Spring and Summer 2026: The Young Guns Who Emerged

The future of Florida basketball has never looked brighter. Throughout the heart of the grassroots period, the Classes of 2029, 2030, and 2031 showcased an impressive blend of skill, confidence, and basketball IQ while competing against older competition across camps, showcases, and travel events. While these players are still growing and refining their games, they consistently displayed the traits that separate future stars from the rest: a willingness to compete, the ability to make plays, and a feel for the game beyond their years. In this feature, we recognize a handful of the young prospects who emerged during this period and appear ready to become some of the next big names in the state of Florida.    [player_tooltip player_id='1810875' first='Jada' last='Koné']   At just 13 years old, [player_tooltip player_id='1810875' first='Jada' last='Koné'] continues to turn heads as she recently picked up an offer from Oklahoma, one of the biggest recruiting developments involving a young prospect this summer. Koné already possesses an advanced offensive skill set. She can knock down shots off the catch, create her own offense off the dribble, and confidently step into the step-back three. She handles the basketball well, has the versatility to play multiple positions, and displays a feel for the game that is well beyond her years. Koné plays with poise, makes good decisions, and has an offensive package that is uncommon for someone her age. Watching her brings back memories of her older sister, Ameera Kone, who made a major impression at the Freshman Expo years ago. Basketball talent clearly runs in the family, and Koné appears well on her way to creating a name for herself as one of the premier young prospects in the country.     [player_tooltip player_id='1327031' first='Zoe' last='Bone'] caught my attention at the Sunshine Showdown with her poise and ability to run the team as an eighth grader. Bone displayed impressive speed, athleticism, scoring ability, and a high basketball IQ throughout the event. She handled the ball with confidence, made sound decisions, and remained composed while competing against older players. Her ability to control the pace and perform under pressure made her one of the young guards who stood out at the tournament.     [player_tooltip player_id='1188178' first='Callie' last='James'] first caught our attention last year and continued to build on that momentum this past season. Against her peers at our PGH tournament, James was dominant. She was equally impressive, with her efficiency and confidence being the qualities that stood out most. Competing against older players can challenge even the best young prospects, but James never looked overwhelmed. She scored the ball at all three levels and consistently found ways to counter what the defense gave her. That ability to adjust, make the right reads, and continue producing offensively highlighted the growth in her game and showed she is developing into a pick-your-poison guard.     [player_tooltip player_id='738515' first='Kylee' last='Trent'] turned heads throughout the year, from the state championships to Wesley Chapel, the UNF Summer Camp, FABC, and eventually the July live period, where she elevated her stock even further. Trent is a special young talent who has already earned several major Division I offers at an early age. Her jumper is as smooth as butter, and she has the ability to create off the dribble, get to the rim, and generate her own shot. She also does an excellent job of reading the defense and countering what opponents try to take away. Trent's combination of skill, confidence, basketball IQ and offensive polish makes her one of the premier young prospects in her class.     [player_tooltip player_id='1312287' first='Freda' last='Stamper'] caught my eye at the Inside Exposure tournament in Gainesville with her length, shooting ability, and confidence in handling the basketball. Stamper played unselfish, team-oriented basketball while consistently finding opportunities to get to the rim and finish. She showed the ability to attack going both right and left, an impressive skill for such a young player. With graduation and roster turnover at Ponte Vedra, Stamper is poised to play a significant role this upcoming season. Her versatility and developing all-around game should make her an important piece of the Sharks' plans moving forward.

The future of Florida basketball has never looked brighter. Throughout the heart of the grassroots period, the Classes of 2029, 2030, and 2031 showcased an impressive blend of skill, confidence, and basketball IQ while competing against older competition across camps, showcases, and travel events. While these players are still growing and refining their games, they consistently displayed the traits that separate future stars from the rest: a willingness to compete, the ability to make plays, and a feel for the game beyond their years. In this feature, we recognize a handful of the young prospects who emerged during this period and appear ready to become some of the next big names in the state of Florida.