Youth Take Over: The Next Wave of First Coast Guards
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Over the past few months of watching Spring AAU and summer basketball, it’s becoming apparent that there is going to be a major shift in the landscape of high school basketball. There are some 2026 and 2027 guards all…
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Continue ReadingOver the past few months of watching Spring AAU and summer basketball, it’s becoming apparent that there is going to be a major shift in the landscape of high school basketball. There are some 2026 and 2027 guards all across the state who are as athletic and as talented as any Sophomore, Junior, and Senior girl basketball player in the State. These 2026 and 2027 players will play a significant role on a high school team in the next few years. In this article, we look at some of the guards in the 2026 and 2027 classes who will be part of the youth takeover on the First Coast.
Alanna Tatum Alanna Tatum 5'6" | PG University Christian | 2026 State FL – Tatum is probably one of the top players in the 2026 class and one of the best athletes on the First Coast. Tatum played a great role last year at University Christian as an 8th grader and she will take on a larger role next year as a Freshman. Tatum is a special talent. Here offense is very good and her defense is on another level. Tatum’s defense is smothering. She plays aggressive in-your-face defense and is good at taking away the opponent’s strengths and forcing them to compete with their opposite hand. Tatum has a high basketball IQ and is very fluid out there on the court. She doesn’t let the defense speed her up at the point guard position and she is always under control. Offensively, She can get by the defender with a very quick first step. She is excellent at driving and shooting in the midrange area. She can shoot the three-ball but is at her best when punishing the defense in the midrange area. Tatum enters her Freshman year with one year of high school basketball under her belt. She was very good as an eighth-grader. Her 9th-grade season should be “off the chart” special.
Audrey Bayer, 6’0″ G (Bartram Trail ). During the preseason, Bayer participated in a showcase with some of ECU’s best upperclassmen in the 2023 and 2024 classes. At the time Bayer was only in the 8th grade but looked like an upperclassman out there. Bayer drew a lot of praise for her performance. I also got a chance to watch her play on an ECU 2023 AAU team and she was the most dominant player on the court in that tournament. Juniors and Seniors were deferring to Bayer in crunchtime and she delivered. Bayer can do it all on the floor: shoot, handle the ball, rebound, you name it. She is going to be a significant player on the high school scene this upcoming season.
Elle Deegan Elle Deegan 5'10" | SG Bishop Kenny | 2027 State FL SG 2027 Deegan was also one of the players who participated in the ECU showcase and competed against some of the best 2023 and 2024 players in the State. Deegan put a lot of scouts and coaches on notice. Deegan has an amazing work effort on the basketball court. She actively looks to shoot the ball and played well during the Spring AAU season. In the final two tournaments, she played well and shot 40 percent from the 3-point line. Deegan keeps defenses from packing in the paint and she creates opportunities for teammates.
Pressley Norman PG 2027 (Bolles) Norman will play for the Lady Dogs this year as an 8th grader. She has good size at 5’8″ and can handle the ball on the court. She can shoot it well from mid-range, she can shoot the three-ball, and she can get to the basket from either side of the floor. Norman is very confident on the floor. and even when on the floor with the older-experienced players, she still is confident and wants the ball in her hands.
Esa Brennemann PG 2027 is high-school ready as anyone on this list. She is athletic and is lightning quick with the basketball in her hand and is shifty and very creative. She can create shots for herself and her quickness opens up opportunities for her teammates. Brenneman also plays intense in-your-face defense and gets a lot of steals as a result. She has one of the most explosive verticals you will see on any level and she knows how to get to the goal. She can jump over you, shoot the floaters and midrange shots, and she can also shoot the three-pointer. In one tournament this year, the 2027 point guard averaged 15 points, 5 assists, and an amazing 6 steals per game. Brenneman also participated in the ECU showcase and drew a lot of praise for her performance.
Kyria Williams G 2026 is a very good energetic guard who is not afraid to drive to the basket and get physical on the court. She dives on the floor for loose balls and plays the game with a chip on her shoulders.
Trinity Berry Trinity Berry 5'8" | SG Jean Ribault | 2027 State FL G 2027 is one of the best two-sport athletes in the 2027 class. Berry is a standout in track and field and also in basketball. Naturally, she has a lot of speed on the court. She does a good job of handling the basketball and can drive the ball to the goal. Berry is a good shooter and rebounds well from the guard position.
Aniyah Pearson G 2027. Pearson is a guard who plays on both ends of the court. Her defensive game really stands out. Pearson has a knack for playing in the passing lanes and forcing turnovers.
Angel McClellon PG 2026 (St Augustine). McClellan is going to be a point guard to keep your eye on. Just don’t blink, because she is a blur on the court. She has very good handles and is good and pushing the ball and driving to the goal. McClellan is a confident- aggressive point guard who can shoot the ball from all levels of the court. In addition to shooting the ball, McClellan has the speed to break the press, get to the rim, draw double teams, and create open shots for her teammates.