By: Ross Van De Griek
We are just two days away from the first annual Play4Kay Shootout, that will take place at Carrollwood Day School in Tampa. What is the Play4Kay Shootout? The Play4Kay Shootout is a day where 16 of the state's best girls basketball teams will be playing to raise money for breast cancer awareness. The shootout will be run by Tampa Thunder coach Jarrett Harvey.
Game 1- Booker (Sarasota) vs Vanguard- 10:00am
The Booker Lady Tornadoes will be coming into the shootout, with a 8-11 record & are under head coach Tia Grace. Booker is led by senior guard Omari Davis (15 points per game), senior Miah Lowman (8 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game) & senior guard Jaela Dennis who is an "underrated" prospect, according to her coaches & teammates.
The Vanguard Lady Knights will be coming into the shootout, with an 11-6 record & are under head coach Terrence Lewis, who is in his 1st season as head coach. The Lady Knights are led by junior guard Nasia Powell, who holds offers from Florida A&M, UNC-Greensboro & others. Another name to keep an eye on for Vanguard will be junior guard Jakecea Rodriguez, who averages 9.1 points per game & 2.5 assists per game this season.
Game 2- Lakewood vs Wekiva- 11:30am
The Lakewood Spartans will be coming into the shootout, with a 9-11 record on the season & are under head coach Necole Tunsil, who is in her 16th season at the school. The Lady Spartans have played one of the most challenging schedules in the Tampa Bay area. "I schedule these teams, so my girls can have some in-season challenges before the postseason comes", said Necole Tunsil.
The Wekiva Mustangs will be coming into the shootout, with a 14-7 record on the season & are led by head coach Tommie Butts, who is in his 9th season at the school. Players to watch for Wekiva: Junior guard Shadaria Smith (13.3 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 2.3 steals per game), senior forward Danesha Boles (10.2 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game) & senior guard Emmy James (Southern Miss signee) (8.6 points per game, 4 rebounds per game & 2.6 assists per game).
Game 3- Seminole (Sanford) vs Gulf Coast- 1:00pm
The Seminole (Sanford) Seminoles are heading into the Play4Kay Shootout for the first time. The Seminoles are led by sixth year head coach Shenique Gilbert & have had winning seasons in four of the first five years she's been at the school. Players to watch for Seminole: Junior guard Morgan Dillard (18.9 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game), senior guard Minnie Griffin (12.2 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game & 2.4 steals per game) & senior forward Emily Jarrell (Utah State signee) (11.1 points per game & 8.7 rebounds per game)
The Gulf Coast Sharks are heading into the Play4Kay Shootout, with a record of 14-5. The Lady Sharks are led by head coach Mark Woodruff, who is in his 11th season at the school. Players to watch for Gulf Coast: Sophomore forward Reese Tremitere (10.4 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game), freshman guard Maddie Leslie (10.1 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game) & junior guard Jordyn Robinson (8.4 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game & 2.4 assists per game).
Game 4- Brooks-DeBartolo vs Plant- 2:30pm
Our first Tampa Bay area matchup of the Play4Kay Shootout, will feature the Brooks-DeBartolo Lady Phoenix & the Plant Lady Panthers in a Tampa Bay Top 10 showdown.
Brooks-DeBartolo comes in at #3 in this week's Tampa Bay Top 10 Girls Basketball rankings (https://hssportsfl2.wixsite.com/sports/post/tampa-bay-top-10-high-school-girls-basketball-rankings-week-of-jan-20-24). Players to watch for Brooks-DeBartolo: Junior Triniti Youngblood (13.3 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game), junior Brionna McClinton (11.9 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game & 1.2 steals per game) & sophomore guard Jaela Davis (Holds interest from a few D1 schools).
Plant comes into the Play4Kay Shootout, with a 20-1 record & have won 11 straight games. The Lady Panthers are #2 in this week's Tampa Bay Top 10 Girls Basketball rankings & are led by 18th year head coach Carrie Mahon. The Lady Panthers have now won 20 or more games in six straight seasons. Players to watch for Plant: Junior forward Kendal Cheesman (Vanderbilt commit) (17.1 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game), junior guard Nyla Jean (Holds offers from Jacksonville University & Stetson), senior guard Honor Culpepper (Holds interest from D1 schools)
Game 5- Bishop Verot vs Bloomingdale- 4:00pm
The Bishop Verot Lady Vikings are one of the youngest teams competing here at the Play4Kay Shootout, currently holding a record of 5-16. The Lady Vikings have also had a very difficult schedule this season, as they have played Cardinal Gibbons, Seffner Christian, St. Agnes' Academy (TX), Pebblebrook (GA) & that is just naming a few schools.
The Lady Vikings are led by 2nd year head coach Andy Potts, who took his team to regionals last season. Players to watch for Bishop Verot: Sophomore guard Addison Potts (Missouri verbal commit) (15 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game & 3.3 assists per game), senior guard Catie Reszel (Ave Maria signee) (14.1 points per game, 1.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game) & senior forward Angela Ficarro (6.5 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game).
The Bloomingdale Bulls come into the Play4Kay Shootout, with a 15-4 record. The Lady Bulls are led by 9th year head coach Joel Bower, who got his 100th career coaching win earlier this season. Players to watch for Bloomingdale: Senior guard Nya King (12.6 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game & 3 assists per game), senior forward Erin Leigh (Rollins signee) (12.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game & 4.9 assists per game) & freshman center Kyrstin Wolff (5.9 points per game & 6.5 rebounds per game).
Game 6- Tampa Bay Tech vs Lake Highland Prep- 5:30pm
The Tampa Bay Tech Lady Titans come into the Play4Kay Shootout, ranked inside the Top 50 in the nation & the state, according to multiple ranking systems. The Lady Titans are 18-4 on the season & have won seven of their last eight games. The Lady Titans are led by 11th year head coach Reggie Lawrence.
Players to watch for Tampa Bay Tech: Sophomore guard Janiah Barker (Member of the USA U16 Summer team), junior Jasmine Peaks (11.6 points per game, 3.5 assists per game) & junior guard K'Nisha Godfrey (11.3 points per game, 3.5 assists per game & 2.2 rebounds per game).
The Lake Highland Prep Highlanders come into the Play4Kay Shootout, ranked #12 in the Xcellent Top 25 Girls Basketball rankings. The Lady Highlanders are also ranked 8th in the nation & 1st overall in the state of Florida. The Lady Highlanders come in with a record of 19-2 on the season & are led by 9th year head coach Al Honor.
Players to watch for Lake Highland Prep: Senior forward Zanoria Cruz (Western Carolina signee), freshman guard Eleecia Carter & junior forward Kayla Blackshear (Sister of Florida Gator Kerry Blackshear).
Game 7- Fort Myers vs Carrollwood Day- 7:00pm
The Fort Myers Lady Green Wave come into the Play4Kay Shootout, with a record of 11-8. The Lady Green Wave are led by 5th year head coach Chadrick Terrell. Terrell, has led the Lady Green Wave to two state titles in his five years (2016 & 2017).
Players to watch for Fort Myers: Junior forward/center Chaniya Clark (20.7 points per game, 14.3 rebounds per game), junior guard Janay Outten (14.3 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game & 4.6 assists per game) & freshman Tyra Brown (8.4 points per game & 5.1 rebounds per game)
The Carrollwood Day Patriots are the #1 ranked girls basketball team in the Tampa Bay area, coming in with a record of 17-2 & a six-game winning streak. The Lady Patriots are led by 4th year head coach Karim Nohra.
Players to watch for Carrollwood Day: Senior forward/center Nabaweeyah McGill (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi signee), senior guard Tarriyonna Gary (Towson signee) & senior forward Tiasia McMillan (Colgate signee)
Game 8- Spruce Creek vs Seffner Christian- 8:30pm
Our final game of the 1st Annual Play4Kay Shootout will feature the Spruce Creek Hawks & the Seffner Christian Crusaders.
Spruce Creek comes into the Play4Kay Shootout, with a 16-4 record & have currently won three straight games. The Lady Hawks are led by 8th year head coach Kelvin Hamm & had winning seasons in six of his first seven seasons at the school. Hamm led the Lady Hawks to a state championship in 2017-2018, which was the school's first in school history.
Players to watch for Spruce Creek: Senior guard Perriyonna Sylvester (North Florida signee), senior guard Kacie Helmick (Army signee) & junior forward Kacie Oelkers.
Seffner Christian comes into the Play4Kay Shootout, with a 16-5 record & are the #5 ranked team in this week's Tampa Bay Girls Basketball rankings. The Lady Crusaders have won three straight games. The Lady Crusaders are led by fifth year head coach Joe Cooper & has been eliminated in the playoffs by Carrollwood Day in each of the last two seasons.
Players to watch for Seffner Christian: Senior forward Cairah Mays (Marshall signee), senior guard Mykaylyn Davis (Western Carolina signee), senior guard Kali Barber (6 points per game, 3 rebounds per game & 3 assists per game) & freshman forward Nini Davenport (13.3 points per game, 1.5 rebounds per game).