All of these players were McDonald’s All American’s and this year’s edition of the City of River’s Classic was star studded as well.
The two Jacksonville power’s Ribault and Jackson faced off against Savannah Beach on Friday and Saturday night in the premiere game of the event. On Friday Beach out ran Ribault to an 82-73 victory in front of a large crowd at Ribault High School. Beach was paced by superstar Monique Willis who is headed to South Carolina next year. Willis was by far the top player in the event and is on an elite level of guard in the nation. Willis is ultra-athletic and a tremendous ball handler, she is likely to play the point or off guard position at the next level for Dawn Staley. Willis struggled to find her range in the games this weekend. If she is able to add range to her game there will be a very short list of guards who will have a greater impact at the college level then Monique Willis. Willis supporting cast is featured by UAB signee Khalilah Watson. Watson is a strong guard with a good mid-range game and finishes well.
Andrew Jackson gave Beach it’s second loss of the season 61-50 at Andrew Jackson High School on Saturday behind a team effort from the Tigers. Jackson is led by senior Nadia Givens 5’7’’ G 2009 who is one of the top shooters in North Florida. Givens hit shots and controlled the ball against Beach’s pressure. Beach trailed most of the game but tied it early in the 4th quarter before Jackson pulled away once Khalilah Watson fouled out. Brandice Howard provided a great athletic match-up with Monique Willis most of the game with Howard gaining the advantage on the boards most of the time. Howard is a 5’9’’ athletic forward who controls the paint for Jackson. Jackson only has two losses on the season which were both sustained last week at the Lake Mary Prep tournament to Gainesville Buchholz and Miami Norland.
Ribault finished 1-1 in the event after beating Lake Highland Prep on Saturday 58-43, in a game which was tied at 41 early in the fourth quarter. Ribault is one of the premeire young teams in Florida with three Division I recruits that are sophomores. Ribault was led most of the weekend by Alexis Brown 5’9’’ G 2011 who can play the point or either wing position. Brown is an aggressive guard who needs to work on shooting the ball more consistently but is very good when attacking the basket. Kayla Brewer 6’2’’ 2011 is the most well known player at Ribault, but Brewer struggled some against Beach’s athleticism and size before finding her groove against Lake Highland. Brewer will play the forward position at the next level and needs to add some to her game in the paint. Brewer usually uses a drop step to her right as her primary move when she is skilled enough and intelligent enough to add more to her game then that just one move. Forrest Jeffery is the third sophomore that will be looking to Division I in two years. Jeffery is a long athletic guard who can really shoot the ball. While struggling some against beach, Jeffery scored 9 of Ribaults last 10 points in the win over Lake Highland.
Lake Highland only played one day in the event but was led by one of the top 8th graders in the nation Alexis Brown. Brown’s team was out matched by Ribault’s size, experience, and athletic ability but Brown made the Highlanders competitive with Ribault before dropping the game by double figures. Brown did not shoot the ball exceptionally well but was the glue which kept the team together when Ribault brought pressure. Keep an eye on Brown as one of the top 2013 in the country when her time comes.
Other Top Players at the City of Rivers Classic in Jacksonville, Fl: Mariah Maslin 5’9’’ G 2009 Clay (FL) – Signed with Wofford; Sarah Pirie 5’8’’ G 2011 Clay (FL); Danisha Green 5’8’’ G Lee (FL)