JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Clare Coyle squeezed as many sports as she could fit on her calendar.
Soccer. Volleyball. Softball. Track. Swimming. …
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But none fit Coyle as well as basketball did.
The All-News4JAX girls basketball player of the year was an impact player as soon as she set foot on the court for the Crusaders, a defensive-minded presence in the paint. By the time Coyle played her final game for Kenny, she was the total package, a double-double-type of player and the glue that bound the Crusaders together.
The thing that changed — Kenny needed Coyle to do more, and her coaches had the belief in her to do it.
“So, I think, you know, as a freshman, you kind of just come in with the mindset of like any playing time’s good,” Coyle said. “It doesn’t matter what I’m doing out there, as long as I’m helping the team.
“And I think as I as I grew over the four years and as my role expanded on the core, I think I just learned that, you know, I had to make a bigger impact on the game offensively if I wanted to help my team get to the final fours and compete for a state championship again. I think with the encouragement of my coaches, I was able to do that.”
Coyle was like many athletes who come up the path from Assumption Catholic School to Kenny. Her schedule was filled with sports across every season, keeping her on the go most of the year. But Coyle started working with Crusaders girls basketball coach Charlsea Clark before she enrolled at Kenny and got a vote of confidence early that she was more talented than she thought in the sport. Coyle was still a multisport athlete at Kenny, helping the Crusaders with state championships in the 1600 relay in 2022 and ‘23. She also added swimming to her resume as a senior.
But it was basketball that Coyle was the best at.
“I think because I grew up in like the Catholic school system and kind of the athletic kids do all the sports,” she said. “… but I think after training with Coach Clark a lot, pre-high school, and then my freshman year, I kind of locked in on basketball and decided this was going to be my sport.”
Coyle’s first varsity season coincided with the final one of two-time All-News4JAX player of the year Jasmyne Roberts. The Crusaders went 20-10 and reached the Class 4A state semifinals. Clark stepped down after that season and Will Mayer took over. Mayer and Clark had similar philosophies, both rooted in tough coaching and fundamentals.
With Roberts, one of the best players in area history, Coyle didn’t need to be a scorer. With the top scoring reins handed down to Maddie Millar and more attention on her, the Crusaders needed far more from Coyle than in the past. She averaged 4.3 points and 7.4 rebounds a game as a freshman. By her final season, Coyle averaged 14.2 points and 8.7 rebounds, a force on both ends of the floor. Coyle said that having a coach like Clark and then a coach like Mayer along with the chemistry of the team made it an unforgettable four years. The Crusaders went to the state semifinals all four seasons and played for two state titles.
“I think it really kept my love for the game going, you know, you see a lot of players burn out,” Coyle said. “But just having that really strong foundation of being a family first and just loving your coach and who you’re playing with, it kind of just makes the game a lot more fun to be a part of.”
All-News4JAX girls basketball
First team
Position, Player, School, Class
F Nia Blocton, Ridgeview, Sr.
Second team All-News4JAX selection last year and honorable mention as a sophomore. An absolute two-way menace all four seasons. Averaged 12.6 points, 10.8 rebounds in her final season. Scored 1,299 points in her career. Has signed with Florida Southern.
F Clare Coyle, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
All-News4JAX player of the year was a four-year starter. Averaged 14.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg in her final season. Scored 1,163 career points and had 1,003 career rebounds. Furman signee.
G Morgan Gavazzi, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Second-team All-News4JAX the last two seasons. Best season of her three-year career. Averaged 15 ppg, 2.5 steals per game to help the Sharks go 22-9 and reach the Class 6A state semifinals.
G Mary Kate Kent, St. Johns CD, Sr.
A multiyear star for the Spartans, she averaged a career-best and area-high 23 points, 6.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds a game this year. Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection
G Abby Knauff, Bolles, Jr.
Second-team All-News4JAX selection last year. Averaged 15.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg for 19-9 Bulldogs. Has 1,375 career points, and career averages of 17 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.
G Riley Talbert, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
Three-year star for the powerful Crusaders, she averaged a career-best 10.7 points and 3.1 assists, helping push Kenny back to the state championship game for the second consecutive season. Surpassed 1,000 career points. Signed with UAB.
Second team
Position, Player, School, Class
G Nacoya Blocton, Ridgeview, Jr.
Averaged career-best 16.6 points per game for 14-7 Panthers. Added 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 2.9 assists per game.
G Kelly Cramer, St. Joseph, Sr.
A foundational four-year player for the Flashes, she averaged a career-best 21.3 ppg in her final season. Scored 1,755 career points and averaged 18.9 ppg in her career.
G Lesly Gonzalez, NFEI, Sr.
Breakout season for the Eagles star who led the team with 15.1 ppg and lost in the regional finals on a last second heartbreaker.
G/F Ansley Hicks, Paxon, Sr.
Career-best season for the Golden Eagles, averaging 15.8 points, 3.3 rebounds per game for Gateway Conference champions.
G Janai Jordan, Providence, Jr.
Averaged 13.6 points and shot 44% from the 3-point arc as Stallions went 26-3 and reached the Class 3A state semifinals for the second time in her career. Should eclipse 1,000 career point total early next season.
G Alanna Tatum, University Christian, So.
Averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds for Christians and nailed a 3-pointer in the final seconds to help UC win regional final and reach the state final four. Positioned to surpass 1,000-point barrier next season.
Third team
Position, Player, School, Class
G Piera Alexander, Orange Park, Sr.
Numbers across the board took a big jump in her final season. Averaged 14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds per game, nearly doubling totals from last year.
G Audrey Beyer, Tocoi Creek, So.
Rising star led Toros in scoring (16 ppg) and rebounds (5 rpg) in 20-7 season.
G/F Terielle Clark, San Jose Prep, Sr.
Averaged 11 points, 6.9 rebounds per game for the regional finalist Storm.
G Destiny Donaldson, Ribault, Jr.
Led Trojans in scoring (10 ppg) and rebounding (5.3 rpg) during 16-6 season. Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection last year.
G Kendall Kane, Beachside, Jr.
One of the top scorers in St. Johns County, Kane averaged 14.5 points and 4 rebounds per game. Excellent shooter from distance. Shot 42% from 3-point arc as Barracudas went 20-6.
G Ny’keria Thomas, Mandarin, Sr.
Three-year star for the Mustangs who averaged 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals per game in her final season. Second-team All-News4JAX selection last year.
Honorable mention
Position, Player, School, Class
G/F Sara Araujio Dagba, NFEI, So.
G Julianna Baskin, Providence, So.
C Zaniah Blake, Baker County, Sr.
G Janie Boyd, Providence, Jr.
F/C Kayla Debrow, Florida Deaf, Jr.
G Saylse Dillihay, Atlantic Coast, Sr.
G Gabrielle Fajardo, Stanton, Sr.
F/C Aniyah Fisher, St. Augustine, Sr.
G Evie Freeman, Bolles, So.
G Jolena Gardner, Columbia, Jr.
F Ar’Nayshia Griffin, Bradford, So.
F Zara Griffith, Episcopal, So.
F Kali Harris, Menendez, Sr.
G Yamise Haygood, Baker County, So.
G Kimora Hester, Jackson, Jr.
G/F Rheyna Hilton, Yulee, So.
G/F Ka’Lynn Hobbs, Atlantic Coast, Sr.
G/F Lamiyah Hogans, San Jose Prep, Jr.
G Kiyana Hunter, Mandarin, Sr.
G London Jenkins, Fleming Island, Sr.
G/F Kylie Johnson, Atlantic Coast, Jr.
G Asya Jones, Bishop Snyder, Sr.
G Kayla Massey, Ribault, Sr.
F Leandra McCloud, White, Jr.
C Terrell McCoy, Bolles, So.
G Teaghan Moses, Clay, So.
C Tacarri Neal, University Christian, Jr.
G Presley Norman, Bolles, Fr.
C Jayda Parker, Eagle’s View, So.
F Kendall Proffitt, St. Johns Country Day, 8th
C Madi Ray, Beachside, So.
F Maya Richards, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
G Audrey Rollins, Nease, Fr.
F Sydney Roundtree, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
G Kennedy Rosendahl, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
G Shadia Santacruz, NFEI, Sr.
G Ella Stakem, Bolles, Sr.
G Natalia Strachan, Baker County, So.
G/F Kennedy Waymer, Paxon, Sr.
G Falisa White, White, Fr.
C Savina Wells, Fernandina Beach, Jr.