OTRW Hoops: 2027 Prospects on the Rise in Florida (Part1)

We have passed the midway point of the 2025-2026 high school girls’ basketball season across the state of Florida. Here are some of the top prospects trending upwards in this year’s junior class.

Jalynn Belton - Miami Country Day - 2027: Belton displays a strong scoring arsenal, capable of scoring on all three levels on the offensive end. Her strong knack for knocking down shots from the perimeter, as well as getting to the rim, has spoken volumes this season. On the defensive end, she is versatile, where she can guard positions 1 through 4 using her strength and athleticism to her advantage. Her recruitment has taken off since the start of her freshman season, where she has picked up several Power 4 offers, including Arizona State, Missouri, North Carolina, Ole Miss, among several others.

Ellie Bross - Calvary Christian (Clearwater) - 2027: Bross impacts the game in a variety of ways, whether it’s controlling the glass or consistently finishing around the rim. On the offensive end, Bross is effective off the catch as well as the bounce, where she can score on multiple levels. When finishing around the rim, Bross has great body control and can finish with either hand at the front of the basket. On the defensive end, she has a strong knack for jumping the passing lanes and creating transition scoring chances. She could open some eyes on the  recruitment trail with her two-way presence on the floor, as well as adding versatility to her game.

Ameera Kone - Grandview Prep - 2027: Kone plays with a two-way presence where, on the offensive end, she is a three-level scorer who can be effective playing on and off the ball. On the defensive end, she uses her leadership and applies relentless pressure on opposing guards. She does a great job jumping the passing lanes, forcing turnovers, and creating transition offense with her strong handle of the basketball from the two-guard position. Her two-way playmaking should open some eyes this spring as her recruitment is still in its early stages.

Presley Norman - Bolles (Jacksonville) - 2027:  Norman is known for her ability to score from the perimeter on the offensive end, where she can be a factor off the catch as well as the bounce. She seizes momentum very quickly as she needs just a couple of shots to go down before she is fully locked in when stepping onto the floor. On the defensive end, her length and size can be effective whether it’s guarding in the paint or out on the perimeter, as she can get into the passing lanes as well as alter shots at the front of the rim. Norman has already eclipsed the 1,000-point scoring milestone and, with a year remaining in high school, could set some school records as far as most points as well as 3-pointers.

(5-6 PG) Brianna Valenza - Martin County - 2027: Valenza is an unselfish point guard who can score on all three levels as well as set her teammates up to score on the offensive end. She has a strong attack for the basket where she plays with a ton of confidence and is unafraid when it comes to playing through contact. On defense, she applies heavy on-ball pressure as well as using her length and quickness to close out on shooters. Overall, Valenza’s two-way presence shows clear upside as she could be one of the top-ranked guards in the class by the time the AAU season comes to an end.

Ross Van De Griek has been a southeast region scout & writer for On The Radar Hoops since 2024. He has been involved in basketball scouting with stops at Prep Hoops since 2022. You can follow him on X @RossVDG14 or reach him via email at rossvdg14@gmail.com.