Lexington Elite Showcase: On the Glass

One of the latest events on the 2021 travel schedule occurred in the suburbs of Columbia as many teams and players from around the state converged on the Midlands for the Lexington Elite Showcase. Hosted by Carolina Pistons, kids from a wide variety of age groups were represented as third graders all the way up to the varsity level were all in attendance for what was an exciting day of basketball. We at Prep Girls Hoops were in attendance as well to take in the festivities and observe many of the Palmetto State’s rising talents. Here is a look at who did a lot of work crashing the boards. <strong>Makayla Watkins – 2023 – Team USC</strong> – Watkins for the win was how things went for Team USC in its Saturday morning contest with Georgia-based Lady T.R.U. in Lexington. The final score was 38-37 and it was the free throws made by Watkins that put Team USC ahead late and eventually earned them the win in what was, arguably, the most entertaining game that Saturday. In close victories such as that, it is not only about what teams and players do to earn themselves victories at the end, but what they do throughout the course of the game that can put them in position to end up in the win column. Watkins did that with her perimeter defense and rebounding – including on the offensive glass that can lead to two-point putbacks. Watkins also emphasized getting high-percentage buckets near the rim. She is coming off a 2020-21 season where she gave a huge rebounding boost to the Timberland Wolves. <strong>Charlize Misick-Rivas – 2025 – Lexington Hoopsters</strong> – Misick-Rivas established herself early in Lexington Hoopsters’ 6 p.m. Saturday game with Lady T.R.U. and it paid dividends. She is one who has the build of a center or forward but plenty of the skills of a guard. She is one who will display accuracy with her shot selection and confidence with her ability to knock down jumpers. Misick-Rivas will also reject opponents’ attempts. She is a proficient rebounder and can be aggressive in attacking the rim, which can lead to her attracting contact which will give her free throw attempts. <strong>Shamiya Jefferson – 2027 – Palmetto Pressure</strong> – Palmetto Pressure’s sixth grade team dominated its two opponents it faced in Lexington on Saturday by a combined score of 65-13. Jefferson is a major part of the overall sum that made up Palmetto Pressure’s performance on Saturday. She played defense near the basket and that forced opponents, such as Team USC’s seventh graders, into turnovers. The defense she played also translated into offense and that offense was in the form of high-percentage field goals near the rim. Jefferson made some clutch plays not too far away from the basket. <strong>Irelyn McCutchan – 2026 – LMR</strong> – One of the five starters for LMR in its early Saturday morning game with Lexington Hoopsters, McCutchan aided LMR’s efforts with hauling in plenty of rebounds. One of those rebounds came off a missed free throw by her teammate, Emery Jones, and she also put on display her free throw shooting abilities. McCutchan will also put herself in position to score off inbounds passes with an offense near the opposing team’s basket. LMR won both of its games on Sunday, defeating Lexington Hoopsters’ sixth graders by a final of 22-19 and earning another win over Team USC’s seventh graders with the final result being a one-point, 15-14 decision. <strong>Audrey Shuler – 2027 – Carolina Future Dream</strong> – A gifted sixth grader who, if one were to ask a coach, would likely pass the basketball “eye test,” Shuler is a formidable player and will be one for quite sometime. Not only will Shuler fill up the rebounds portion of a stat sheet, she will battle for boards and does not give up on any opportunity to put in work on the glass. Shuler exudes confidence and will also want the ball on the perimeter as well as in the low post. In addition, she will find herself at the free throw line after being fouled. <strong>Meghan Tucker – 2026 – LMR</strong> – Tucker was one of the five starters in the LMR seventh graders’ game against Palmetto Pressure on Saturday in Lexington. She managed to compile a rebound or two and compile a good bit of contact, which put her at the line for free throw tries. She was an anchor for LMR’s defensive efforts as well. Her work on the defensive side of the ball put LMR in scenarios to make plays in transition and she rejected some of Palmetto Pressure’s shot attempts. <strong>Nari Williams – 2026 – Palmetto Stampede</strong> – Nary a day ought to go by without coaches wishing that Nari was on their team. Working the glass is a central point of emphasis for Williams’ game as she will not only grab boards but battle for rebounds as well – either offensively or defensively. Her defensive work was something to take note of in addition to her abilities to attract contact with the ball in her hands and get to the free throw line. Between her rebounding and her converting on shot opportunities close to the rack, Williams knows how to do work in the low post.