Aliah Newsome Aliah Newsome 6'1" | SF/PF Cardinal Mooney | 2029 State FL was one of the more impressive young “power” forwards in the building. The freshman brought a physical edge to the paint, finishing through contact, and showed touch and control on her shots. Newsome also did a good job of controlling the glass, securing any rebound in her area. Several times, she literally took the rebound from the opponent, displaying power and savviness. Newsome was also impressive with strong timing as a shot blocker. Several of her blocks were instinctive, while other blocks displayed solid anticipation on some others. Her presence defensively made a noticeable impact, and with her size and ability to disrupt shots around the rim, she is eventually going to become an even more intimidating presence in the paint.

Aliah Newsome Aliah Newsome 6'1" | SF/PF Cardinal Mooney | 2029 State FL gives her team an interior presence, and with her upcoming playoff matchups, she is an X Factor candidate. With size and strength at the four, she embraces physical play, rebounds in traffic, and can finish around the paint. Since the Inside Exposure, the game has slowed down for the young freshman, allowing her high basketball IQ and her natural abilities to stand out. Newsome doesn’t need a lot of touches to impact the game — controlling the glass, converting inside, and kicking out to her shooters can impact the game just effectively as a big shot. Newsome has the size and physical abilities to challenge the bigs, change the momentum, and potentially determine the outcome. She is an X Factor for sure.

Aliah comes in at No. 11 in the 2029 Florida rankings after making a strong early impression with her maturity, toughness, and impact on winning in a program with high expectations. One of the few true post players in the class, she stands out with her size, strength, footwork, and interior physicality while also protecting the rim and controlling the glass. Aliah plays beyond her years, stays composed, and fills her role at a high level. Her versatility sets her apart as she can push the ball in transition, make quick outlet passes, and space the floor with her jumper. With continued development, she has the tools to become one of the most dominant players in the state.

Aliah Newsome Aliah Newsome 6'1" | SF/PF Cardinal Mooney | 2029 State FL made a strong first impression on Day One, and her performance did not go unnoticed. The freshman forward played with a maturity well beyond her age, impacting the game with effort, toughness, and an understanding of how to make winning plays.   Newsome was active the boards, securing rebounds and creating extra possessions and getting a few buckets in the process. Defensively, she brought physicality in the paint, holding her ground and competing. Her role was clearly defined and she filled the expectations on Day-One. For a freshman in her first high school tournament, Newsome played under control, stayed composed, and had an impact during the game.

Aliah seems to be one of the very few true posts in Florida’s 2029 class. She was winning jump balls with ease, and had the best size and post moves of the Freshman I saw. Her shot blocking ability was on display, and her strength in the interior was impressive. I was also intrigued by her versatility as she could bring the ball up the floor on the break after a rebound.

Aliah Rae Newsome attended a high-major Division I Elite camp this summer, where coaches consistently praised her next-level footwork. Aliah embodies the traditional forward/post player who isn’t afraid to punish opponents for four quarters. Combining strength, footwork, and skill, she is a defensive matchup nightmare. Her game extends beyond this—she rebounds effectively, pushes the ball in transition, and delivers quick outlet passes. Offensively, she can space the floor, knock down mid-range jumpers, and hit open threes. As Aliah continues to develop, gaining strength and speed, she has the potential to become one of the most dominant players in the state.

Aliah Newsome Aliah Newsome 6'1" | SF/PF Cardinal Mooney | 2029 State FL is a physical force in the post with high-level footwork. She can score with her back to the rim or facing up, whether on the block or at the high post, and her decision-making is aggressive and decisive. For a 6’2″ post player to possess these skills so early, there’s no limit to how good she can become.