Meet the All-Gainesville Area Big School Girls Basketball Team and Player of the Year

Heading into the season, Ashlyn Young hoped to form a solid one-two duo in the backcourt.

At PK Yonge, Young was joined by 2023 Big School Girls Basketball Player of the Year — sophomore Zion McRae— who averaged 21 PPG.

But McRae transferred to the Villages before the season began, and Young was left to her own devices.

The sophomore delivered and led the Blue Wave to the Class 3A Region 1 Semifinals.

Now, she’s followed in McRae’s footsteps and is the 2023-24 Gainesville Sun All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She averaged 16.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

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She put up those numbers despite PK holding just four upperclassmen on its roster in 2023-24.

This means it was exceptional season from Young and one of coach Willie Powers best coaching jobs of his storied career.

With Young and freshman Taylor Powers leading the way for the next two seasons, the Blue Wave should continue to compete and potentially win Powers and PK Yonge its third state title.

Below is the full All-Gainesville Area Big School Girls Basketball team. The first and second team, with five players each, comes from six schools across Classes 3A-6A. The small school team, Classes 2A and 1A, will be released next week.

Congrats to all the players!

First Team

Guard: Jamison Cardwell, Buchholz, Junior – 17.9 PPG (75^th in Florida, 12^th in 6A), 34 made three pointers (42^nd in 6A), 122 made FGs (37^th in 6A)

Guard: Ashlyn Young, PK Yonge, Sophomore – 16.5 PPG (10^th in 3A), 8.3 RPG, 3.6 APG, 3.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG (All in the top 29 in 3A), 107 made free throws (20^th in Florida, 3^rd in 3A)

Guard/Forward: Jayden Terry, GHS, Junior – 15.8 PPG (150^th in Florida, 25^th in 6A), 1.3 RPG, 0.4 APG, 97 made free throws (33^rd in Florida, 7^th in 6A)

Forward: Ar’Nayshia Griffin, Bradford, Sophomore – 17.2 PPG (94^th in Florida, 6^th in 3A), 11.2 RPG (54^th in Florida, 5^th in 3A), 2.6 APG, 3.3 SPG, 1.6 BPG (14^th in 3A), 11 double doubles (12^th in 3A)

Forward: Joleana Gardner, Columbia, Junior – 11.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG (20^th in 5A), 2.2 APG, 4.3 SPG (15^th in 5A), 13 double doubles (41^st in Florida, 10^th in 5A)

Second Team

Guard: Taylor Powers, PK Yonge, Freshman – 11 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.8 SPG, 24 made three points (69^th in 3A)

Guard: Jada Hankerson, Bradford, Senior – 13.8 PPG (34^th in 3A), 3.8 RPG, 2 APG, 3.8 SPG (22^nd in 3A), 100 made FGs

Guard/Forward: Precious Marshall, Eastside, Senior – 6.6 PPG, 20 made three pointers (84^th in 4A)

Forward: Haleigh Richburgh, Santa Fe, Sophomore – 11.7 PPG (70^th in 4A), 3.9 RPG, 0.4 BPG

Forward: Aniya West, Eastside, Senior – 9.0 PPG, 59 made FGs, 85 made FTs (59^th in Florida, 10^th in 4A)

Coach of the Year: Lonna Turner, Eastside

Turner took over her alma mater and led an immediate turnout. In 2022-23, the Rams finished 7-14. That record jumped to 15-9 this season, and Eastside won its first district title since 2019.

She also continued a family legacy. One which saw not just her succeed, but also her mother Lenora (district titles in 1995 and ’96) and her father Lonnie (regional final in 2003).

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: PK Yonge's Ashlyn Young is the Big School Girls Basketball Player of the Year