(GAINESVILLE) – On Saturday, April 13, some of the top girls and boys high school basketball players in North Central Florida from the Class of 2024 will suit up one final time for “The Prep Zone All-Star Showcase.”
The event, which features a total of five hoops games, will take place at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center in Alachua. It includes 39 players from 23 schools as far south as Marion County, as far north as Baker County (Glen St. Mary), as far east as Keystone Heights, and as far west as the Tri-County area (Levy, Gilchrist & Dixie County).
The action begins at 9 a.m. as the North girls team, which includes players from Gainesville schools Eastside, Oak Hall, and Countryside Christian, plays the South, which is comprised of mostly Marion County players.
The two teams will play back-to-back, with game two starting approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one.
The North team, which is coached by Tambria Williams of Countryside Christian, is led by Mainstreet Daily News (MDN) 1st team All Area selection Aniya West of Eastside (15 PPG, 10 RPG, 5 APG, 1.0 BPG).
Oak Hall teammates Bella Dyrkolbotn (2nd team All Area) and Sri Lanka Richardson (Honorable Mention) join the West, along with Trenton forward/center Brianna Karanja (6.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG) and Countryside Christian forward/center Madelyn Watson (7.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG).
Center Zaniah Blake helped lead Baker County to a 17-6 record by averaging 14.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG, while Lafayette (Mayo) also placed a pair on the team in guards Ella Hancock and Brianna Roberson.
The South team is highlighted by power forward Rose Gravel of Trinity Catholic (Ocala), who just finished her career with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
She is joined by guards Leanna Pabst (13.1 ppg, 2.7 APG, 4.7 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG) of West Port (Ocala), Taleah Jones (11.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.9 SPG) of Forest (Ocala) and Heaven Sanders (9.8 PPG, 5.1 APG, 2.5 SPG) of Trinity Catholic.
P.K. Yonge power forward Reniyah Clark (8.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG) will give the team a strong presence in the post. She was a MDN All Area second team selection.
“Reniyah was the glue for us playing all 32 minutes a game at multiple positions,” said. P.K. Yonge coach Willie Powers. “We don’t win if she’s not in the game.”
Ocala Christian’s Charlotte Culver averaged 21.3 points per game this season for the Crusaders.
Adam Boomhower of St. John Lutheran (Ocala) is the head coach of the South, which includes Arisa Ford (9.8 PPG, 11.2 RPG) and Kayla Joy Bowen (11.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG) from the Saints.
On the boys side, there will be three teams participating (North, East & West) in a Round Robin event.
The North will play the West at 1:30 p.m., followed by the West vs. the East at 3 p.m. and the North vs. the East at 4:30 p.m.
Each team will play two games and the overall winner will be based on total points.
Two-time defending state champion Williston has four players on the West squad.
Leading the way is forward/center Kyler Lamb, who finished second in 1A for the Florida Dairy Farmers Player of the Year. He led the Red Devils with 16.6 points and nearly nine rebounds per game.
“One word sums up Kyle, versatile,” said Williston coach Jim Ervin, who will be on the sidelines with Buchholz coach Elliot Harris. “He is one of the best players in the state and off the court he is what a student-athlete should be. He is an outstanding player and young man.”
Reggie White (10.5 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.4 RPG), who joined Lamb on the MDN All Area first team, Toledo football signee Javon Brown (9.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG), a 2nd team All Area selection, and SG/SF Jace McDonald are also on the team.
MDN first team All Area selection Palmer Walton of Buchholz (17 PPG, 6.1 RPG) and teammate Dylan Lloyd (4.5 RPG, 46% FG) are joined by Bronson guard/forward Khadrian Brown.
“He’s a fierce competitor and he’s the type of kid that hates losing,” Harris said of Walton. “He can fill it up. He can shoot it at a high clip, and he shot a really high percentage from 3-point range this year and was a big part of our success.”
Harris’ son, Denarius, will coach the West.
Another MDN first team All Area selection, guard/forward Anthony Leivonen (12.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.0 APG) of Gainesville High, will lead the North team, which is coached by Terrill Murphy of Lafayette (Mayo).
“Anthony is one of the most self-motivated players that I have ever coached,” said GHS coach Mike Barnes. “He is in the gym every morning before school at 6:45 a.m. getting up shots. He was a more vocal leader for us this year and really took on the responsibility of being our main ballhandler. He led our team in 3-point shots made, assists, and was second in charges taken.”
Joining Leivonen are honorable mention selections Kade McCaskill and Carter Hodge of Dixie County (Cross City), G Wyatt Persyns (2.8 APG) and SG Eiston Mikell (13.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG) of Branford, G Dawson Norman (11.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.1 APG) and SF Jaeveon Reed (8.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 APG) of Baker County, and F Amarie Fleming of Lafayette (16.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG).
The East boys, who are coached by Vanguard (Ocala) coach Travis Licht, includes two players from Vanguard in Johnardo Turner (8 PPG, 5 RPG, 4 APG, 3 SPG) and D’Mareon Manning (9.0 PPG, 1.4 SPG).
They are joined by a pair of players from Bradford in SG/PG Damarion Hankerson and G Mattox Burgin, and a pair of players from First Assembly Christian Academy (Ocala), G/F Ta’Bryant Wooden (15.5 PPG, 11.7 RPG) and G Danny Pascuma (12.0 PPG).
Lake Weir’s Amari Kiner (10.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG) and Keystone Heights’ Garrison Teague (8.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG) round out the team.
Fans wanting to come and watch all five games can do so starting with the ‘open practice’ at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday morning (North & South girls). The practice for the boys (North & West) is at 12:45 p.m., followed by the East practice at 2:15 p.m.
The Legacy Park Multipurpose Center is located at 15400 Peggy Rd, Alachua, FL 32615.
Admission for the game(s) will be $10 per adult (Day Pass), $5 for students, while kids under 5 will be admitted for free. Cash and credit card will both be accepted.
Only high school coaches with FHSAA State Series or FACA Coaches card, Media, and college scouts will be granted FREE complimentary admission to the game. No coolers or outside food will be allowed.
There will be a concession stand on Game Day. Players are encouraged to bring their water bottles.
Rosters will be provided on Game Day.
For more information regarding “The Prep Zone All-Star Showcase,” including other sports
sponsored by The Prep Zone, please contact Mike Ridaught at mike@ThePrepZone.com, via cell at 352-258-8450, visit ThePrepZone.com or follow us on social media (Twitter, Facebook & Instagram) at @ThePrepZone.
2024 ALL-STAR BASKETBALL ROSTERS
GIRLS
NORTH
# Player Position School
2 Aniya West SG/SF Eastside (Gainesville)
4 Zaniah Blake C Baker County (Glen St. Mary)
5 Ella Hancock G Lafayette (Mayo)
6 Brianna Roberson G Lafayette (Mayo)
8 Sri Lanka Richardson F/C Oak Hall (Gainesville)
9 Brianna Karanja F/C Trenton
11 Bella Dyrkolbotn F/C Oak Hall (Gainesville)
12 Madelyn Watson F/C Countryside Christian (Gainesville)
Head Coach: Tambria Williams, Countryside Christian (Gainesville)
SOUTH
# Player Position School
2 Charlotte Culver PG/SG Ocala Christian Academy
3 Leanna Pabst G/PG West Port (Ocala)
4 Reniyah Clark PF P.K. Yonge (Gainesville)
5 Taleah Jones G Forest (Ocala)
6 Heaven Sanders PG Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
10 Rose Gravel PF Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
11 Arisa Ford F/C St. John Lutheran (Ocala)
12 Kayla Joy Bowen G/F St. John Lutheran (Ocala)
Head coach: Adam Boomhower (St. John Lutheran)
BOYS
NORTH
# Player Position School
1 Dawson Norman G Baker County (Glen St. Mary)
2 Jaeveon Reed SF Baker County (Glen St. Mary)
3 Amarie Fleming F Lafayette (Mayo)
4 Kade McCaskill G/F Dixie County (Cross City)
5 Carter Hodge G/F Dixie County (Cross City)
11 Anthony Leivonen G/F Gainesville
12 Wyatt Persyns G Branford
13 Eiston Mikell SG Branford
Head Coach: Terrill Murphy, Lafayette (Mayo)
EAST
# Player Position School
1 Johnardo Turner G Vanguard (Ocala)
2 D’Mareon Manning G/W Vanguard (Ocala)
3 Damarion Hankerson SG/PG Bradford (Starke)
4 Amari Kiner SG Lake Weir (Ocala)
6 Ta’Bryant Wooden G/F First Assembly Christian (Ocala)
7 Danny Pascuma G First Assembly Christian (Ocala)
9 Mattox Burgin G Bradford (Starke)
14 Garrison Teague PF/C Keystone Heights
Head coach: Travis Licht, Vanguard (Ocala)
WEST
# Player Position School
1 Jace McDonald SG/SF Williston
2 Javon Brown F/C Williston
3 Reggie White G Williston
5 Kyler Lamb W/F Williston
7 Khadrian Brown G/F Bronson
11 Palmer Walton SF Buchholz (Gainesville)
12 Dylan Lloyd PF Buchholz (Gainesville)
Head coach: Denarius Harris
Assistant coaches: Jim Ervin, Williston, & Elliot Harris, Buchholz (Gainesville)
