Gainesville, FL

Lonna Turner's basketball journey is a Gainesville story through and through. Turner played for Santa Fe College Women's Basketball from 2011 to 2013 under head coach and current Athletic Director Chanda Stebbins, graduating from Santa Fe in 2013. During her time with the Saints, she built a reputation as a tough, reliable interior player who made her presence felt on the glass and on the defensive end.

Turner earned Second Team All-State honors and received the program's Coaches Award, highlighting both her performance and the respect she earned within the program. She continues to rank in multiple categories in Santa Fe women's basketball history; including offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, and blocks, which reflects her consistency, physicality, and impact in the paint.

Her success at Santa Fe helped propel her to the next level, where she continued her collegiate career at Georgia Regents University (now named Augusta University). There, Turner appeared in 60 games with 48 starts, contributing as a versatile and dependable frontcourt player while totaling 224 points, 256 rebounds, 20 blocks, 47 steals, and 46 assists throughout her career.

Today, Turner is back in Gainesville and leads the Eastside High School girls basketball program, the same program she once played for. As head coach, she has built a culture centered on defense, accountability, and confidence while creating an environment where players feel supported and pushed to grow as people, not just as players.

Turner's impact has been historic. In just 3 seasons under her leadership, the Eastside Rams have won three straight district championships, which is a first in Eastside girls basketball history. Most recently, Turner guided the Rams to another district title (2025-26) and a trip to the state tournament.

From standout Saint to hometown head coach, Turner continues to represent Gainesville basketball at a high level. Her success on the court at Santa Fe and now on the sideline at Eastside reflects a legacy built on toughness, leadership, and commitment to the next generation.