The Road to Lakeland: Freshman and Sophomore Scale Tippers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the quality of Freshmen and and Sophomores showing out at the showcases, you cant help but wonder if there were scale tippers in the building. These are the prospects who don't just play their role- they tilt the scale for their teams. Whether its a freshman guard showing poise like an upperclassman or a sophomore breaking out in her second season: the road to Lakeland may run through players who showed their stuff at the PGH showcases.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Florida </strong>put 4 teams in Lakeland last season and had other teams that barely missed Lakeland. A lot of the teams in North Florida have gotten better, some have more depth and experience. Tocoi Creek's trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1044114' first='Genesis' last='Sanchez'], [player_tooltip player_id='514918' first='Adelynn' last='Curry'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1308934' first='Kaitlyn' last='Farr'] could help Tocoi get back to Lakeland with a deeper bench. St. John's Country Day features [player_tooltip player_id='708143' first='Kendall' last='Proffitt'] alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1309199' first='Peyton' last='Roberts'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1264916' first='Madi' last='Dorsey'], forming a nice Sophomore group to go along with the much improved [player_tooltip player_id='819896' first='Ashantii' last='Williams'] . Orange Park's Sophomore duo of [player_tooltip player_id='912251' first='Ella' last='Crowe'], and [player_tooltip player_id='974196' first='Trinity' last='Dinkins'], and Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1003136' first='Skylar' last='Wilson'] bring toughness and scoring punch. [player_tooltip player_id='708144' first='Jocelyn' last='Hoffmann'] and Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1258488' first='Audra' last='Davis'] lead a young Ponte Vedra team who played well all summer long and looking to carry that momentum to Lakeland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1261874,"width":"471px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/DSC00452.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1261874" style="width:471px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central Florida</strong> is very deep in Sophomore talent. Bishop Moore Catholic features a young frontcourt trio in [player_tooltip player_id='1235067' first='Malayah' last='Rypien'], [player_tooltip player_id='1274389' first='Gabrielle' last='Palubin'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1235154' first='Lillian' last='Mathis'], paired with one of the state's premier young guards in [player_tooltip player_id='727591' first='Jaiden' last='Peterson'] (cover). Lake Howell will feature [player_tooltip player_id='1307420' first='Seriyah' last='Savain'], [player_tooltip player_id='1307541' first='Sophia' last='Bautista'], and Lola Dias, giving them size and perimeter versatility. Windermere Prep's [player_tooltip player_id='1273397' first='Joba' last='Oyedeji'] (below) will be a strong force on a talented team. They were one of the most talented teams I saw at the FABC showcase and their season could be a "Lakeland or Bust" type of season. [player_tooltip player_id='1122373' first='Ashlynn' last='Day'] (Gateway) is a beast and showed over the summer that she and her team could make a run to Lakeland with their up-tempo style of play. Add in [player_tooltip player_id='1306514' first='Catherine' last='Luster'] (Oviedo), Samara Oldham (Lyman), and [player_tooltip player_id='1238113' first='Anaiyaa' last='Deoleo'] (Winter Springs), and Central Florida clearly has scale tippers ready to emerge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":962960,"width":"433px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/08/IMG_1126.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-962960" style="width:433px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Florida</strong> has some very intriguing scale tippers in the 2028 class. At Booker T Washington, the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1237196' first='Kalyn' last='Thomas'] (below #20) and [player_tooltip player_id='880384' first='Jada' last='Clardy'] (below #1) could tip the scale when you factor in the return of [player_tooltip player_id='751628' first='Chamiah' last='Francis']. That trio not only tips the scales but breaks it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1265416,"width":"494px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/07/DSC09785.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1265416" style="width:494px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1276952,"width":"498px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/07/DSC09778.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1276952" style="width:498px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Florida</strong> always produces players who can tip the scale , and this year's crop of Sophomores are no exception. [player_tooltip player_id='1235125' first='Tyaiwana' last='Ousley'] (Park Vista) is already one of the state's most productive scorers, capable of 20+ on any night. Miami Country Day's [player_tooltip player_id='219786' first='Kennedy' last='Deal'] (below) is the "real deal" . She is versatile and has multiple State Championships already. She blends experience with skill. Doral Academy Prep's trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1238136' first='Madison' last='Londono'], [player_tooltip player_id='1308965' first='Lauren' last='Niebla'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1235145' first='Camila' last='Velasco'] gives the Firebirds a deep sophomore core.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1089996,"width":"487px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/IMG_4366.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1089996" style="width:487px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PGH Showcase proved that there are tons of difference makers in the 2028 and 2029 classes. This caliber of players aren't just role players, they are scale tippers. When the post season starts, some of these young players are likely to rise in the big moments and ride the momentum all the way to Lakeland<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->