The North Florida Elite program began in 2010 with a very specific plan. Four years later, that plan has blossomed into a wonderful organization.
“We started this because we wanted to develop a local, family oriented program that was centralized in the Florida Panhandle,” said director Shannon Rosier. “We wanted to create a high level, competitive organization where the players didn’t have to travel for practices.
“I think the key for us has been that we have great, dynamic coaches, and we get the best available trainers to help the girls improve, because that’s what this is all about. We aren’t chasing titles or trophies, we’re helping the girls improve and getting them exposure.”
The North Florida Elite players will get tremendous exposure this spring at the 2015 Deep South Classic, which will be played in Raleigh, NC on April 24-26. The Deep South Classic, which annually features the nation’s top travel programs, will once again have the entire tournament in one facility — the tremendous Raleigh Convention Center.
The brightest star in the North Florida Elite camp is Jazmine Jones (2016, 6-0, G), who is rated as the No. 13 prospect in her class nationally by the All Star Girls Report.
“Jazmine is very, very athletic … Off the charts athletic,” said Coach Eli Rosier, Shannon’s husband. “She also has a very high basketball IQ. Right now we’re just trying to polish her skills a little more.”
Bret McCormick, the analyst for the All Star Girls Report, is also a big Jazmine Jones fan.
“Jones is a great athlete with a long body and explosive leaping ability,” McCormick said. “She can make acrobatic moves in the lane, she can take you off the dribble, and she can hit the three. She is definitely one of the top players in that class.”
The future is also bright in North Florida, with rising stars Jasmine Patterson (2017, 6-2, G), Ariel Young (2018, 6-0, G) and Kyndall Thomas (2020, 5-7, G) all building their games in Tallahassee.
“Jasmine is a very skilled shooting guard who shoots it very well for her size,” Rosier said. “This is just her second summer of travel basketball, so she is going to get better, and she needs to gain some weight.
“Ariel is also in her second year, so she is still developing too. She is a great athlete. Her mother (Carolyn Young) played at Auburn (where she was a two-time All-American) and in the pros, and her father (Charlton Young) is an assistant coach for the men at Florida State.
“Kyndall is just in the seventh grade, but she starts on the high school varsity team. She is very, very skilled for her age, she is smart, and she is a very good athlete. I think she is going to be one of the top kids in her class. She is going to be a great point guard, but she can score too.”
McCormick also added his views on the rising stars from North Florida Elite.
“Young is a great athlete with good bloodlines, so she is someone who needs to be on your radar,” he said. “Patterson is a long athlete and her perimeter skills are coming. Thomas has big time potential. She already has a good skill set and a solid understanding of the game, and she is a tremendous young athlete.”