'1" | SF Bishop McNamara | 2023 #50 Nation FL , Mjracle Sheppard Mjracle Sheppard 5'8" | CG Montverde Academy | 2023 State FL , and Lety Vasconcelos.
ENG Sports
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 Dominika Paurova Dominika Paurova 6'1" | SF Winston Salem Christian National | 2023 State FL and Olivia Schmitt, while Miami Country Day will need big performances by D1 signees Kristina Godfrey Kristina Godfrey 5'7" | PG Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL and Naveyah Damon as well as Junior phenom Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL and 8th grade sensation Jalynn Belton Jalynn Belton 5'10" | PF Miami Country Day | 2027 State FL . Palm Bay has a ton of talent led by Notre Dame signee Emma Risch Emma Risch 6'2" | PG Palm Bay | 2023 State #23 Nation FL as well as fellow back court mates Alonya Waldon Alonya Waldon 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL and Jazmine Major Jazmine Major 5'5" | CG Palm Bay Magnet | 2023 State FL and their monster post player Kiara Williams Kiara Williams 6'1" | PF Palm Bay Magnet | 2024 State FL while St. Thomas Aquinas will need big performances from East Carolina signee Karina Gordon Karina Gordon 5'8" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL , fellow Senior Reina Green Reina Green 5'10" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL and Junoirs Ka’Zahria Johnson Ka’Zahria Johnson 6'2" | C St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL , Khadee Hession Khadee Hession 5'10" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL , Kalia Harrington Kalia Harrington 5'8" | SG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL , Kamryn Corporan Kamryn Corporan 5'3" | PG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL , Mya Johnson and Sophomore sensation Nyla McFadden Nyla McFadden 5'11" | SF St. Thomas Aquinas | 2025 State FL .
Clearwater Beach
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 Gianna Corbitt Gianna Corbitt 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL , Janessa Kelley Janessa Kelley 5'9" | SG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL , and Charisse Martin Charisse Martin 5'7" | CG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL will look to lead Blanche Ely while Colonial will rely on a more balanced attack with perimeter players Carmen Richardson Carmen Richardson 5'8" | CG Colonial | 2024 State FL , Milan Santos Milan Santos 5'3" | PG Colonial HS | 2023 State FL , and Sophya Barreiro Sophya Barreiro 5'4" | CG Colonial | 2023 State FL and interior players Raenne Eccleton and Jasmyne Gibson.
Michael Wholey 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. 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. Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information. If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.