The women's basketball team is excited about this upcoming season. With two solid returners in post player Mariah Preston and shooting guard Monique Bryant, the BlueWave women's team will be strong in leadership. Adding depth with nine new freshman at all positions, this will provide Coach Wooten the depth necessary to complete this season.
Mariah Preston will be a force to be dealt with in the post this 2018-2019 season. Coming off a good freshman campaign, she led the team in rebounding averaging 8.7 rebounds per game. Not to mention she was second in scoring at 9 points per game and had over ten double doubles earning her All-Conference 2nd Team in the Mid-Florida Conference.
Last year's leading scorer Monique Bryant will be expected to continue to lead her team offensively after averaging 11.1 points per game in 2017-2018. Given the limited numbers on the roster last season Bryant became a combo guard, running the point as needed. That valuable experience gained along with her increased improvement with ball handling and decision making will make her a key factor for us this season. Freshman combo guard Kayla Mansell will be relied upon to work alongside Bryant, giving her relief at times at the point. Monique is quiet, but she is an effective player who can rebound the ball and finish in transition as well.
The BlueWave are enthused about three of their newcomers that all hail from a local Jacksonville institution, The Potter's House Christian Academy. Freshman Gift Sampson (6'0") and Valicia Demeritte (5'9") are both very athletic. They both can play multiple positions, which will allow the BlueWave to create mismatches against their opponents. Sampson and Demeritte both run the court well , can finish in transition and has a pull up jumper. Mariah Lane (6'1") will add depth to the post and the FSCJ front court, which will help carry some of the load with Mariah Preston. Lane will be a strong presence in the paint with her ability to finish around the rim and her ability to step out from behind the arc to hit the three point shot will cause issues defensing her.
Jalisa Lee, a 5'10 skilled power forward from Oak Leaf, will be expected to add more play in the post for the BlueWave. Lee will spend most her time on the block, but has a nice mid-range game to add to her skill set. Kayla Mansell out of St Joseph's Academy of St. Augustine will help to round out FSCJ's guard play. Mansell is a cerebral player who will look to run the offense and keep the BlueWave grounded.
The BlueWave have shown well in the past four scrimmages and will be tested this weekend when they play Indian River State College and Palm Beach State College in the Indian River Tip-Off Classic. Coach Wooten will be looking to her two returners, Mariah Preston and Monique Bryant, to lead the FSCJ BlueWave to a competitive and winning season.