The 2026 school year is coming to an end, which means now is a great time reflect on the 2026 season. We will begin our review with the National Division of the Hillsborough County Public Schools Western Conference. The graphic below lists the National Division selections for the top players and coach of their division as voted on by National Division coaches.
Deeper Dive in the National Division…
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL
2026 TEAM‑BY‑TEAM YEAR IN REVIEW
Middleton Tigers
Record: 1–18
Top Players:
Aaliyah Chandler (Jr): 3.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.6 SPG
Izabell Reyes (So): 6.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.1 SPG
Azariah Johnson (So): 11.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.6 SPG
Coach Darryl Wilborn completed his 14th season as the Head Coach of the Middleton Tigers. After winning twelve games last season and losing their two best players, the Tigers entered the 2026 season in rebuilding mode with a roster that consisted of no seniors. The Tigers took their lumps, winning only one game. Next year, the Tigers will look to build with Azariah Johnson (So), and Izabell Reyes (So) expected to return.
Armwood Hawks
Record: 16–9
Top Players:
Mya Ankers (Sr): 13.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.8 SPG
Taylor Dickens (Sr): 12.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.8 SPG
Kristina DeJesus (Jr): 8.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.5 SPG
The Armwood Hawks, led by Head Coach Rachel Moore in her final season, finished the 2026 season with a record of 16–9, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2016–2017 season. The Hawks played a physical style of basketball and were led by 2nd Team National Selection Mya Ankers and Hillsborough County East/West Senior All Star and Hillsborough v Pinellas Senior All Star Taylor Dickens. New Head Coach Dominic Mills will have leading rebounder and 2nd Team National Division selection Kristina DeJesus to lead the 2027 Hawks.
Chamberlain Storm
Record: 17–8 (District Champions, Sweet 16 Playoff Appearance Class 4A, Hillsborough County Final Four)
Top Players:
Ellayna Stephens (Jr): 20.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 4.0 SPG
Damaria Pitcher (Jr): 10.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 2.0 SPG
Alyssa DeJesus (Jr): 8.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.6 SPG
Coach Quentin Everett, in his third season as the Head Coach of the Chamberlain Storm, has led one of the most impressive turnarounds in Hillsborough County history. Last year, the Storm completed a historic season under the 2025 National Division Coach of the Year, Coach Everett, winning twenty games for the first time in the MaxPreps era. The Storm, led by 1st Team National Division selection and dynamic scorer Ellayna Stephens (Jr)who has averaged over 20 PPG since her sophomore season—took the team to the next level. Chamberlain won the 2026 district championship and a first-round playoff game. The Storm also qualified for the Hillsborough County Final Four.
Wharton Wildcats
Record: 15–10 (Playoff Appearance Class 6A, Top G.P.A. in Hillsborough County Girls Basketball)
Top Players:
Jasani Andrews (So): 6.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.2 SPG
Jayla Grady (Sr): 12.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.8 SPG
Sydney Hurst (Sr): 9.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.6 APG
The Wharton Wildcats, led by Coach Terry Thompson in his eighth season, finished 15–10, a one-game improvement from the previous season. The Wildcats lost their two top scorers from the 2025 season but saw the return of 1st Team National Division selection Jayla Grady from an ACL injury that caused her to miss the 2025 season. Fellow senior and 2nd Team National Division selection Sydney Hurst leveled up as a defender and playmaker to help the Wildcats reach their third district championship appearance in her four-year high school career. The Wildcats fell short to Sunlake in the district championship and again in the first round of the playoffs. Coach Thompson earned his 100th career win at Wharton High School and will look to take the Wildcats to the next level in the 2027 season with the return of starters Jasani Andrews (So) and Aj Stegeman (Fr).
Tampa Bay Tech Titans
Record: 16–8
Top Players:
Milaya Chapman (So): 17.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.8 SPG
Jenesis Walker (So): 10.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.1 APG
Journee Prim (So): 6.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 0.1 APG
Tampa Bay Tech, led by Coach Kevin Templeton, had its best season under his tutelage, finishing the 2026 season with a 16–8 record. The Titans saw a five-game improvement from the 2025 season, with the development of 2nd Team National Division selection Milaya Chapman being a key factor. Coach Templeton is expected to return a strong core of sophomores in Jenesis Walker, Journee Prim, and Milaya Chapman, who are ready to lead the Titans to a playoff appearance in their new district.
Strawberry Crest Chargers
Record: 12–14
Top Players:
Bailee Conley (Fr): 5.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 3.2 SPG
Airreona Cauldwell (Sr): 6.3 PPG, 18.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 4.2 SPG
Khloe Overstreet (Fr): 12.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.6 APG
Strawberry Crest, in its fourth season under the leadership of Coach Gina Giunta, finished the year 12–14. Twelve wins marks the highest win total of the Coach Giunta era and a breakthrough season for the Chargers, who had averaged only four wins over the previous four seasons combined. This renaissance was made possible by 2nd Team National Division selection Khloe Overstreet, who averaged over 12 PPG as a freshman. With Khloe Overstreet and fellow freshman Bailee Conley expected to return to the Chargers next season, we expect Crest to continue seeing more W’s in the future.
King Lions
Record: 7–13
Top Players:
Mariah Pinkney (So): 18.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 5.9 SPG, 1.8 BPG
Julliana Smalls (So): 11.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.9 SPG
Tiana Sanders (Fr): 4.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.6 APG
King, in its second season under Head Coach Janae Charles, has continued to make progress, finishing the season 7–13. Under Coach Charles, the Lions reached the seven-win mark for only the second time in six years. Through the leadership and development of Coach Charles, 1st Team National Division selection Mariah Pinkney became a breakout player, averaging 18 PPG, 6 RPG, and 5 SPG. The Lions will have a sturdy foundation in place with the return of rising juniors Julliana Smalls and Mariah Pinkney for the 2027 season.
Hillsborough Terriers
Record: 18–7 (District Champions, Class 5A Playoff Appearance, National Division Coach of the Year)
Top Players:
Anaja Griffin (Sr): 17.4 PPG
Robin Bailey (Jr): 11.7 PPG
Sa’Kayla Edwards (Fr): 18.0 PPG, 0.4 RPG, 0.2 APG
The Hillsborough Terriers, in season two under Head Coach Debbie Fuller, made an emphatic statement in Class 5A District 9 by winning their first district championship since the 2021–2022 season. Coach Debbie Fuller was selected as Coach of the Year for the National Division after overseeing an 11-game improvement for the Terriers. Led by 1st Team National Division selection, Hillsborough County East/West Senior All Star, and Hillsborough County v Pinellas County Senior Allstar Anaja Griffin, the Terriers returned to the Class 5A playoffs before being eliminated by the Braden River Pirates. The Terriers will return one of the top players in Hillsborough County, 1st Team National Division selection Sa’Kayla Edwards, a “walking bucket” who dropped an early career-high thirty-three points in a loss to Wharton.
Freedom Patriots
Record: 6–13
Top Players:
Ashari Blocker (Fr): 8.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.5 APG, 2.1 SPG
Joniya Reid (So): 4.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 0.1 APG
Nyasia Davis (Jr): 4.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 3.1 SPG
Freedom, in season two under Head Coach Passion Hodges, improved from 5–17 in 2025 to 6–13 in 2026. The Patriots were one of the youngest teams in the county and continue to rebuild their numbers on both varsity and JV. Under the tutelage of Coach Hodges, the Patriots were able to play for their district championship for the first time since the 2018–2019 season. The Patriots are expected to return their top scorer Ashari Blocker (Fr), second-leading scorer Joniya Reid (So), and Nyasia Davis (Jr).