East Coast to West Coast: Standout Forwards

As the season wounds down, we take a “coast to coast” look at some of the impactful forwards we saw this year. Moreover, we cover the I-10 route from Jacksonville to Pensacola. There are a lot of impactful prospects along this route and in this article, we hi light a handful of them.    [player_tooltip player_id='751628' first='Chamiah' last='Francis'] continues her dominance and showing why she is one of the top players in the  State of Florida.In the matchup I watched Francis was dominant with 20 points and 9 rebounds.  Francis rebounds send statements that rebounds belong to her.   In the night she was playing, so was the scoreboard.  Francis knocked down 20 and did so in a variety of ways including several smooth midrange jumpers.  Francis was getting great position in the post and then getting to the rim or just pulling up for the short midrange shot.  That pull up midrange shot is dangerously good.  Just another took in the bag of one of the best players in the State.     [player_tooltip player_id='346854' first='Jolena' last='Gardner'] has been impactful since her Freshman year and is one of the most versatile players in the entire State of Florida. Gardner has the skillset to play 4 to 5 positions on both sides of the court. She has a combination of speed, power, athleticism, physicality, agility, and competitiveness. By the way, her basketball skillset is pretty good, too. Gardner can score from anywhere on the court. She can shoot the three, pull-up in the midrange, drive to the rim, and even play in the post with her back to the basket. The Senior Forward is a selfless player who gets others involved. Gardner doesn't play for stats, but stats can “sometimes” be revealing. Gardner ranks 2nd on her team in nearly every category, and shooter the ball at a team leading 45 percent. Gardner is an elite talent - one of the best forwards in the State.     Nacoya Blocton was in the middle of every play it seemed during the Clay County Cup. The defense was geared to stop her, and on the offensive end, most plays ran through the veteran Blocton. She got to the rim, hit the three, and put her opponent in foul trouble. Blocton handled most of the ball handling duties on offense and led the fast break throughout the game. Down the stretch, Blocton was clutch and continued to show whey she is one of the toughest power forwards in the 2025 class.       [player_tooltip player_id='1166520' first='Za'Khiya' last='Shaw-Rease'] had a few nice buckets against Booker and was a competitor. She showcased good hands and a nice touch around the paint. She executed a nice short range jumper in the game I watched. Her midrange shot was impressive.  Shaw-Rease was also a standout in tbe rebound department.      [player_tooltip player_id='860613' first='Abby' last='Baker'] has really turned it on over the past few games, including a monster game with 20 points and 17 boards. Baker has consistently given her team an inside presence with her play. She has poured in 8 points per game and averaged nearly 7 rebounds per game. In addition to scoring and hitting the glass, Baker has been impressive with her ball IQ, her competitive nature, and her ability to pass the ball to her perimeter players from the post. Baker could actually post a triple double with the prolific shooters on her team. She is one of the most unheralded forwards in the 2025 class. Her stock continues to rise.     [player_tooltip player_id='430254' first='Joy' last='Wright'] has the versatility as a player and is one of the most athletic power forwards on the First Coast. Wright always provides a physical presence in the middle of the defense whether she gets the rebound, steal, or blocked shot, or not. On the offensive end, she is equally as physical and is a difficult matchup for any opponent. Her combination of strength and agility is very impressive. She is just scratching the surface of how good she can be.       [player_tooltip player_id='387293' first='Jariyah' last='Jordan'] is another familiar forward in the Panhandle. Jordan does all the little things that power forwards do. She is committed to the defensive side of the floor and has the versatility and athleticism to mix it up on the inside and cover out in space. Her ability to cover out in space allows her to switch on picks and defend guards with the ball in hand. She is also good on helpside defense. Jordan gives great effort on the boards and averages 8.6 rebounds per game. The power forward can also get out on the fast break and get buckets. She runs the floor as fast as her guards. Jordan's combination of defensive tenacity, versatility, and athleticism is why she is one of the top forwards in the panhandle of Florida.

As the season wounds down, we take a “coast to coast” look at some of the impactful forwards we saw this year. Moreover, we cover the I-10 route from Jacksonville to Pensacola. There are a lot of impactful prospects along this route and in this article, we hi light a handful of them.