The FGB Elite program enjoyed tremendous success during the 2014 season, and expectations may be even higher for the upcoming campaign.
“Last year, every high school team we have reached the finals of every tournament they played in,” said FGB director Kenny Kalina. “As good as we were last year, it’s possible we will be even better this year. On our 10th and 11th grade teams, we are going to have just about everyone back, so we will have high expectations.
“I think the biggest thing is that we have a lot of depth on each team. Our success isn’t about one great player, it’s about collective depth. We have a lot of really good athletes in our program, and they are driven to be successful. We have found kids that are motivated to get better, and that’s how the program has gotten better.”
FGB Elite will be looking to take another step forward at the Suwanee Tournament of Champions, which will be hosted by the All Star Girls Report staff from July 5-8 in Suwanee, Ga. The event, which will draw an outstanding national level field, will be played at the tremendous Suwanee Sports Academy facility.
FGB Elite will get a boost this spring from three players from the Class of 2016 — Delicia Washington (6-0, G), Makyla Robinson (5-6, G) and Maddison Wells (6-1, F).
“Delicia committed early to Florida, and I think a lot of people stopped watching her. I think she is the best junior in Florida, and I think she is going to turn a lot of heads nationally this summer,” Kalina said. “She is electric athletically, she is very aggressive and very physical.
“Makyla is a player who has really improved, and I think she is a little under the radar. She can play the point, she can shoot it, and she can finish. Here efficiency and production have really increased recently. Maddison is a Hurricane Katrina transplant who can get to the rim, and she is a very active rebounder. She plays hard, and she is a high academic kid who has Ivy League potential.”
ASGR analyst Bret McCormick also provided his perspective on the FGB Elite prospects.
“Washington is a great athlete who is really good in the open floor,” McCormick said. “She has a good pull-up jumper, and she has the fundamentals to play any of the three guard spots. Robinson is quick and strong, and she handles the ball very well. She is good in the lane with a nice floater, and she can hit from beyond the arc. Wells is a good athlete who runs the floor well and scores inside. Her game is still evolving.”
Kalina is also expecting big things from up and coming prospects Jamiah Bland (2018, 6-0, F) and Maria Alvarez (2019, 5-5, G).
“Jamiah is going to make a name for herself this year,” Kalina said. “I think she is going to be the next really good player in our organization. She is a great rebounder who is physical on the boards. She can shoot it and handle it, and she is physically a beast. She is still learning to play on the perimeter, but that’s coming. Maria is one of the best shooters in Florida. We don’t usually move players up, but she started practicing with us and we could see she was one of the best players on the court. She can shoot it and handle it — she can do it all.”
“Bland is very athletic with a strong body,” added McCormick. “She is very active, she can post you up, or she can attack from the perimeter. Alvarez is a big time prospect. She is very quick and she has a great basketball IQ. She is a great shooter who is fundamentally sound.”