Broward girls’ basketball preview: American Heritage looks to start new title streak
Plantation American Heritage is no stranger to producing girls’ basketball stars or winning state titles.
The Patriots are in prime position to do both again over the next couple of seasons.
Led by star juniors Jasleen Green and Taniyah Davis, the Patriots recaptured the state championship last season in Class 5A a year after their streak of five consecutive titles was snapped by Daytona Beach Mainland.
Green and Davis are among four starters returning for the Patriots this season, which has them poised to begin stringing championships together again.
Green, a 5-9 guard, averaged 18 points, four assists and four rebounds last season and enters the season with 22 Division I offers. Davis is among the top 60 players in the nation per ESPN and has 15 Division I offers as well.
The duo will be complemented by a strong frontcourt led by 6-1 senior center/forward Dezuray McGill, who has signed with Long Island University. Sophomore 5-5 point guard Yinou Wang and sophomore 6-2 center Ke’nya Clark round out the expected starting lineup.
“We need to stay healthy, and together we will play at a fast pace, defend hard and play hard,” American Heritage coach Greg Farias said.
NEW COACH, SAME AQUINAS?
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas is the other reigning state champion from Broward County and on a school-record streak of four consecutive seasons winning state titles.
But the Raiders will have new leadership this season after hiring former Daytona Beach Mainland coach Brandon Stewart as their new coach.
Stewart led Mainland to a state championship in the 2022-23 season, which snapped American Heritage’s streak of five consecutive state titles and led the Bucs to the state final again last season before losing a rematch to Heritage.
Stewart replaces longtime coach Oliver Berens, who stepped down after the end of last season.
Stewart lost two of the mainstays of Aquinas’ success in Miami Herald 7A-6A Player of the Year Khadee Hession and Kamryn Corporan, but returns a talented squad led by 5-10 senior forward Nyla McFadden.
One of the Raiders’ biggest strengths, according to Stewart, will be rebounding. For that, Aquinas will rely on 6-5 senior center Sara Blair and 5-10 freshman point guard London Thomas. Look for a breakout season for 5-8 junior guard Ronneisha Thomas.
BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY
For some time, Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy represented one half in a power struggle for a state championship in Class 3A with nine-time state champion Miami Country Day. The Lions secured a state title in 2022, but lost to Country Day in 2023 in regionals.
Last season though, a new contender overtook Westminster in North Lauderdale Somerset Prep, which advanced to the regional final before falling to Country Day.
All three teams are now in Class 2A and have reloaded for another battle to see who will make it to Lakeland.
Somerset Prep returns its All-Broward first-team senior forward tandem of Riley Stoker (6-2 senior) and Isyss Mims (6-0 junior) who averaged 16 and 12 points per game, respectively. They will be joined by Pompano Beach Ely transfer Chardae Rumph, a 5-8 senior shooting guard who averaged 11 points and four rebounds per game.
The Lions are led by a trio of guards who could tip the scales in their favor. Senior 5-9 point guard Markeli Jones-Tynes, a first team All-Broward selection, averaged 16.2 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game and has multiple Division I offers. Senior 5-10 shooting guard Maddie Wallhoff is one of the top three-point shooters in the county and committed to Palm Beach Atlantic. They will be joined by Oklahoma transfer Paige Langley, a 5-8 combo guard who averaged 15 points, six rebounds and three assists per game at her former school.
MORE OUTLOOKS
▪ Blanche Ely (22-7) is coming off back-to-back regional finals appearances and will look to make another playoff push led by junior guard Teriyah McFadden and senior forward Amari Johnson.
▪ Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (18-4) returns a young team from its regional semifinalist squad a year ago. It will be led by senior Savanna Nicholson, a three-year starter who led the Chiefs to state as a sophomore. Last season she averaged 3.1 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
▪ Coral Springs (15-7) graduated four starters from last year’s regional quarterfinalist squad. Senior Trinety Dajuste remains one of the top guards in Broward County and will be relied upon to get the Colts back in the playoffs.
▪ Davie Nova (21-7) will once again be led by junior guard Jaelynn Housey, who averaged 24 points per game last season. Junior forward J’Yan Tyrell is back to lead the Titans’ frontcourt.
▪ North Broward Prep (15-10) returns a strong core of players looking to make a deeper postseason push after last season’s regional quarterfinals appearance. Senior guard Alexa Schwartz highlights the group after averaging 17 points and earning first team All-Broward honors last season. Sophomore guard Ysa Pimentel and freshman Makena Longo are also back.
▪ Hollywood South Broward (15-7) hopes to return to the regional playoffs this season and will lean on senior guard/forwards Ayonna Lewis and Anayah Cowart to get it done.
▪ Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest (12-6) is looking to return to the regional playoffs and has key returnees to help make that happen. Junior Isabella Sangha, a 6-2 forward who averaged 20.4 points and 13.2 rebounds last season, is back along with 6-4 senior center Franky Garfi (13.3 points, 10.4 rebounds per game).
▪ Calvary Christian (8-15) will be led by Teagan Wakefield, a senior guard who transferred from Cardinal Gibbons to play with her sister, Taryn, a sophomore guard. Junior center Camryn Kanell is the daughter of former Westminster Academy, Florida State and New York Giants quarterback Danny Kanell.
▪ Davie NSU University School (10-14) will be led once again by sophomore guard Tatum Billie.
▪ Pembroke Pines Charter (10-10) will be led by senior forward Ava Rivera, a two-sport standout who led the Jaguars flag football team to a state runner-up finish in the spring. Seventh-grader Khalia Sprouse is also a flag football standout.
▪ Davie Western (18-7) will be led by senior forward Maddison Manragh, who will try to help the Wildcats follow up on a regional semifinals appearance last season.
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 4:38 PM.
