Playoff Energy - Fall Ball Standouts

As the season draws near and teams begin that push towards the regular season, team goals, and a Final Four trip to Lakeland (Now Jacksonville) Fall Ball has heated up. This past week several teams in action around the First Coast displayed that high-intensity playoff energy. At Providence and Eagles View, the tempo was sharp, the defensive effort was elevated, the threes were falling, and the competition was close to what we often see deep into February. Coaches were testing out rotations, new players were making their mark, and returners looked determined to show their improvement from their hard work over the summer. In this article, we look week three's standouts.    [player_tooltip player_id='912252' first='Naomi' last='Gill'] set the tone early with relentless drives to the rim, drawing fouls and converting at the line. Her ability to attack both left and right kept the defense guessing, and she showed the ability to finish through contact. Gill brought down the house on a smooth left-hand drive from the left side of the floor. That move was a separator - not just from 2028's, but from the majority of Florida. Defensively, she was a spark in the press, forcing turnovers and disrupting rhythm. Gill's IQ and athleticism were on display. She is a polished player who has already made Tocoi a more dangerous squad for this upcoming season.       [player_tooltip player_id='823463' first='Presley' last='Norman'] (Bolles)was lethal off the pick-and-roll, showing patience as a floor general while drilling transition threes with confidence. Norman was impressive running the point and really showing her versatility as a reliable point guard in addition to her dominance as a “deadly” shooting guard. Norman dictated pace and forced defenses into tough decisions. With her pure shooting stroke, she remains one of the premier perimeter threats in Florida.       [player_tooltip player_id='1308934' first='Kaitlyn' last='Farr'] Farr brought a complete game to the floor. She hit threes off the dribble and the catch, posted inside, and disrupted passing lanes with her anticipation. She piled up deflections and boards while flashing elite shot blocking skills. Farr's two-way play and versatility stood out throughout the Fall League match-up against Bolles. She is a young player who is turning heads and making others believe that at the end of the season Tocoi could fine themselves in the Final Four - now on the First Coast which would give her squad home court advantage.       [player_tooltip player_id='514527' first='Arianna' last='Walker'] proved to be a defensive stopper, consistently hounding opponents on the perimeter. She pushed the ball in transition, made the extra pass, and scored on a crafty spin move. Her willingness to do the little things, paired with her athleticism, made her an impact player.       [player_tooltip player_id='738971' first='Gabi' last='Iturralde'] gave Tocoi a huge boost with her relentless attacks inside. Her spin moves shredded defenders, she had the jump shot falling, and she consistently finished strong at the rim. Iturralde's versatility, physicality, and determination to get downhill forced opponents to adjust defensively, and she established herself as one of the toughest match-ups on the floor. Her ball handling and ability to hit the jump shot consistently has put her at a different level. With the State Championship games now moved to Jacksonville, Iturralde's intensity could carry her team to the State Championship which will now be on their home turf.       [player_tooltip player_id='400813' first='Asiana' last='McCreary'] (Tocoi Creek)McCreary was the defensive backbone for Tocoi, protecting the rim and anchoring the paint. She altered and blocked shots, closed out on the perimeter, and showed the versatility to guard multiple positions on the floor. Running the floor in transition, she also finished plays with toughness on the inside. Her presence gave Tocoi balance on both ends.       [player_tooltip player_id='1090912' first='Mamie' last='Burkett'] brought toughness to the paint and delivered hard-earned points inside. She battled for position, finished through contact, and gave Bolles a physical presence down low. Her ability to convert tough buckets helped steady the offense when the game tightened. Her intensity was at playoff level and throughout this summer the young power forward showed no signs of letting up.       [player_tooltip player_id='1249017' first='Angelina' last='Laudicina'] made her presence felt with rebounding, ball advancement, and scoring versatility. She knocked down hook shots, drove with confidence, and even connected on a few outside jumpers. Laudicina displayed an elite and well-rounded skill set for her age. She is shaping up to be one of the top young players in the entire 2029 class.

As the season draws near and teams begin that push towards the regular season, team goals, and a Final Four trip to Lakeland (Now Jacksonville) Fall Ball has heated up. This past week several teams in action around the First Coast displayed that high-intensity playoff energy. At Providence and Eagles View, the tempo was sharp, the defensive effort was elevated, the threes were falling, and the competition was close to what we often see deep into February. Coaches were testing out rotations, new players were making their mark, and returners looked determined to show their improvement from their hard work over the summer. In this article, we look week three's standouts.