Class of 2021: Dillon and Marlboro County Players to Watch

The Pee Dee is filled with Ws, Cs, Fs and PGs. &nbsp; We may still be a few months out from the (scheduled) start of the 2020-21 girls hoops season across South Carolina, but as basketball onlookers know, it is never too early to preview some of the notable talent across the Palmetto State and prognosticate which ones will have banner seasons in the upcoming campaign. &nbsp; Here are four from the upper Pee Dee region of Dillon and Marlboro Counties to be on the lookout for. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171747" first="Moya" last="McDuffie"] – PG – Latta High School</strong> – [player_tooltip player_id="171747" first="Moya" last="McDuffie"] makes magic happen at Latta. On a good deal of occasions, that magic is occurring from behind the arc. McDuffie has displayed proficiency as a 3-point shooter, going over 50% for the 2019-20 season. Her extensive skillset also includes rebounding and work on the defensive end. McDuffie averaged 17.5 points per game for the season and has also reached the 1,000-point plateau. Sandra Gomillion’s Vikings advanced to the Class AA state semifinals last season and with McDuffie entering her senior season, she will surely have sight set on ending her career at Latta in style with a state title. &nbsp; <strong>Adaya Gordon – F – Latta High School</strong> – Just as important it is to have talent that can score, it is every bit as important to have talent that can do the little things that do not always flash out on the state sheet. In Gordon’s case, as a forward, her talent particularly shines through as a rebounder on both the offensive and defensive glass (having hauled in over five per contest) and as a shot blocker. Gordon brought in 19 boards in a 56-25 win over Hannah-Pamplico in January and 11 rebounds plus three blocks in a 48-47 postseason win over Whale Branch – a team from Beaufort with another noteworthy junior in [player_tooltip player_id="185718" first="Zhani" last="Thompson"]. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172490" first="Jasmine" last="Norman"] – SG – Marlboro County High School</strong> – What was the significance of the number 80 as it related to the Bulldogs’ junior standout? It was the number of points combined she compiled against two opponents in back-to-back games last season. Norman scored 36 against Scotland (North Carolina) in an 89-40 win and 44 in a 113-16 thrashing of Cheraw that probably needed softball’s mercy rule. Some will say it may not mean as much because Scotland and Cheraw were a combined 7-39 last season, but 80 points in two games is 80 points in two games. Overall, Norman averaged almost 18 per game in what was Marlboro County’s most successful season since 2011-12. &nbsp; <strong>Lanique James – SF – Marlboro County High School</strong> – And another reason why the Bulldogs had its most successful campaign in nearly a decade was because of its Class of 2021 small forward. As one can guess, she is not as much-talked about as Norman, but she brings her own skillset to the court. Her season-high for points scored occurred during a midseason tournament in late December when she dropped 18 points in a 66-21 victory against Conway in the A&amp;J Tournament. Also on a team looking to avenge a first-round postseason exit last season. &nbsp; &nbsp;