Mike Ridaught
Hawthorne junior guard De’Mya Adams and Hornets’ head coach Cornelius Ingram have been recognized as the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, following balloting by a statewide panel of high school girls basketball coaches and prep media members.
Every finalist in each of the seven Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) classifications 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 overall winners for Miss Basketball and Coach of the Year will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
This past year, Adams helped lead Hawthorne to its second straight Class 1A state title by averaging 16.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 4.6 steals per game.
The junior scored 18 points in the semifinals as the Hornets overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to knock off No. 1 Wildwood, 44-41, and advance to the state championship game.
She scored 17 points in the title game as Hawthorne rallied from an 11-point first-half deficit to defeat Graceville, 43-40, and win its second straight Class 1A state title.
“Just dynamic,” Ingram said of Adams. “She can score from anywhere on the floor. She’s very versatile. We can play her at the point guard position where she can get others involved or she can come out and look for a shot and just create her own shot, and that makes her pretty special. A lot of times you might just have shooters who might not be able to put the ball on the floor, but she’s the total package.”
Adams finished second in the voting last year behind Wildwood’s Trinidy Harris, who finished third this year behind Adams and Madison County’s Janiyah McKnight.
Ingram, who was the 1A Coach of the Year last year, led the Hornets to a 22-3 record and the Class 1A state title.
It was the third girls’ basketball state title for Ingram in the past five years and his fifth final four in the past six years.
In seven years, he has compiled a 137-35 record.
Ingram finished with 137 voting numbers ahead of Jon Habali of state runner-up Graceville (78) and Vincent Brown of Wildwood (66).
“It’s always an honor to be the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year because there are so many other great coaches who had great seasons,” Ingram said. “I’m just fortunate enough to be able to win it. That comes along with having a great staff, great players to make all of this possible so I’m very appreciative and honored at the same time, and excited.”
Hawthorne became the first girls’ basketball team from Alachua County to repeat and also joined a special group. They became the first area to win back-to-back since Keystone Heights won the 2A state title in 1994 and the 3A state championship in 1995 under head coach Kathleen Boatwright.
Final voting numbers for Class 1A (top three):
Class 1A Player of the Year
De’Mya Adams, Hawthorne, 97
Janiyah McKnight, Madison County, 85
Trinidy Harris, Wildwood, 68
Class 1A Coach of the Year
Cornelius Ingram, Hawthorne, 137
Jon Habali, Graceville, 78
Vincent Brown, Wildwood, 66
Here are the seven finalists for the 2024 Miss Basketball Award:
Trinity Turner, Dr. Phillips, Senior, Guard, Class 7A Player of the Year
The three-time Class 7A Player of the Year led her team to its third straight state title, averaging 18.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Signed with the University of Georgia.
Khadee Hession, St. Thomas Aquinas, Senior, Forward, Class 6A Player of the Year
Led her team to its fourth straight Class 6A championship by averaging 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.5 steals per game. Signed with Georgetown University.
Anovia Sheals, Mainland, Senior, Forward, Class 5A Player of the Year
The 2023 Class 5A Player of the Year led her team to a Class 5A state runner-up finish averaging 18.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Signed with Austin Peay State University.
Tatiana Matthews, Dunnellon, Senior, Guard, Class 4A Player of the Year
Led her team to a 23-4 record by averaging 25.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 6.8 steals per game. Signed with Colgate University.
Kayla Nelms, Miami Country Day, Senior, Forward, Class 3A Player of the Year
Led her team to its second straight Class 3A state title by averaging 14.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. Signed with Baylor University.
Adena Webster, Schoolhouse Prep, Senior, Guard/Forward, Class 2A Player of the Year
Averaged 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Signed with Temple University.
De’Mya Adams, Hawthorne, Junior, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led her team to the state title by averaging 16.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 4.6 steals per game.
Here are the seven finalists for the 2024 Girls’ Basketball Coach-of-the-Year Award:
Anthony Jones, Dr. Phillips, Class 7A Coach of the Year
The 2023 state Coach of the Year led his team to a 27-4 record and its third straight Class 7A state title.
In 16 years at Dr. Phillips, Jones has a 327-137 record with six state championships (2011-13 and 2022-24).
Oliver Berens, St. Thomas Aquinas, Class 6A Coach of the Year
In his seventh year as head coach at Aquinas, Berens led his team to a 23-9 record and its fourth straight
Class 6A state title. He has a record of 149-49 at Aquinas with a state runner-up finish in 2019.
Greg Farias, American Heritage, Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-6 record and the Class 5A state championship. In nine years at American Heritage has posted a 217-49 record with six state titles, including five straight from 2018-22.
Al Honor, Lake Highland Prep, Class 4A Coach of the Year
The 2022 state Coach of the Year led his squad to a 25-5 record and a fifth straight Class 4A state title.
In 13 years at LHP, he has a 318-42 record with seven state titles and nine Final Four appearances.
Ochiel Swaby, Miami Country Day, Class 3A Coach of the Year
The two-time state Coach of the Year led his squad to a 22-8 record and a second straight Class 3A
state title. In 20 years at MCD, Swaby has compiled a 446-130 record with nine state championships.
Dwayne Donnell, Evangelical Christian, Class 2A Coach of the Year
In his third year at the school, Donnell led his team to a 26-3 record and the Class 2A state title, the school’s first state championship. During his 21 years at Dunbar, Donnell won a state title in 2012.
Cornelius Ingram, Hawthorne, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 22-3 record and its third state title in the past five years. In seven years he has compiled a 137-35 record.