Broward girls’ basketball preview: Aquinas looking to extend state championship streak
Broward County powerhouses like Dillard and South Broward long dominated the girls’ basketball scene for years.
But over the past three years, there’s been a new queen ruling the state.
And St. Thomas Aquinas doesn’t look like it’s ready to give up the throne any time soon.
The Raiders return another talent-rich roster that has them poised to compete for what would be a fourth consecutive state championship.
Aquinas can become the fourth Broward County team to win four consecutive state championships, joining Plantation American Heritage (2018-2022), Fort Lauderdale Dillard (2010-2013) and Hollywood South Broward (2000-2003).
Aquinas now has the second-longest active championship streak in the state behind Orlando Lake Highland Prep, which enters this season having won four titles in a row in Class 4A.
“We have an extremely veteran group this season with continuity, chemistry, and plenty of big game experience,” said Aquinas coach Oliver Berens, who has guided the Raiders to all three championships and a state finals appearance in 2019. “Our expectations for this upcoming season are to improve each day to go for that 4-peat state championship and continue to establish ourselves as an elite program nationally.”
The Raiders should have the ability to accomplish both goals thanks to the return of a strong starting lineup and a challenging schedule that should put them on the national radar.
Aquinas graduated guard Karina Gordon, the 2022-23 Miami Herald 7A-5A Player of the Year who is now a freshman at East Carolina, and third-team All-Broward forward Reina Green, now a freshman at Duquesne University.
But they return two top Division-I prospects in 5-11 junior wing Nyla McFadden and 5-8 senior guard Khadee Hession. McFadden enters the season with double-digit D-I offers, including Penn State and Wake Forest. Hession has offers from Furman, Stetson and FAU.
The Raiders’ backcourt should be among the deepest in the state with seniors Kamryn Corporan and Mya Johnson also returning. Johnson, a 6-1 senior, has signed with Bethune Cookman. Senior Ka-Zahria Johnson, a 6-1 forward, adds an impactful presence as well in the frontcourt.
Aquinas’ lone concern may be having slightly less experience among its reserves although 5-7 senior guard Kalia Harrington hopes to help on that front.
The Raiders, who are playing in the preseason South Broward Tip-Off Classic this week, will be tested immediately as they will face Lake Highland Prep and reigning Class 5A state champ Daytona Beach Mainland Nov. 21-22 in Jacksonville. Aquinas will also play in the She Got Game Classic in Washington D.C. on December 8-9 along with the Tampa Bay
Christmas Invitational and the Kruel Classic in December.
Add in regular season matchups with nationally-ranked Montverde Academy, reigning 3A state champ Miami Country Day and fellow Class 6A title contenders Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, Dillard and South Broward and the Raiders face a gauntlet on the road back to Lakeland.
KEY DATES
Monday: Regular season begins; Nov. 20-24: Thanksgiving/Hoopsgiving tournaments; Dec. 1-2: Kreul Showcase; Dec. 8-9: Sun Bash; Dec. 16-18: Kreul Classic; Dec. 22-23: Chiefs Showcase; Dec. 28-30: Junior Orange Bowl; Prospects Showcase; Jan. 12-15: MLK Classic; Jan. 24-27: BCAA Big 8 tournament; GMAC championship; Feb. 5-9: District tournaments; Feb. 14: Regional quarterfinals; Feb. 19: Regional semifinals; Feb. 22: Regional finals; Feb. 27-March 2: State championships (Classes 4A-2A) in Lakeland; March 6-9: State championships (Classes 7A-5A) in Lakeland.
MORE OUTLOOKS
▪ American Heritage had the longest active state championship streak in Florida and longest in Broward County history snapped last February when it suffered a 62-61 loss to Mainland in the 5A final. The Patriots came up just short of their sixth consecutive title, but will look to start a new run of championships.
The key to that effort will be returning 5-9 sophomore guard Jasleen Green, who is coming off a 21.2-point, 6.5-rebound freshman season. Green, the Miami Herald’s Broward 4A-2A Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season, followed in the footsteps of McDonald’s All-American Ta’Niya Latson at Heritage and is already drawing plenty of interest from Division-I programs.
The key for the Patriots will be the performances of a younger roster led by 6-1 junior center Dezuray McGill, who averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game last season.
▪ Blanche Ely (22-4, 6A regional finalist) is once again the biggest threat to Aquinas’ reign as champion. The Tigers beat Aquinas during the regular season only to lose the final two meetings in the BCAA Big 8 and regional finals. All three games were decided by eight points or fewer. Senior center Gianna Corbitt (15.2 points, 11.4 rebounds per game) returns as does senior guard Janessa Kelley.
▪ South Broward (20-5, 6A regional quarterfinalist) returns key starters including 5-11 senior guard/forward Jamesha Card, who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds last season. The Bulldogs are also expecting a big season from sophomore guard Jasmine Jones, who is emerging as one of the top point guards in Broward after averaging 10 points and 10 assists as a freshman.
▪ Westminster Academy (22-8, 3A regional finalist) lost 2025 star guard Lena Girardi, who transferred to Bradenton IMG Academy. But the Lions still return a talented cast of standouts led by juniors Markeli Jones-Tynes, Abby Price and Maddie Wallhoff. Jones Tynes has several Division-I offers. Price has offers from Maine and Lynn, and Wallhoff has an offer from Palm Beach Atlantic. WA’s biggest obstacle in 3A remains rival Miami Country Day.
▪ Coral Springs (21-6, 7A regional finalist) feels confident it can make another run in Region 4-7A after returning seven key players including 5-10 senior forward Rhael Sayers, who averaged 17 points per game last season.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons (22-6, 4A state semifinalist) returned to the state final four after a two-year absence and appears to have a solid mix capable of punching another ticket to Lakeland. Kayla Greyvensteyn, a 5-10 junior point guard, senior Jordan Kosoy, junior Savanba Nicholson, sophomore Makayla Midgett, freshman Harmeni Eugene, and junior Kaydie Sturm lead the Chiefs.
▪ North Broward Prep (22-7, 4A regional finalist) graduated top scorer Riley Weiss (now at Columbia University), but returns a talented guard duo of 5-6 junior Alexa Schwartz and 5-8 freshman Ysamar Pimentel, whose father, Orlando, was a standout at St. John’s and played in the NBA.
▪ Western (12-10, 7A regional quarterfinalist) is looking to return to the postseason with an experienced core led by third-team All-Broward 5-6 senior point guard Tamara Elliott.
▪ Somerset Prep (19-9, 3A regional semifinalist) returns junior guard Jocelyn Gagnon.
▪ Pine Crest (11-8) returns one of its more experienced squads in years and will be led by sophomore guard/forward Isabella Sangha and junior center Frankie Garfi.
▪ NSU University School (2-20) will be led by freshmen Tatum Billie, Kimora Exum and eighth-grader Giselle Grant.
