8 freshman-turning-sophomores in Columbia area to keep an eye on
Athletes across South Carolina and the country are yearning to return to the basketball courts. Because of the meteoric rise of the women’s basketball program at SC’s flagship university, there is a greater microscope on the robust girls’ hoops scene…
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Continue ReadingAthletes across South Carolina and the country are yearning to return to the basketball courts. Because of the meteoric rise of the women’s basketball program at SC’s flagship university, there is a greater microscope on the robust girls’ hoops scene throughout the Palmetto State.
Just to introduce myself by the way, this is my first article on PrepGirlsHoops.com and I am definitely excited to be joining the team! When we do make our way back to our hallowed high school hardwoods, I am certainly looking forward to making my way to a number of high school basketball games throughout South Carolina (and beyond?) to further highlight its active girls’ basketball landscape.
While Columbia receives national attention because of what Dawn Staley has built with the Gamecocks, the Midlands area also deserves notoriety for fielding a great deal of talent at the high school. Here are some standout freshman-turning-sophomore players throughout metro Columbia to be on the lookout for in the coming years:
Tanaja Kennedy Tanaja Kennedy 5'2" | PG Keenan | 2023 State SC – 2023 – 5’2” – CG – Cardinal Newman High School – over the next two years, Cardinals opponents will have Ashlyn Watkins Ashlyn Watkins 6'4" | PF Cardinal Newman | 2022 State #11 Nation SC to deal with. They will also have to contend with Kennedy as Molly Rainwater’s Cardinals are now two-time defending champions. In this year’s SCISA championship game, her 20 points made a big difference in its victory over Northwood Academy and as she is a freshman, her profile is expected to take a big leap before she graduates.
Lindsay Garner Lindsay Garner 6'2" | C Lexington | 2023 State SC – 2023 – 6’2” – C – Lexington High School – Out in Lexington County, the Wildcats’ Garner is scratching and clawing her way up SC’s list of must-see players. Garner received a bevy of playing time as a freshman on Molly Goodrich’s squad and she made the most of it. This included posting a 22-point effort in a 72-68 overtime victory for Lexington over arch rival River Bluff in late January.
Maliyiah Mason Maliyiah Mason 6'0" | SF Gray Collegiate | 2023 State SC – 2023 – 6’0” – PF – Irmo High School – A short drive up I-26 from the downtown area is Irmo (and Irmo High School). The Yellowjackets featured a 2019-20 roster that was packed with upperclassmen with Mason as one of its standout underclassmen. She is another of the Columbia area’s freshmen already making waves. When you make the Palmetto 76ers A’ja Wilson Elite roster (as she has) and pick up an offer from South Carolina prior to your freshman season, you are doing something right.
Tyra Floyd – 2023 – 5’6” – G – Lower Richland High School – The Diamond Hornets freshman-turning-sophomore is a diamond in the rough for Lower Richland. Floyd was an integral part of the team’s 2019-20 season that saw Lower Richland finish 16-9 and advance to the second round of the state playoffs. Scoringwise, her high-water mark came in late January in a game vs. Lakewood where she tallied 29 points.
Milaysia Fulwiley Milaysia Fulwiley 5'8" | PG Keenan | 2023 State #9 Nation SC – 2023 – 5’7” – CG – Keenan High School – It goes without saying that when high school girls basketball is a watercooler topic in South Carolina, Fulwiley’s name likely gets mentioned more than once. The Raiders’ (and SC 76ers) star is the lone Palmetto State hooper on ESPN HoopGurlz class of 2023 rankings (currently 14th) and is a presence on both offense and defense for Keenan. Just ask Indian Land, who Fulwiley dropped 54 points on in January.
Jessica Means – 2023 – 5’4” – G – Saluda High School – Providing depth for the Tigers off the bench, Means could be setting herself up for a starting role. Means averaged 7.9 points per game and has been lauded for her energy and ball handling skills. Expect big things from the Saluda guard in the future.
Jessica Woods Jessica Woods 5'7" | CG Westwood | 2023 State SC – 2023 – 5’6″ – CG – Westwood High School – As her Redhawks career kicks off, Woods is up to a lot of good in Blythewood. She’s received credit for having a high basketball IQ and her ability to control the pace of a game. Woods also made the 16U SC Future team and was a major piece to the Redhawks’ success that saw the team advance within one game of the SCHSL Class AAAA state championship game. As Woods’ profile continues to be on the rise, the sky’s the limit for this flock of Redhawks.
Trinity Delaney Trinity Delaney 6'1" | PF A.C. Flora | 2023 State SC – 2023 – 6’1″ – F – A.C. Flora High School – The ability to score and rebound are two attributes any coach looks for in a front court player. Delaney brings that not only to the Falcons but also with the SC Future 16U travel team. Her play on both ends of the floor even won her Newcomer of the Year honors at A.C. Flora. The Falcons’ freshman wing averaged nearly 10 points per game in 2019-20 and a big reason for that is her ability to knock down shots from anyplace on the court.