Class 4A: Top Players at Lakeland

The FHSAA State Tournament took place from Wednesday the 23rd until Saturday the 26th in Lakeland at the RP Funding Center. In Game One, Lake Highland Prep got out to a huge lead early and didn’t look back with a 73-51 victory over Booker. Game Two saw an impressive start and finish by Calvary Christian to spoil Bishop Kenny’s hopes of a LHP rematch with a double-digit W by CC 49-37. The State Championship was really competitive in the first half as they went into the break all tied up, but LHP pulled away and came away with their 3rd straight State Title with a 75-57 final score. Here were the top players who showed out in Class 4A on the big stage: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91555" first="Nyla" last="Harris"] | Lake Highland Prep - MVP</strong> Nyla really just had too much size and strength for either team they played in Lakeland. She’s a true post that really knows how to position herself and post up while calling for the rock. Her footwork and soft touch around the paint made her tough to stop at the state tournament. In their semifinal win, she had a double double with 23 points and 13 rebounds to go along with 5 blocked shots. The Louisville commit came up even bigger in the Championship game with a massive double double of 26 points and 21 boards. Nyla has every tool she needs to succeed at the highest level the next four years. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91649" first="Eleecia" last="Carter"] | Lake Highland Prep</strong> Eleecia is a really high IQ guard that continues to get better each year. In their semifinal win, she put up 14 points with 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. She had a huge game in the State Title win as she hit five 3’s in the Championship with 18 points, 7 boards, and 5 assists. Her ability to make big plays and let her teammates eat first is what makes her one of the best. She shot the ball well from deep with eight 3’s in her two wins in Lakeland. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="217664" first="Lexi" last="Blue"] | Lake Highland Prep</strong> Lexi is easily one of the best 2024’s in the state that has great length, size, and skill. In game one, she had a double double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. She followed that game up with a 17 point/7 rebound game to help her team complete the 3-Peat. Lexi has a great, athletic build and she can do it all from shooting outside to handling the ball as a really poised Sophomore. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91595" first="Samiyah" last="Briggs"] | Calvary Christian</strong> Samiyah is an unsigned 2022 that has led her team all year long. In their win over BK, she scored 17 points and had 5 rebounds/steals. In their Championship loss to nationally-ranked LHP, she had 11 points and 6 boards. She has really good elevation on her jump shot and can score in bunches at all three levels. Her energy is contagious and it gets her team going. She plays hard, gets her teammates involved, and is really a do-it-all type of player. Samiyah uses the pump fake and shot fake as good as anyone in the state. I am excited to see where she commits to as she is a player who can make an immediate impact at the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="221649" first="Markeli" last="Jones-Tynes"] | Calvary Christian</strong> It was nice to be able to see Markeli play two full games as I don’t see South Florida players as much as Central Florida players. She cemented herself as a top 10 player in the 2025 class this week. In game one, she had 11 points, 3 steals, and 3 assists. In the championship, she put up 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Markeli is quick, she drives it hard to the rim, and disrupts those passing lanes. Her length, athleticism, and crafty moves makes her elite for her age. If she continues to develop, she will be a star. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91575" first="Maddie" last="Millar"] | Bishop Kenny</strong> Maddie finished her HS career with 422 made 3-pointers which is second all-time in the state. She’s been a staple at Lakeland during her career with different players and coaches accompanying her. Her shot wasn’t falling in the semifinal loss, but she still finished with 12 and is a true leader and means a lot to the Bishop Kenny program. The UNF commit will continue to excel on and off the court at the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91661" first="Chariot" last="Johnson"] | Booker</strong> Chariot really impressed against LHP with a strong double double of 16 points and 10 boards on efficient shooting. She had some really crafty finishes at the rim with her athleticism and ability to score it. I like her height, length, and high motor that never lets up. If you didn’t know the name, you certainly do now as she came up big on the biggest stage. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>Special Mention</em>:</span> [player_tooltip player_id="217666" first="Briana" last="Rivera"] (LHP) is one of the best shooters in the state that had 17 points over their two games. She has serious range and a quick release. <strong>Camila De Pool Maisonet</strong> (LHP) stepped up with the loss of two players to injury this year. I really like her energy and ability to impact the game in all areas. [player_tooltip player_id="247118" first="Sophia" last="Rueppell"] (BK) had 11 points but fouled out with 5:32 left in the game. She’s a high IQ player with good handles and can shoot it. <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;">Your back-to-back-to-back 4A State Champs - Lake Highland Prep!</p> <img class=" wp-image-393683 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/4A-LHP.jpg" alt="" width="356" height="267" />