June 30, 2026, 5:04 a.m. ET

Kelsey Assarian shoots, a 2008 Barron Collier High graduate, helped lead the Cougars to the 2008 Class 5A state championship and was named tournament MVP. She made first team all-state as a senior, leading the Cougars in scoring, rebounds, blocks and steals and was a Street & Smith’s Honorable Mention All-American. A two-time News-Press Basketball Player of the Year, she also started for Barron Collier’s 2006 state title team. Assarian played four seasons at Texas A&M.
John David Emmett
Barron Collier’s Kelsey Assarian drives on Leesburg’s Tenia Manuel in the Class 5A girls basketball state semifinal at the Lakeland Center on Wednesday February 20, 2008.
JOHN DAVID EMMETT/The News-Press
Barron Collier teammates Kelsey Assarian, Saphira Philson and Erin Zampell celebrate after beating Winter Haven for the Class 5A girls state basketball championship at the Lakeland Center on Friday February 22, 2008. Barron Collier won 33-30.
JOHN DAVID EMMETT/The News-Press
Cape Coral senior point guard McKenna Beach will play for Stetson in the fall.
KINFAY MOROTI / THE NEWS-PRESS
McKenna Beach, Cape Coral
Sarah Coward/The News-Press
McKenna Beach, a graduate of Cape Coral High School, is in her final season playing for the Stetson women’s basketball team. She’s played in 123 games for the Hatters after tearing her ACL twice in high school.
Submitted/Stetson Athletics
Cape Coral’s McKenna Beach passes the ball against Sebring defenders Thursday night during the Region 5A-4 quarterfinals at Cape Coral High. Cape Coral won the game 55-36.
Terry Williams/The News-Press
Rebekah Bergquist, SFCA, Girls Basketball, Winter All-Area athletes 2019
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
Southwest Florida Christian Academy’s Rebekah Bergquist, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring her 2,501 point against Marco Island on Thursday at SFCA in Fort Myers.
Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com
Game action of Southwest Florida Christian Academy’s Rebekah Bergquist against Marco Island on Thursday at SFCA in Fort Myers.
Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com
Game action of Southwest Florida Christian Academy’s Rebekah Bergquist against Marco Island on Thursday at SFCA in Fort Myers.
Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com
Tyra Brown, Fort Myers, Basketball, All-Area, Winter 2022-2023
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida
Tyra Brown of tFort Myers drives to the basket against South Fort Myers during a playoff game against South Fort Myers. Fort Myers won.
Andrew West/The News-Press
Tyra Brown, Fort Myers, Basketball, All-Area, Winter 2022-2023
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida
Tyra Brown, Fort Myers, Basketball, All-Area, Winter 2022-2023
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida
Riki Carach, Gulf Coast, Naples Daily News 2010 Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
David Albers/Naples Daily News
Yasmeen Change of Gulf Coast puts up a shot against Paris Sharpe of Cardinal Gibbons during the Naples Holiday Shootout game at Gulf Coast High School on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017.
Darron R. Silva/Special To The Naples Daily News
Yasmeen Chang, center, celebrates winning the tournament MVP award after Gulf Coast beat Ursuline Academy to win the National Division championship game of the Naples Holiday Shootout tournament at Gulf Coast High School on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017.
Darron R. Silva/Special To The Naples Daily News
Gulf Coast junior, Yasmeen Chang, goes up for a shot during the class 8A regional quarterfinal against North Port High School on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Gulf Coast High School.
Katie Klann/Naples Daily News, Katie Klann
Gulf Coast High School’s Yasmeen Chang, left, drives to the basket against Fort Myers’ Tatum Hayes 71-67 recently in Fort Myers. Gulf Coast beat Fort Myers 71-67.
Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com
Yasmeen Chang in the Naples Daily News studio on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
Dorothy Edwards/Naples Daily News
Fort Myers High School’s Chaniya Clark scores against Gulf Coast on Thursday (1/10/19) in Fort Myers.
KINFAY MOROTI/THE NEWS-PRRESS
Fort Myers High School’s Chaniya Clark (33) blocks a shot by Choctawhatchee’s Ataliya Brown (3) during the first half of their FHSAA Girls 7-A Championship game at The RP Funding Center in Lakeland Saturday. Fort Myers won 65-41. March 3, 2018. (SPECIAL TO THE NEWS PRESS/MICHAEL WILSON)
MICHAEL WILSON/THE LEDGER
Fort Myers High School’s Chaniya Clark (33) eyes the basket as Dillard High School’s Raven White (44) tries to defend during the first half of their FHSAA Girls 7A Semifinal game at The RP Funding Center in Lakeland Friday.
Michael Wilson/Special To The News-Press
Fort Myers’s Chaniya Clark takes the ball to the hoop while defended by Barron Collier’s Madisyn Walker during the Class 7A regional semifinals game, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, at Barron Collier High School in East Naples
Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
Chaniya Clark, Fort Myers, Basketball, All-Area Winter 2020
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Aleisha Curry, Lehigh Senior High School, basketball all-area
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Aleisha Curry, Lehigh Senior High School, Basketball All-Area
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Aleisha Curry, Lehigh, Girls Basketball, Winter All-Area athletes 2019
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
Lehigh’s Aleisha Curry dribbles the ball while defended by Fort Myers’ Riley Ludlam, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers.
Jon Austria/Naples Daily News
Dunbar High School’s Kiara Desamours (12) drives towards the basket against Ribault High School during their FHSAA Girls Basketball 4A Championship Final game at the Lakeland Center. Dunbar won the game 50-41. February 23, 2012.
MICHAEL WILSON | THE LEDGER
Dunbar High School’s Kiara Desamours (12) goes up for a basket as Coral Springs Charter School’s Karen Vardi (22) tries to defend during their FHSAA Girls Basketball 4-A semifinal game at the Lakeland Center Wednesday. February 22, 201
Michael Wilson/news-press.com
Dunbar High School’s Kiara Desamours (12) goes up for a basket over Ribault High School’s Sierra Shepherd (1), left, and Tierra Shepherd (3) during their FHSAA Girls Basketball 4A Championship Final game at the Lakeland Center Thursday. Dunbar won the game 50-41. February 23, 2012.
MICHAEL WILSON | THE LEDGER
Kiara Desamours of Dunbar High School reacts after being named the The News-Press All-Area Female Athlete of the Year.
Andrew West/The News-Press, Andrew West/The News-Press
Dunbar’s Kiara Desamours steals the ball from Tampa Catholic’s Mia Blocker during the Region 4A-3 girls basketball championship game at Dunbar High School on Friday night.
Jack Hardman/The News-Press, Jack Hardman/The News-Press
Fort Myers High School’s Autumn Giles scores against Sebastian River in the Region 7A-3 quarterfinal Thursday at Fort Myers High School.
Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com
Autumn Giles of Fort Myers is guarded by Lakewood Ranch’s Kyra Klarkowski as she goes up for a shot in the girls regional basketball finals on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at Fort Myers High School.
Amanda Inscore/news-press.com
Fort Myers’ Autumn Giles (21) shoots against Leigh’s Halley Holloway (11) during the ladies basketball game at Fort Myers High School in Fort Myers, FL on Friday, January 29, 2016. Fort Myers defeated Lehigh to win the Deistrict 6A-11 Championship. Photo by Gregg Pachkowski
Gregg Pachkowski
Autumn Giles, Fort Myers High.
Fort Myers High
Destanni Henderson watching South Carolina play in the Gulf Coast Showcase. Defending national champion South Carolina played in the Gulf Coast Showcase this weekend at Germain Arena and 1 of the Gamecocks’ 2018 recruits is Fort Myers High’s Destanni Henderson. They offered her in the 8th grade.
Andrea Melendez/The News-Press
Destanni Henderson of Fort Myers takes a shot against Dunbar in the girls basketball district championship on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Fort Myers High School’s Destanni Henderson (3) drives towards the basket as Dillard High School’s Briah Christia (4) tries to defend during the first half of their FHSAA Girls 7A Semifinal game at The RP Funding Center in Lakeland Friday.
Michael Wilson/Special To The News-Press
Fort Myers High School’s Destanni Henderson looks to pass under pressure from Dillard High School’s Kayla Burrows during the second half of their FHSAA Girls 7A Semifinal game at The RP Funding Center in Lakeland Friday.
Michael Wilson/Special To The News-Press
Fort Myers High School’s Destanni Henderson scores against Sebastian River in the Region 7A-3 quarterfinal Thursday at Fort Myers High School.
Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com
Apr 3, 2022; Minneapolis, MN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Destanni Henderson (3) takes a shot against the UConn Huskies during the first half in the Final Four championship game of the women’s college basketball NCAA Tournament at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Winter All-Area Athletes portraits Girls Basketball: Destanni Henderson, Fort Myers
Andrea Melendez/The News-Press
Fort Myers High senior Destanni Henderson shows off her milk mustache during a ceremony on April 4, for being named the 2018 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball.
Seth Soffian/The News-Press
Fort Myers Destanni Henderson
The News-Press File
Barron Collier’s Courtney Jacob relishes the moment as she is announced as the MVP of the tournament in Class 5A after Barron Collier defeated Winter Haven 43-36 to win the state championship in Lakeland on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006.
Todd Stubing/The News-Press
Barron Collier’s Kasey Will (42) and Courtney Jacob takes the state championship trophy to the fans in the stands after they were presented with it after defeating Winter Haven 43-36 in Lakeland on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006.
Todd Stubing/The News-Press
From left, Barron Collier’s Kacey Will, Courtney Jacob, Kelsey Assarian, and Allyson Naretta, look over the Class 5A State Championship trophy after Barron Collier defeated Winter Haven 43-36 in Lakeland on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006.
Todd Stubing/The News-Press
Dunbar High School’s Keri Jewett (3) the go ahead game winning basket with 1.8 seconds to play against Coral Springs Charter School during their FHSAA Girls Basketball 4A semifinal game at the Lakeland Center Wednesday. Dunbar won the game 53-51. February 22, 2012. The Ledger/Michael Wilson
MICHAEL WILSON | THE LEDGER
Keri Jewett, Dunbar, girls basketball
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
FGCU’s Keri Jewett-Giles brings the ball up court against North Florida.
Julia Bonavita/Special To The News-Press
Dunbar High School basketball student Keri Jewett smiles alongside her grandmother Evelyn Williams after signing a National Letter of Intent to the University of Southern Mississippi Monday afternoon. Dunbar High School basketball student Kiara Desamours signed a National Letter of Intent to Lamar University in Texas.
Lindsay Terry/news-press.com
Dunbar’s Keri Jewett shoots a 3-pointer over Tampa Catholic’s Mia Blocker during the Region 4A-3 girls basketball championship game at Dunbar High School on Friday night.
Jack Hardman/The News-Press, Jack Hardman/The News-Press
Dunbar’s Keri Jewett (3) drives past Cardinal Newman’s Anise Williams (2) during a girls basketball game at the FHSAA State Finals, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in Lakeland, Fla.(Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Phelan M. Ebenhack
Keri Jewett, Dunbar, Guard, Senior
Sarah Coward/The News-Press
Lely coach Kirsti Jones diagrams a play during a timeout in the Trojans loss to Immokalee in the open round of the Class 4A-District 14 playoffs on Jan. 29, 2013.
Roger LaLonde/Naples Daily News
Lely coach Kirsti Jones draws up a play during a timeout in the Lady Trojans win over Palmetto Ridge on Jan. 14, 2013.
Roger LaLonde/Naples Daily News
First Baptist sophomore, Emily Lines, 16, poses for a portrait on Wednesday March 13, 2013. Emily averaged 17.5 points and 8 rebounds a game.
William DeShazer/Naples Daily News
First Baptist Academy freshman Emily Lines, the daughter of coach Jennifer Lines, rebounds against Golden Gate High School during a basketball game Thursday in the FBA gym. Before Thursday’s game, Emily Lines was honored for scoring 1000 career points for FBA.
Lexey Swall/Naples Daily News
Naples Daily News 2011-2012 Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year Emily Lines of First Baptist Academy.
David Albers/Naples Daily News
Emily Lines, the leader of First Baptist Academy’s basketball team.
Photo Provided By First Baptist
Emily Lines, First Baptist Academy, 2015 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete finalist.
Stan Lindsey Photography
As a sophomore at Palmetto Ridge High School in 2005, Jamie Navarro was named the NDN Girls Basketball Player of the Year
Daily News File Photo
Jamie Navarro shown here during her senior season of 2006-07, played her final two high school years at Community School of Naples.
Daily News File Photo
Palmetto Ridge High School girls basketball coach Jamie Navarro
Miguel Rodriguez/Naples Daily News
Fort Myers’ Jarya Outten bites into her medal after her team beat Oakland Park Northeast in the Class 6A girls state title game on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Lakeland.
Cindy Skop/Special To The News-Press
Jarya Outten of Fort Myers takes a shot over LaDazhia Williams of Lakewood Ranch in the girls regional basketball finals on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at Fort Myers High School.
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Larissa Roker, Jarya Outten and Bethany Brunson of Fort Myers celebrate their win over Lakewood Ranch in the girls regional basketball finals on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at Fort Myers High School.
Amanda Inscore/news-press.com
Jarya Outten, Fort Myers
File
Fort Myers High School senior, Jarya Outten, shoots a layup during game 6 of the Naples Holiday Shootout at Community School of Naples in East Naples on Wednesday, December 28, 2016. Fort Myers lost to Central Arkansas Christian High School.
Katie Klann/Naples Daily News
Dunbar’s Dekeriya Patterson tries to keep control of the ball against Georgetown in the Queen of Palms Ruby Division on Tuesday night, December 30, 2014, at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore/news-press.com, Amanda Inscore/news-press.com
Dunbar’s Dekeriya Patterson takes a shot against Georgetown in the Queen of Palms Ruby Division on Tuesday night, December 30, 2014, at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore/news-press.com
Dunbar High School’s Dekeriya Patterson is a valuable member of the Tiger’s program in 2014-15. On Saturday, the team faces a rival in Ribault at the 3rd annual Rob Moramarco Challenge.
KINFAY MOROTI/THE NEWS-PRESS
Chipola College’s Dekeriya Patterson, a Dunbar High School graduate, returned to Fort Myers on Thursday to play ASA Miami in the Florida Junior College Shootout at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Patterson scored 25 points in Chipola’s 75-40 win.
Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com
Dekeriya Patterson, Dunbar High School, Basketball All-Area
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Community School of Naples’ Stephanie Paul.
News-Press File Photo
Community School’s Stephanie Paul was the Naples Daily News Girls Basketball Player of the Year after the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and plays for the University of Georgia.
Greg Kahn/Naples Daily News
Winner of the 2016 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award Stephanie Paul, center, smiles while giving her acceptance speech Thursday at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples. Paul finished with a 3.62 GPA, lettered in basketball and track, and will be playing Division I basketball for the University of Georgia.
(Luke Franke/Staff)
Georgia forward Stephanie Paul (3) gets the rebound before Tennessee guard/forward Rae Burrell (12) center Kasiyahna Kushkituah (11) during the NCAA women’s basketball game on Sunday, January 12, 2020.
Saul Young/News Sentinel
Former Community School of Naples star Stephanie Paul was named the school’s next head girls basketball coach.
Courtesy Of Stephanie Paul
Naples Community School forward Stephanie Paul heads for the basket as Jacksonville University Christian’s Norman Tarje tries to block during the FHSAA Girls 3A semifinals Tuesday February 16, 2016 in Lakeland, Florida.
Cindy Skop/Naples Daily News
Addison Potts, Bishop Verot, Basketball, All-Area Athletes Winter 2020
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Gateway eight-grader Addison Potts drives to the basket in a game against Oasis.
Mark Clifford/Special To The News-Press
Gateway eight-grader Addison Potts drives to the basket in a game against Oasis.
Mark Clifford/Special To The News-Press
Addison Potts of South Fort Myers High School is on the News-Press girls basketball all area team.
Andrew West/The News-Press
Addison Potts, Bishop Verot, Basketball, All-Area Athletes Winter 2020
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Addison Potts, Gateway Charter High School, basketball all-area
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
South Fort Myers’ Addison Potts scores during a game against Fort Myers at South Fort Myers on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
Andrew West/The News-Press
Nalah Smith, Evangelical Christian School is a News-Press All-Area athlete for girls basketball.
Andrew West, Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Netowrk-Florida
The Sentinels’ Nalah Smith grabs a rebound in action from a girls basketball game between Evangelical Christian School and First Baptist Academy at ECS on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. ECS won 43-29.
Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Network
Evangelical Christian senior Nalah Smith is the Southwest Florida All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Andrew West/The News-Press & Naples Daily News/USA Today Network
ECS senior center Nalah Smith goes for a layup against a Celtics defender. The Evangelical Christian School girls basketball team defeated St. John Neumann in the 2A District 12 championship game. The Sentinels won with a final score of 69-31.
Ricardo Rolon / USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA
Bishop Verot’s Christen Spake, left, and Lehigh’s Anthony Paez, right, are Basketball Players of the Year for 2002.
TODD STUBING/The News-Press
Bishop Verot senior Christen Spake (#35) dribbles past a Barron Collier defender during their game on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2001.
TODD STUBING/The News-Press
Bishop Verot’s Christen Spake escapes DeSoto’s Gavonia Wiley (#24) during the regional quarter final game at Bishop Verot on Feb. 15, 2002.
MARC BEAUDIN/The News-Press
Christen Spake drives to the net during the Class 3A girls state semifinal against Bishop Moore in Lakeland on Feb. 28, 2002.
MARC BEAUDIN/The News-Press
Bishop Verot’s Christen Spake is checked by Pace’s Jamie Skinner.
MARC BEAUDIN/The News-Press
2004 All-Area Girls Basketball team Player of the Year Ashley Traugott from Cypress Lake.
TODD STUBING/The News-Press
Cypress Lake’s Ashley Traugott (22) drives past Fort Myers’ Fatima Williams to score on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 at Fort Myers High School.
R. Scott Martin/The News-Press
Cypress Lake’s Ashley Traugott takes a shot over Fort Myers’ Fatima Williams on Saturday, February 14, 2004, at Cypress Lake High School.
JACK HARDMAN/Special To The News-Press
Cypress Lake’s Ashley Traugott, right, passes out of a Fort Myers double team on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 at Fort Myers High School.
R. Scott Martin/The News-Press
Sarah Wickham, St. John Neumann
Photo Provided By St. John Neumann
St John Neumann’s Sarah Wickham, left, drives past Cape Coral’s Alexiss Griffin during a recent game in Naples on Thursday Nov. 15, 2007.
JOHN DAVID EMMETT/The News-Press
St John Neumann’s Sarah Wickham, left, drives past Cape Coral’s Alexiss Griffin during a recent game in Naples on Thursday Nov. 15, 2007.
JOHN DAVID EMMETT/The News-Press
St John Neumann’s Sarah Wickham, left, and Cape Coral’s Alexiss Griffin battle for a rebound during a recent game in Naples on Thursday Nov. 15, 2007.
JOHN DAVID EMMETT/The News-Press
Michelle Woods, Community School of Naples
Amanda Inscore/news-press.com
Michelle Woods, Community School of Naples, was awarded Miss Basketball at the South Florida Association of Basketball Coaches Girls All-Star Game on Monday March 7, 2011 at Bishop Verot High School.
Michele AnneLouise Cohen/Naples Daily News
Michelle Woods, a 2011 Community School of Naples graduate, led the Seahawks to three straight Class 2A state championship games, winning state titles in 2009 and 2011. She was named the 2A Player of the Year and Daily News Girls Basketball Player of the Year both seasons. Woods, who scored 2,365 points in five varsity seasons, played four years at Miami.
Amanda Inscore/The News-Press
Michelle Woods of Community School of Naples is the 2009 girls basketball player of the year.
Amanda Inscore/news-press.com
Michelle Woods, 21, a point guard for the University of Miami Women’s basketball team, poses for a photo at the Fieldhouse training facility on UM’s campus on Monday, Oct. 13, 2014.
Photo Provided By Miami