Thoroughbred Classic: Near the Rim

April will soon transition to May, but before that happens, girls and boys basketball players from both states that comprise part of the CSRA (South Carolina and Georgia) met up at the Convocation Center at USC-Aiken for the Thoroughbred Classic. Hoops aficionados across the Palmetto State became very familiar with Aiken last month when it was the host site for this year’s SCHSL state championship games for both girls and boys high school basketball. We at Prep Girls Hoops were delighted to attend the latest travel event which occurred this past weekend. Here are some who did a lot of work near the basket. <strong>Krystal Baker – 2024 – South Florence HS – One Force</strong> – Make all of the Krystal Klear references one wants, but one thing is crystal clear – she is a force (all puns intended) in the paint. Baker is a task to guard against on both sides of the floor because of the presence she presents. She will get in the right places in the low post so teammates can find her and she can do what she does at close range. Baker scored only four points in the 58-32 win over Southern Queens but had 12 points (eight in the first half) when her team earned a 62-34 win over Carolina Blazers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="266063" first="Skylan" last="Swindoll"] – 2023 – Easley HS – SC76ers</strong> <strong>Select 16U</strong>– The Sky appears to be the limit for Swindoll. She wears No. 1 for SC76ers’ high school team and she played like a number one in both of her team’s games on Saturday. Swindoll draws plenty of attention in the low post and that can lead to foul possibilities from who is guarding her. Fouling Swindoll is virtually putting points on SC76ers’ board as she will make her free throws. Swindoll excels as a rebounder and can run up and down the floor. She had 13 points in her team’s 48-27 win over Lady Go Getters and 11 (seven of 10 at the line) in the 49-37 win over Southern Queens. <strong>De’Naya Henderson – 2022 – Dutch Fork HS – Carolina Blazers</strong> – De’Naya will not be denied. She will get her fair share of rebounds and when she does work on the offensive glass, those boards could result in put-backs. Henderson possesses plenty of court vision which enables her to get out in transition and run down the floor to anticipate cross-court passes near the cup. Henderson will also drive to the rim, but will pass up open looks from anywhere on the court to free up her teammates. She led her team with 10 points in Carolina Blazers’ game vs. One Force. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="173112" first="Zybreayziah" last="Alexander"] – 2022 – West Florence HS – One Force</strong> – ZA has an A to Z skillset she brings to the basketball court. Alexander is a defensive stalwart as she will intercept passes and give her team the ball. Her knack for making plays near the rim make her a tough out for defenders. If she hauls in a rebound on the offensive glass, guard against it well or it will be a put-back for two more One Force or West Florence points. Alexander finished with 11 points in One Force’s 58-32 win over Southern Queens on Saturday and later that day tallied nine in her team’s 62-34 win over Carolina Blazers.