The eight individual class finalists for the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball and Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year were announced on Thursday following balloting by a statewide panel of high school girls’ basketball coaches and prep media members.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in their class. The two winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
Although no one in the area was voted the best in their classification, two local girls and one area head coach finished in the top three of the voting.
Gainesville senior guard Jamison Cardwell finished third for the Class 5A Player of the Year after leading GHS to a state runner-up finish.
Cardwell, who recently committed to play Division-I basketball at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, averaged 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals for the Hurricanes (17-9).
Senior guard Olivia Olson of New Smyrna Beach was named the POY after leading her team to a 27-5 record and the Class 5A state title.
The Marshall University signee averaged 21.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.3 steals per game.
On March 7, Olson scored a game-high 30 points as the Barracudas (27-5) won their first state title in program history with a 56-49 win against GHS in the state championship game at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Cardwell tied teammate Jayden Terry, a Louisiana Tech signee, with a team-high 18 points in the loss.
Junior center/forward Jadore Hayes of North Miami finished second for 5A POY after averaging a whopping 25.4 points and 20.5 rebounds per game, along with 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 3.3 blocks.
GHS coach Jazlynd Rollins finished second behind NSB coach Aisha Patrick (105-77) for COY in 5A.
“Coach Jaz pushed me to be a better individual, all around, not just basketball,” Cardwell said. “I love her so much and I wish I could take her with me (to UNF). She’s prepared me mentally and physically. I can’t wait to go out there and put on a show and be able to represent her and what she’s doing at GHS. I thank God for putting her in my life.”
Junior forward Ar’Nayshia Griffin of Bradford (Starke) was runner-up for the Class 3A POY.
Griffin averaged 25.7 pts, 10.3 reb, 2.2 asst, 3.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks for the Tornadoes (13-9), who lost in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs.
Senior guard/forward Kali Barrett of state champion Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota) was voted the Class 3A POY after leading her team to a 24-9 record and the Class 3A state title.
The University of Cincinnati signee averaged 16.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
The eight finalists for the 2025 Miss Basketball Award:
Serenity Hardy, Winter Haven, Junior, Guard, Class 7A Player of the Year
Led her team to 27-2 record and the Class 7A state title, averaging 19.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 1.3 assists per game.
Kelsey Sharpe, Sickles, Junior, Guard, Class 6A Player of the Year
Led her team to a 21-9 record and a spot in the regional finals by averaging 22.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 6.4 steals per game.
Olivia Olson, New Smyrna Beach, Senior, Guard, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led her team to a 27-5 record and the Class 5A state championship by averaging 21.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Signed with Marshall University.
Jaida Civil, Palm Bay, Senior, Guard, Class 4A Player of the Year
The McDonald’s All-America led her team to a 25-7 record and the Class 4A state title by averaging 18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Signed with the University of Tennessee.
Kali Barrett, Cardinal Mooney, Senior, Guard/Forward, Class 3A Player of the Year
Led her team to a 24-9 record and the Class 3A state title by averaging 16.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Signed with the University of Cincinnati.
Markeli Jones-Tynes, Westminster Academy, Senior, Guard, Class 2A Player of the Year
Led her team to a 22-8 record and a spot in the regional final by averaging 16.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.5 steals per game. Signed with Robert Morris University.
Lena Girardi, Grandview Prep, Senior, Guard, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led her team to a 26-4 record and the Class 1A state title by averaging 30.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Signed with Oklahoma State University.
Trinidy Harris, Wildwood, Senior, Guard, Rural Class Player of the Year
Led her team to a 25-0 record and the Rural Class state title by averaging 18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game.
The eight finalists for the 2025 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year:
Johnnie Lawson, Winter Haven, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 27-2 record and the Class 7A title. It was the fourth state championship in Lawson’s 18 years as a head coach and the first since winning three straight titles from 2016-18.
Joel Bower, Bloomingdale, Class 6A Coach of the Year
In his 14th-year as head coach, Bower led his team to a 25-5 record and the Class 6A title, the program’s first state championship. The title-run followed a 30-1 record in 2024, with the only loss coming in the school’s first-ever state championship game appearance.
Aisha Patrick, New Smyrna Beach, Class 5A Coach of the Year
In her second year at New Smyrna Beach, Patrick led her squad to a 27-5 record and the Class 5A state championship, the first state title in school history. Patrick has compiled a two-year record of 41-12.
EJ Murray, Palm Bay, Class 4A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-7 record and the Class 4A state title, the first in program history. In two years at Palm Bay, he has compiled a 47-15 record. Murray also won state titles at Florida Prep in 2019 and 2020.
Marlon Williams, Cardinal Mooney, Class 3A Coach of the Year
In his third year as head coach, Williams’ led his team to a 24-9 record and the Class 3A state title. After four consecutive state runner-up finishes, the program won its first state title. In three years Williams has posted a 67-22 record.
Ochiel Swaby, Miami Country Day, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 20-11 record and a third straight state title, after winning the Class 3A championship in 2023 and 2024. In 21 years at MCD, Swaby has compiled a 466-141 record with 10 state championships.
Jeff Price, Grandview Prep, Class 1A Coach of the Year
In his first year as a high school head coach after a 42-year collegiate coaching career, Price led his squad to a 26-4 record and the Class 1A state title, the first state championship in school history.
Vincent Brown, Wildwood, Rural Class Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-0 record and the first-ever Rural Class state title. After Class 1A state runner-up finishes in 2022-23, Wildwood won its first state title since 2018 and was the state’s only undefeated team.