WESLEY CHAPEL, Florida – With the women’s Final Four in Tampa, there was added attention and buzz to the Sunshine State Showdown last weekend. More than 150 teams packed into the Wiregrass Sports Complex. All of the notable teams from within the state of Florida, representing all three shoe circuits, were in attendance. Additionally, many top programs from across the country made their way to Tampa for the competition and exposure. The 28.5 Scouting team was courtside taking notes on the top players and even those who are still on the way up. Here is a look at five names you need to know.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Nakhai Worthy – FBC Legacy – 2027

Worthy ranks near the top of all the prospects we evaluated this weekend. Listed at 6-foot-2, she anchors the middle of the court for her squad. But do not be fooled into thinking she is a traditional rim runner. Worthy attacks the rim with strength and quickness with the ball in her hands. She is a complete mismatch for most players her size, because she blows past them with quickness. And she is capable of bullying past smaller and thinner players who may try to check her quickness. Already armed with more than a dozen high major offers, we expect Worthy to be a hot name this year on the circuit.

Terrell McCoy – Central Florida Elite – 2026

Coach Al Honor has his squad lined up with athletic wings and guards who can make plays. But he also has 6-3 McCoy in the middle to hold down the action. She presents a solid frame capable of carving out space as a rebounder and a screener. It was her footwork, however, that impressed us on Saturday afternoon. She showed nimbleness with spin moves and scoring in traffic off high-post screening action. Given the ways that she can impact the game, McCoy ought to earn looks from a variety of schools in the Southeast and beyond this spring and summer.

Addie McLaughlin – All Iowa Attack – 2028

The All Iowa Attack program came three teams deep and featured players at every position and off the bench who were noteworthy. We selected McLaughlin from their ninth-grade group to feature because of her heady play. She is likely to be one of the smallest players each time she laces up her shoes. Yet her impact is undeniable. The lefty freshman sank threes, dished assists while driving the lane, and controlled the AIA offense consistently. For college programs that appreciate the Midwestern style of basketball, McLaughlin embodies all of that spirit in her game.

Ari Peterson – All Iowa Attack – 2028

Peterson played up on the AIA 16U roster this weekend. She fit right in. She grabbed the attention of everyone in attendance with her length, athleticism, and production. She snatched rebounds out of the lane and defended with versatility around the perimeter. She also drained three first-half 3-pointers, finishing with 16 points in a win on Saturday afternoon. She is a 6-2 prospect who is still somewhat positionless at this moment. She can do a number of things and is still polishing her specialties. She is a prospect that programs from coast to coast ought to check in on this spring and summer.

Naya Hardisson – Miami Suns – 2027

We loved how Hardisson plays the game. She is quick and cool with the ball in her hands. Contact does not seem to faze her although she is on the shorter end of the guard spectrum. It is her craftiness–her ability to change pace with the ball in her hands that keeps defenders off balance. She is far from an unknown in South Florida, but we expect her name to gain more visibility in the coming months.

Jonathan Hemingway is the new Director of Scouting for 28.5 Scouting. He brings 19 years of grassroots basketball evaluation experience across the girls’ and boys’ industries. He currently writes for OntheRadarHoops.com and contributes periodically to ProspectsNation.com. Connect with him at CoachHemi@gmail.com or on X at @CoachHemi.