Region 2-AA Preview

It will not be long before the basketball courts of South Carolina are filled with the sounds of squeaking sneakers, balls going through the basket and screaming fans cheering on their teams. Over the following few weeks, Prep Girls Hoops will be releasing comprehensive region-by-region previews that highlight which teams will finish where in the standings as well as key players for every team in the state. Last week, we unveiled our previews for the single-A regions. Now, we are moving on to the double-A slate. Here is a look at Region 2-AA. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="185231" first="Tyty" last="Tate"] – Blacksburg HS</strong> – Tate was ranked in the top 60 of our updated Prep Girls Hoops rankings for this year’s senior class. She is a stout anchor of the Blacksburg backcourt (try saying those last two words five times fast). Tate gives the Wildcats a great deal of scoring and hustle. She is skilled at getting through a slew of defenders and driving to the rim. Tate also is one of the mainstays of the defense for coach Bobby Rodgers’ Wildcats as she will help in stopping opposing ball carriers in their tracks. That creates opportunities for her to steal the ball and create potential transition chances.<em><strong> Prep Girls Hoops Preseason Player of the Year.</strong></em> <strong>Brie Smith – Chesnee HS</strong> – It was not that long ago when the Eagles girls basketball program was mired in losing seasons. Because of the emergence of players such as Smith and a coach in Carrey Burns entering her sixth season, Chesnee is now a team opponents have to circle on their calendars. Smith is a stalwart for the Eagles as she displays her versatility with her ability to play as a forward or a guard. As much as she helps her team with her scoring, she also does plenty of which as a rebounder as well. Smith also plays volleyball in addition to basketball with the Eagles. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="251758" first="Savannah" last="Brown"] – 2024 – Landrum HS</strong> – Just as Clark had a breakthrough freshman season at Christ Church, Brown did so as well with the Cardinals. She is coming off a 2020-21 where she averaged nearly 13 points per game and over seven rebounds per contest with Landrum. As those statistics illustrate, she is a proficient scorer and rebounder. Brown can draw her fair share of contact and find herself at the free throw line where she is likely to nail her tries from the charity stripe. In addition to basketball, Brown has also performed well as a softball player while at Landrum. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="251763" first="Danica" last="Henderson"] – 2024 – Blacksburg HS</strong> – Henderson is another that depending on what season it is trades her basketball sneakers for softball cleats. And she is another who burst onto the high school hoops scene with an impressive freshman season. An element of that is how well she can score as she can put points on the scoreboard. Henderson is also versatile as she has the skill and basketball know-how to play either as a guard or as a forward. Coach Bobby Rodgers’ Blacksburg squad was a mere one game shy of the 2A state championship game and the play of Henderson will be an important piece in the Wildcats efforts to get to said final contest. <em><strong>Prep Girls Hoops predictions:</strong></em> Blacksburg HS – The Wildcats lost only one game at home in 2020-21 – to eventual AA champion Saluda. Landrum HS – The Cardinals played arguably its best basketball last season in region play. Greer Middle College – Two seniors graduated from last year’s team – but one of those seniors was its team captain. Chesnee HS – Brie Smith will look to put an exclamation point on her high school career. St. Joseph’s – To improve its playoff fortunes, the Knights have to improve in road play. Brashier Middle College – Who will step up to fill the voids left by [player_tooltip player_id="241665" first="Caroline" last="Roller"] and Amanda Earle? &nbsp; &nbsp;