Potter’s House Christian Academy- Jacksonville’s first Middle School exclusive all star game was showcased this past Friday evening on Jacksonville’s Westside. On display was some of the best and most talented players in the area, and they were ready and eager to compete against one anther.
Middle School Allstar game! Some of the best Boys and Girls ballers in the city! pic.twitter.com/rWgnnLzRVa
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
Some notable players on the girls white roster were Highlands point guard Nyla Allen, fresh off her championship victory last week . She teamed with Caitlin McGee of Landmark, whom she squared off against in the championship game just a week earlier. Also on their team was Nigeria Harkless, who played a vital role on the State Runner Up University Christian High School Girl’s Basketball team. To have these three on the same team was truly exciting. A complete list of the all stars for both girls rosters are below.
Girls All-Star Rosters
White Team Blue Team
| Selah Reddick- Highland Middle School | Shanyia Wynn Jefferson Davis |
| Shekinah Sanders- Twin Lakes | YaNesha Harkless University Christian |
| Asia Fleming – KIPP School | Jamia Nesmith Grace Lutheran |
Nigeria Harkless University Christian Nayeli Williams Lakeside
Fatima Samb Bolles Skylar Baltezegar Lakeside
Piper Carrie Bolles Britany Range Lakeside
Catilyn McGhee Landmark Middle Amari Wright Mayport Middle
Ahilah Brown Northwestern Middle Shayla Bouie- Darnell Cookman
Avian Brynt Jewel Jones
U.C’s Nigeria Harkless,Highland’s Nyla Allen & Landmark’s Caitlin McGhee.3 of the best players in the city!#allstars pic.twitter.com/KDFgaHzGOZ
The blue roster for the girls pitted sisters against one another as University Christian’s YaNesha Harkless faced her sister (Nigeria).YaNesha’s championship game experience would mesh well with players like Shayla Bouie of Darnell Cookman and Shanyia Wynn of Jefferson Davis, both of whom led their teams to division titles and playoff appearances in 2016. The young ladies did not disappoint, putting on a show for the fans, friends and family in attendance.
U.C’s Nigeria Harkless,Highland’s Nyla Allen & Landmark’s Caitlin McGhee.3 of the best players in the city!#allstars pic.twitter.com/KDFgaHzGOZ
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
AllStars Nyla Allen running the offense at PG while Caitlin McGhee cleans up down low at C! #higlands#landmarkpic.twitter.com/YbxLfrbz69
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
Highland’s Nyla Allen adds another basketball MVP trophy to her collection!HighSchool here she comes! #allstargame pic.twitter.com/wuTL64ruBU
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
More Boys & Girls Middle School Allstar game action! pic.twitter.com/3ri7sL4OK5
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
The Boys warming up at the Middle School Basketball Allstar Game! pic.twitter.com/4C2NuLbgzF
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
White Team Roster- Boys Blue Team Roster- Boys Maurice Willie James Weldon Johnson Diamontaye James Potters House Kareem Getzen- Kirby Smith Travis Moss Jr Oakleaf Middle Artis Maddox Jr- Gilbert Middle School Chris Johnson Oceanway Middle Jajuan Turner – Gilbert Middle School Veatrice Milton Jefferson Davis Ali Durham Oceanway Middle School Derrick Johnson James Weldon Johnson Dominique Allmond Fletcher Middle Lenzy Hancock Jr Trinity Christian Cedric Jones Arlington Country Day Jacobi Myers DuPont Middle Joe Carter Landon Middle School Isaiah Adams (Butler) Xavier McGriff Stillwell Middle School Joshua Dionisio Kernan Middle Trevon Hayward DuPont Middle School Josue Rivera Darnell Cookman Quinton Jackson James Weldon Johnson Jordin Jackson Gilbert Middle Head Coach Germaine Sparkes Head Coach Cortez Riley Assistant Coach- Udoka Azubuike Assistant Coach- Isaiah Ford (University of Kansas Commit) (All ACC 1st team Virginia Tech)
The boys fielded an impressive roster of athletes, who as one person noted on twitter, will be the ” future stars of Duval”. Middle School Championship MVP Jordin Jackson faced off against his talented teammates from Matthew Gilbert Artis Hicks and Jauan Turner. Ironically Hicks and Turner would be teamed up with Dominique Allmond of Fletcher, who they battled against in the middle school championships. Most notable about the boy’s teams was their coaches, which included recent Kansas Commit from Potter’s House Udoka Azubuike. It was a great experience for the young men to participate in.
Trevon Hayward of DuPont fresh off a South Division Championship at the Middle School Allstar Basketball Game! pic.twitter.com/GrTyPjEmUN
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
Isaiah Adams was a big presence at Butler this year and showcased his skills at the Middle School Allstar Game! pic.twitter.com/6fJrN9fDAj
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
Remember us covering Oceanway’s Rasheed Durham this year! He’s an Allstar! #bigman#Sheed#Hampic.twitter.com/Htd9dFXqv1
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
The event was coordinated and planned by Coach Maurice, a long time AAU Basketball coach in the city. “I’ve been thinking about doing this for a couple of years and decided to take a chance at it this year”. Of the 26 players invited 24 players participated. The inspiration behind starting Jacksonville’s first middle school all-star game was similar to the Duval Sports vision in starting Jacksonville’s first youth sports website, to promote the youth. ” There was never any recognition for the AAU basketball clubs, so we decided it would be good to bring the kids together to play with one another” said Coach Maurice. Many prominent players around the area find themselves playing on separate middle school or AAU teams because of parental discretion. Parents want their kids to be the star of their own team instead of sharing the spotlight. Thanks to the folks who volunteered their time and efforts to put this together now the kids can not only share the spotlight, but showcase their talent!
Special thanks to Coach Maurice for putting together Jacksonville’s first Middle School Allstar Game! pic.twitter.com/qS0dZnnK99
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
Congratulations to all the players in Jacksonville’s first ever Middle School Allstar Game! pic.twitter.com/mbBixRTr2a
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 5, 2016
