We continue with our 10th anniversary, celebrating the decade of covering youth and preps sports with unique stories and multi-media content. This time we’re turning back the clock, highlighting the Top 10 High School players of the last decade. These players are some of the most decorated athletes that we’ve had the pleasure of covering. Check them out.
1. Ivory Durham IV (Raines)– The 2017 Class 4A Player of the Year led Raines to its second state championship ever that year. The senior passed for a whopping 3,004 yards, 35 Touchdowns, and 7 Interceptions. He also rushed 49 times for 394 yards, and 9 TDs to add to those incredible numbers.
Ivory Durham IV became the all-time passing leader at Raines, passing for 4,511 yards, and moving ahead of Vince Robinson's 30 year record.
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 12, 2017
The Senior set a new single season touchdown passing record with 29 on the year, Set by Mack Frazier in 1997
Congratulations @Mr__showtime2 pic.twitter.com/mmritxDpVv
In the process he became the all-time passing leader at Raines, moving ahead of Vince Robinson’s 30 year record. The senior also set a new single season touchdown passing record, set by Raines Mack Frazier (Clemson) in 1997 a remarkable feat. Ivory Durham IV passed Nease’s Tim Tebow (Florida) for third in career passing yards, and at the time sat behind only First Coast’s DeAndre Johnson (FAU,Texas Southern) and Bishop Kenny’s John Wolford (Wake Forest) . Durham went on to play at Valdosta St before being drafted into the CFL by the Edmonton Elks.
2. Taliah Scott (St. John’s Country Day– Taliah Scott averaged 37.3 points per game, leading Florida, and was second in the nation in scoring while in high school. She won the Class 2A Player Of The Year, and the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year Awards in 2022. And as a crowning achievement, she was selected as a 2023 Mc Donald’s All-American, becoming only the fourth girls basketball player to earn the honor from Northeast Florida. Scott played at Arkansas as a freshman, and transferred to Auburn.
3. De’Andre Johnson (First Coast)– The most prolific Quarterback in First Coast high school history, De’Andre Johnson set the standard for the position very early. His freshman year, he burst onto the scene leading the Bucs to the State Championship game with 2,895 yards passing and 24 TDs. De’Andre threw for 3,710 yards and 47 touchdowns his senior year for the Buccaneers.
For his career, Johnson passed for 11,585 yards and 122 Touchdowns, passing Tim Tebow for most touchdowns in a career (95). Only 29 interceptions in that span, and never missing the playoffs. A Florida Times Union Super 24 athlete, and the Florida Dairy Farmer’s Mr. Football. After signing with FSU, Johnson would go on to East Mississippi Community College in 2016 and was one of the stars of the Netflix series “Last Chance U”. He then went on to FAU and Texas Southern, before being drafted by the New Jersey Generals of the USFL.
4. Rennia Davis (Ribault)-As a junior, Davis led the Lady Trojans to the state championship defeating Bishop Moore. She then would shine on a national stage at the Dick’s Sporting Goods National Championships in New York City, as she was named tournament MVP winning a national championship against Riverdale Baptist. of Maryland.
Davis would lead Ribault to back to back titles in 2017 where she added the illustrious hardware of McDonald’s All-American (2017), Florida Gatorade Girls Player of the Year (2017), and Florida Miss Basketball (2017) to her mantle. Davis signed with the Tennessee Lady Vols and was drafted in the first round of the WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx.
5. Isaiah Adams (Paxon)-The best basketball player in Florida was in 2019-2020. He averaged 23.7 points per game, along with 11.1 rebounds per game. He led Paxon to the Gateway Conference Championship, and two consecutive FHSAA Final 4 appearances, their first in over 30 years.
Adams earned the Class 4A Player of the year award in 2020, to go with his Class 6A Player of the Year trophy from 2019. Adams was honored with the rare distinction of being named the top basketball player in the state of Florida in consecutive years. Adams signed to play with UCF and transferred to Buffalo.
Isaiah Adams with the thunderous dunk! Trying to revive Paxon. Eagles trail Spartans 27-15 2nd 5:53 pic.twitter.com/d1fQ36twSm
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 6, 2019
6. Grace Ivey ( Bartram Trail)- A two-time Gatorade Florida High School Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023, Ivey led Bartram Trail to a 21-0-2 record, and a Class 7A soccer state championship as a senior. She scored 18 goals, as well as logging a school-record 35 assists. For her career, Ivey scored 59 goals and 59 assists and was named Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Soccer in 2022-2023. Ivey is currently playing college soccer at Texas A&M.
Thank you so much @Gatorade for the honor of Gatorade Florida Girls Soccer Player of the Year! I’m so blessed to have such amazing teammates and coaches at Bartram Trail and couldn’t be more grateful. #GatoradePOY @BTHS_GSoccer @TopDrawerSoccer @TheSoccerWire @PrepSoccer pic.twitter.com/0BAVbZUBGH
— grace ivey (@graceivey_) June 23, 2022
7. Nick Tronti (Ponte Vedra)– 2016 Florida Mr. Football, Class 5A Player of the Year. Two-time county Player of the Year passing for 7,443 yards, 72 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing TDs. His 72 passing scores are second only to Tim Tebow (95) in St. Johns County history. Tronti passed for 3,328 yards and 34 scores in 2016 as a senior, leading Ponte Vedra to a Class 5A state runner-up finish. Tronti signed with Indiana and transferred to FAU.
8. Reed Davis ( Fleming Island)-.Two-time Gatorade Florida Player of the Year while at Fleming Island High School…First player in state of Florida to win award in consecutive seasons…First-ever back-to-back winner of the Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Soccer award. Finished high school with 132 goals and 48 assists. Scored 52 goals and 17 assists during his senior season, leading the Golden Eagles to a 17-1-3 record and a trip to the FHSAA District 4A Tournament Quarterfinals. Davis went to Jacksonville University and transferred to Ohio State.
9. Camille Hobby (Nease)– Camille Hobby was named the Class 7A player of the year, averaging 18.2 p.p.g, and 10.4 r.p.g for the State Runner Up Nease Panthers in 2019. Hobby was the most dominating player in Northeast Florida, leading her team to a 30-2 overall record. Hobby was named the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball. Hobby played at NC State before transferring to Illinois where she is currently a senior.
10. Marcus Crowley (Trinity Christian)–The 6-foot-1, 205-pound running back rushed for 2,325 yards and 28 touchdowns his senior year, leading the Conquerors (13-1) to the Class 5A semifinals in 2018. Had five 200-yard rushing games during his senior season. Marcus was named the 2018-19 Gatorade Florida Football Player of the Year. Crowley would go on to play college ball at Ohio State University.
