First Coast Media Day: Clay County Seniors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Coast Media Day gave us the opportunity to see some of the 2024s in Clay County and provided us with a good analysis of High School basketball in the county. In this article, we hilight some of the Clay County Seniors and how they will impact the success of their teams and the landscape of high school basketball on the First Coast. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Orange Park High School </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":796431,"width":"244px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.3333333333333333","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/IMG_4557.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-796431" style="aspect-ratio:1.3333333333333333;width:244px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orange Park will be looking to be a player in 6A this upcoming season. The Lady Raiders learned that [player_tooltip player_id='331745' first='Eris' last='Lester'] would finish her high school career at Mt <br>Verdia . A lot of the other Seniors played together over the summer and have chemistry. <br>[player_tooltip player_id='349438' first='Piera' last='Alexander'] is the undisputed leader of the team and is poised to have a great season. She has been a leader for several years and will now be asked to lead and take on other roles on the court. Alexander can handle the ball and is also an agressive shooter who can score from anywhere on the court, including shooting from behind the three point line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='426240' first='Autumn' last='Nesmith'] will also be asked to help lead as well. Nesmith can shoot the rock, but will need to help Alexander lead the team on and off the court. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='401617' first='Hailey' last='Revak'] will also be asked to do her thing and that's shoot the rock. Revak is one of the top three point shooters in the county. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='349377' first='Mychaela' last='Parker'] will have a lot to say about the success of the Lady Raiders. Parker has the ability to be dominant in the middle. If she is dominant, the Lady Raiders will be a player in the District Championship hunt. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><br>Ridgeview High School </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":796435,"width":"199px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.3333333333333333","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/IMG_4601.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-796435" style="aspect-ratio:1.3333333333333333;width:199px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='331713' first='Nia' last='Blocton'], the top player in Clay county made her appearance on Media Day along with fellow senior teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='556581' first='Aniyah' last='Campbell']. Ridgeview has a lot of the pieces of the puzzle in place this year:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='331713' first='Nia' last='Blocton'] has averaged a double double for her entire high school career. She is a force who controls the paint on both ends of the court. The versatile Blocton can also handle the ball and is a point guards best friend. She catches any pass in her vicinity and can bring the ball up the court in transition and in press break. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='556581' first='Aniyah' last='Campbell'] (cover) made the trek to Media Day. Campbell will be a key player this season as she was last season. Campbell helps with the rebounds, controls the paint when Blocton is on the bench, and provides that competitive attitude on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oakleaf High School </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":796436,"width":"207px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.3333333333333333","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/IMG_4440.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-796436" style="aspect-ratio:1.3333333333333333;width:207px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='470453' first='Ja'nease' last='Bender'] is looking to be ready for the upcoming season. Bender is athletic and can get to the basket and score. She is also an excellent rebounder. Bender, who is a small forward, is counted on to give her team a presence in the middle which speaks to her versatility as a player. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St Johns Country Day</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":796443,"width":"212px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.3333333333333333","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/IMG_4491-1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-796443" style="aspect-ratio:1.3333333333333333;width:212px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='221691' first='Mary' last='Kate Kent'] had an interesting offseason that was filled with highs and lows. Her teammate and mentor, basketball icon Talia Scott graduated and is now at Arkansas; and Kent's coach of 6 years is now coaching at a different school. Kent will be counted on to lead her school and teammates and she has their confidence along with the confidence of her coach. Kent is of course one of the leading three point shooters to ever play at St Johns Country Day. Furthermore, she inspires her team with her effort and her accolades. The fact that she has committed to play college ball at Newberry College serves as a constant inspiration for her teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->