First Coast's Huge Presence in Lakeland - 2026 Top Performers

As we continue to look at the Juniors in the State, we place focus on the Northeast Region of the State. The region, aka "The First Coast," sent five teams to Lakeland: Hilliard, Tocoi Creek, Bolles, Providence, and NFEI. Hilliard and Tocoi Creek exited in the semifinals, but the other three battled it out in the Finals. No championship was brought back to "Duuvaal" but a ton of statewide respect definitely was. In this article we take a look at some of 2026 prospects from the First Coast who played well in Lakeland, and sent a message across the arena that teams from the First Coast will be back.    [player_tooltip player_id='400785' first='Audrey' last='Beyer'] put up a special performance and looked like she had been on that "stage" before. Beyer's offensive game was all around good. She got to the rim and scored and also put the opponent in foul trouble and got to the free-throw line. She was brilliant from the line going 15 for 15. Beyer also connected from outside where she is dangerous. The Junior guard performed well on all three levels and also ran the floor well. She did a good job of defending the talented forwards on Bloomingdale. Beyer uses her length to contest shots and is quick enough to keep the offensive player in front of her. She represented well and will be in contention for player of the year next season.     [player_tooltip player_id='722919' first='Julianna' last='Baskin'] really played well in Lakeland and represented herself and the First Coast well. The talented Junior posted a double-double in the first game (10 points and 10 rebounds). In the second game, she raised her offensive game. Baskin had one of her better scoring performances in the Finals and she also showcased a shooting touch out on the perimeter. Baskin is one of the top "bigs" on the First Coast who can rebound with the best. She is an aggressive defensive player who can hold it down in the middle and with a little "edge" as well. Baskin also runs the floor well. The young baller has helped lead her team to Lakeland for the past two years and she is likely to do so again next season as well.     [player_tooltip player_id='514608' first='Evie' last='Freeman'] was on fire in Lakeland and was the team's MVP. Freeman scored well and was impressive as she showcased her offensive skillset. The talented and swift guard showed an ability to score from multiple levels on the floor. Freeman's on the ball defense was very good and as usual she played the passing lanes very well. The most impressive thing about Freeman's performance in the State tournament was her competitive nature and her ability to raise her level when she competed against talented prospects. Freeman doesn't back down from competition, she has a never say die attitude, and she will "kill a mosquito with an ax," as an old coach use to say. Freeman is that competitive! The talented Junior guard will look to make it back to Lakeland for some unfinished business.     [player_tooltip player_id='722922' first='Kennedy' last='Loux'] was a force in Lakeland and really showed a lot of skills from the guard position. Loux showed her shooting ability in the Semifinals, connecting on two threes and scoring 13 points to lead her team in scoring. She was also great at spreading the ball around. Loux did a good job of running the show and moving over to the two position at times. Loux was steady as usual and always plays a smart game on the court.     [player_tooltip player_id='1201802' first='Jannell' last='Houston'] really played well in Lakeland and showed that she and her teammates well be a team to contend with next season. Houston was a force on the floor and showcased her skills on both ends of the floor. The junior guard was scoring in the paint on floaters and was killing it in the mid-range area. Houston also showed she could score from the perimeter as well. She put pressure on the defense and showed her ability to get to the rim and score or get to the free-throw line. Defensively, she did a good job of challenging one of the best teams in the State in any class. Houston played physical and wasn't afraid to mix it up on the floor. Houston was a a beast and will be a player to contend with throughout the summer and next season.     [player_tooltip player_id='221613' first='Alyssa' last='Hallman'] had a very competitive performance in the semifinals, but her four playoff scoring performances to get her team to the finals were epic (23, 20, 25, 26). Hallman is a versatile player who can shoot the three ball and has a nice midrange game as well. The young forward also gets after it on the boards and is competitive on the defensive end of he floor.     [player_tooltip player_id='514527' first='Arianna' last='Walker'] made a name for herself in Lakeland and is already carrying that momentum into the early travel season. Walker's speed and athleticism showed up throughout and she did an admirable job guarding some of the top talent in the State. Walker was solid in press break and in ball movement. She went out on the court and fulfilled her assignment. She didn't look to play outside of her abilities and force anything. Walker will be called on to score more next season, but she didn't need to worry about scoring in Lakeland. Walker was a beast on defense.    [player_tooltip player_id='722918' first='Kasey' last='Davey'] was a force in Lakeland and will be one of the top players on the First Coast and in the State next season. Davey is a beast in transition and on defense as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1220309' first='Kailyn' last='Ballance'] from Hilliard played well this season and also contributed in Lakeland. The power forward averaged nearly 6 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='633532' first='Leila' last='Goll'] played a big roll in the Semifinals as the coaching staff decided to go small when substituting for McCoy. Goll filled the role well and played well, especially on the defensive end. Goll is a three point specialists and will be called upon to unleash the beast next season. She averaged nearly 3 to 4 threes per game in travel season last Spring.

As we continue to look at the Juniors in the State, we place focus on the Northeast Region of the State. The region, aka "The First Coast," sent five teams to Lakeland: Hilliard, Tocoi Creek, Bolles, Providence, and NFEI. Hilliard and Tocoi Creek exited in the semifinals, but the other three battled it out in the Finals. No championship was brought back to "Duuvaal" but a ton of statewide respect definitely was. In this article we take a look at some of 2026 prospects from the First Coast who played well in Lakeland, and sent a message across the arena that teams from the First Coast will be back.