East Coast United Showcasing Talent Across the State of Florida

The 2021 season was a very good year for the ECU basketball program. ECU filled 20 girl basketball teams throughout the state of Florida. The teams ranged from 10U to 17U. In this article, we look at some of the top ECU players in the 2022 class that are flying under the radar. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>North Florida Division</strong></span> The top 17U in North Florida (ECU Family 2022) remained intact and finished the season with an impressive 45–9 record, including impressive performances in the Summer live sessions in Louisville, KY and Orlando, FL. The ECU Family 2022 team finished off the season winning the Orlando Splash Platinum Championship. <strong>Tai Baldwin, 5’8″ SG (University Christian HS)</strong> The 2021 travel season started out slow for Baldwin, but as the season progressed it all came together for her. Baldwin showed a lot of variety to her game by knocking down threes and taking the ball to the goal with authority. Baldwin’s speed proved to be her greatest asset on the court. She used her speed and quickness to defend, rebound and track loose balls. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="248564" first="Cortney" last="Smith"] 2022, 5’10 Wing (Bolles HS)</strong> had a productive ‘live period’ in July. The 5’10” wing player can shoot the three and had some good moments over the summer, in particular during the National Championship tournament in Orlando.   At 5’10,” Smith rebounds well and handles the ball well in the open court.  On any other travel team, Smith would probably average a double-double. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219949" first="Emily" last="McIntosh"] 2022, 5’10” Combo Guard  (St Augustine FL)</strong> was also a top performer during the college live period. Her performances were consistent in all 4 “live” tournaments she competed in. She showed her ability to knock down threes “break ankles” on her penetrations to the basket. At 5’10, the left-handed combo guard seemed to get to the basket at will. When double-teamed, McIntosh dished to teammates for baskets. At 5’10, McIntosh is one of the most versatile guards in the State and she is going to be a nightmare against high school defenses. <strong>Andrea Seay 2022, 5’9″ Wing (Camden County HS, GA)</strong> is a versatile player and had some great moments down the stretch, including a 25 point performance in Louisville. Seay scored from every area on the court, including 4 three-pointers. Seay is a very versatile player with excellent instincts on the court. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="248568" first="Cee" last="Cee Bell"] 2022, 5’6″ PG (University Christian) </strong>showed the athleticism that you can’t teach on a basketball court. She is a very good defender and has the potential to be a solid point guard. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>South Florida Division</strong></span> <strong>Genesis Nicole Santiago 2022, 5’5” PG (Mater Academy High School)</strong> Genesis is a strong-minded all-around player. She has great vision, loves to pass and get her teammates involved. She can shoot, post up against smaller players and drive to the basket creating scoring opportunities for teammates.  She is a good rebounder despite her size. She is a smart perimeter defender, anticipating is her strength. <strong>Genesis Toledano 2022, 6’2” Stretch 4 (Schoolhouse Preparatory) </strong>is an all-around player when it comes to ball handling, passing, and scoring around the hoop. She is a poised, smart, and experienced player. Toledano is a very coachable player that plays hard on both sides of the court. She also plays for the Argentinian National Team. <strong>Hermione Michelle Hicks 2022, 5’9” SG (Mater Academy High School)</strong> is a position-less player. She can play as a PG down to a Strong forward. She can shoot, pass and rebound the ball on both sides of the floor. She can defend multiple positions and is a very coachable player. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Central Florida Division</strong></span> <strong>Jacqueline Castro 2022, 6’1″ Post (Viera H.S.)</strong> has a solid frame and is strong and athletic. She runs well in transition and likes to mix it up in the paint. Castro is a very good rebounder, a solid defender, and has a high basketball IQ. She anticipates offensive players’ moves, beats them to their spots, and takes plenty of charges. Castro can score effectively in the post with her counter moves and out to 15 feet. She does well in pick-and-roll situations and communicates well with teammates. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="248869" first="Ionna" last="Garcia"] 2022, 6’0 Wing (Holy Trinity H.S.)</strong> made the most of her opportunities in each tournament. She is long and deceptively athletic and defends positions one through four. She makes plays inside and outside. Can get to the rim from either side or finishes equally as well with either hand. She can also shoot from the three-point line. <strong>Cerena Watson 2022, 5’6 Guard (Titusville H.S.)</strong> is a fast and very athletic player. She is physically stronger than she looks and has a high motor. She is a raw talent with lots of potential. Watson is a great on-ball defender and has the ability to knock down open shots. She has also shown the ability to make plays for her teammates. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Gulf Coast Division</strong></span> <strong>Devin Johnson 2022, 5’4” Guard PG (Booker High)</strong>. Devin was a real standout this past AAU season.  It was hard to miss her abilities out on the court.  The athletic guard can score on all three levels. Her abilities to get to the basket were very impressive.  Johnson is a high-level point guard with enormous potential. These players are part of East Coast United, one of the premier basketball organizations in the State of Florida. The program started in 2007 and has expanded to several divisions (Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville) in the last 14 years. The expansion reflects growth and an intentional effort to give a large number of girl basketball players the exposure and the opportunity to play on the next level.