2023 New Years Classic Recap – Part 2
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By Michael Wholey 1/17/23 5:00 PM EST The 2023 New Years Classic powered by SUTS Report was hosted at St. Thomas Aquinas and Cardinal Gibbons January 6-7, 2023. The event attracted 40 of the state’s top varsity and JV teams…
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Continue ReadingBy Michael Wholey 1/17/23 5:00 PM EST
The 2023 New Years Classic powered by SUTS Report was hosted at St. Thomas Aquinas and Cardinal Gibbons January 6-7, 2023. The event attracted 40 of the state’s top varsity and JV teams for the 2 day event including Montverde Academy, currently the # 1 team in the country out of Montverde, FL.
Sophomore Lena Girardi Lena Girardi 5'10" | SF IMG Academy | 2025 State FL (Westminster Academy) dropped 21 points in the first half building up a 29-20 first half lead over Miami Senior High School but then was held scoreless in the second half. Miami High came all the way back from a double digit deficit, taking the lead in the fourth quarter with Senior Joelle Wilson Joelle Wilson 5'11" | PF Miami Senior | 2023 FL doing damage in the paint and finishing with 22 points. In the end, Sophomore Markeli Jones-Tynes Markeli Jones-Tynes 5'9" | PG Westminster Academy | 2025 State FL (Westminster Academy) went 5-6 from the free throw line down the stretch and secured the win for Westminster Academy 41-34.
Junior Emely Rodriguez Emely Rodriguez 6'1" | SF Central Pointe Christian | 2024 State FL was one the events standouts, putting on two impressive individual performances, doing everything she could to lead her Horeb Christian team to victory averaging 27.5 points in her two games. She had an event high 34 points in their 72-42 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas where her 30+ point performance was matched by Karina Gordon Karina Gordon 5'8" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL (30 points) and Reina Green Reina Green 5'10" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL (21 points) for the Raiders.
In Saturday nights matchup, Miami Country Day double teamed and face guarded throughout the night, making it difficult to get the ball. She still managed 21 points but it was not enough as Miami Country Day came away with the win 45-42. In the win, Junior Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL put together a second consecutive double digit performance leading Miami Country Day in scoring again, finishing with 17 points.
Class of 2027 (8th Grade) Victoria Valle Victoria Valle 5'7" | PG Doral Academy | 2027 State FL was the events top young gun scoring in double digits in both games. Friday night she dropped 14 points in a loss to Batavia High School out of Illinois and then Saturday night dropped 24 points leading her Somerset Academy Silver Palms team to a 55-50 win over Seminole Ridge. In Friday nights game, Ashley Martinez Ashley Martinez 5'4" | SG Somerset Silver Palms Academy | 2026 State FL (Somerset Academy Silver Palms) reached an impressive feat, scoring her 1,000th career point in just her Freshman year. The 5’5 guard has been playing varsity ball for several years and is one of the state’s top outside shooters.
Sophomore Jim’Miyah Branton (SLAM! Academy) out of Miami earned second team all tournament for her 25 point effort in a win over Western HS and following that up with a 15 point effort in SLAM Academy dominant 64-21 win over Gulliver Prep.
Riley Stoker Riley Stoker 6'0" | PG Somerset Prep North Lauderdale | 2025 State FL paced Somerset Prep with a team high 17 points in a back and forth battle vs Palmer Trinity on Saturday. In the 55-52 loss, Senior Emily Montes Emily Montes 5'9" | CG Palmer Trinity | 2023 State FL (Columbia University signee) had 17 points and Junior Jade Leon Jade Leon 5'11" | CG Palmer Trinity | 2024 State FL had 16 points for Palmer Trinity.
Senior Joelle Wilson Joelle Wilson 5'11" | PF Miami Senior | 2023 FL (Miami Senior HS) was dominant all weekend in the paint putting up 21 points on Friday vs Westminster Academy in the loss and then scoring 19 points on Saturday in the win over Kings Academy 50-41. The 6’0 forward was one of the top front court players, finishing at a high percentage while also being dominant on the board and showcasing a soft touch from 15 feet.
Senior Peyton Looky Peyton Looky 5'0" | PG Cypress Bay HS | 2024 State FL (Cypress Bay) was one the events top outside shooters. In Friday’s matchup vs Palmetto she dropped 26 points and then followed that up with 19 points vs Carrollton.
Host Cardinal Gibbons went 2-0 in the event defeating Flanagan 50-21 with Sophomore Teagan Wakefield Teagan Wakefield 5'8" | SG Cardinal Gibbons | 2025 State FL and Junior Jordan Kosoy Jordan Kosoy 5'7" | PG Cardinal Gibbons | 2024 State FL both reaching double digits with 11 points then defeating Miami Christian 68-49 Saturday with five players reaching double digits for Cardinal Gibbons Savanna Nicholson Savanna Nicholson 5'6" | PG Cardinal Gibbons | 2025 State FL (12 points), Kayla Greyvensteyn Kayla Greyvensteyn SF Cardinal Gibbons | 2025 FL (12 points), Jordan Kosoy Jordan Kosoy 5'7" | PG Cardinal Gibbons | 2024 State FL (13 points), Brooke Buckman Brooke Buckman 5'10" | PF State FL (10 points), and Konstantina Mantziori Konstantina Mantziori 5'6" | PG Cardinal Gibbons | 2023 State FL (12 points).
Varsity All-Tournament Team
First Team
Mjracle Sheppard Mjracle Sheppard 5'8" | CG Montverde Academy | 2023 State FL (Montverde Academy)
Karina Gordon Karina Gordon 5'8" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Lena Girardi Lena Girardi 5'10" | SF IMG Academy | 2025 State FL (Westminster Academy)
Emily Rodriguez (Horeb Christian)
Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL (Miami Country Day)
Second Team
Brooke Carlson (Batavia) – IL
Victoria Valle Victoria Valle 5'7" | PG Doral Academy | 2027 State FL (Somerset Silver Palms)
Peyton Looky Peyton Looky 5'0" | PG Cypress Bay HS | 2024 State FL (Cypress Bay)
Jim’Miyah Branton (SLAM! Miami Academy)
Joelle Wilson Joelle Wilson 5'11" | PF Miami Senior | 2023 FL (Miami Sr. HS)
Third Team
Vivian Iwuchuckwu (Montverde Academy)
Reina Green Reina Green 5'10" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Jordan Race Jordan Race 5'11" | SF King's Academy | 2023 State FL (Kings Academy)
Emma Smith (St. Andrews)
Sofia Travieso Sofia Travieso 5'10" | SG Carrollton School | 2023 State FL (Carrolton School)
JV All-Tournament Team
Maddison Londono (SLAM! Miami)
Franchezka Gorritz (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Alexa Schorra (Batavia) – IL
Alexia Tatum Alexia Tatum 5'1" | PG Doral Academy | 2025 State FL (Doral Academy)
Jamir Cook (Miami Sr. HS)
Michael Wholey is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech. Wholey and the rest of the Prep Girls Hoop staff, seek to cover the entire state of player, keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news. Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information. If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.