Region 3-AA Preview

With football and volleyball seasons beginning to wind down, it will not be long before the basketball courts of the Palmetto State draw more of the attention of the South Carolina high school sports fan. Over the course of the next several weeks, Prep Girls Hoops will release comprehensive region-by-region previews, putting a spotlight on which teams will finish where in the standings as well as a look at important players in each region to be on the lookout for. Last week, we unveiled our single-A previews. As we have moved on to the double-AA landscape, here is our look at who to watch for in Region 3-AA. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-277975" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/7E776106-9B21-4C23-B02B-75757F30B99F.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="124108" first="Maliyiah" last="Mason"] – 2023 – Gray Collegiate</strong> – She made, arguably, the biggest offseason news when it was known that she would be transferring from Irmo to Gray Collegiate. The No. 4 overall talent in our 2023 rankings, she will be a worthwhile addition to the Eagles. Mason is a ferocious rebounder with a great deal of toughness in her game. She has the ability to knock down shots from anywhere on the floor – behind the arc, in the midrange game or near the rim. <strong>Prep Girls Hoops Region Player of the Year. </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="185233" first="Nadia" last="Marshall"] – 2022 – Newberry HS</strong> – With Marshall returning for her senior campaign, there certainly could be an expectation for the Bulldogs to make an even deeper postseason run than in recent seasons past. Marshall is one of the primary scorers for the Bulldogs and a key piece for coach Melissa Mendenhall’s backcourt. The speed she brings to the basketball court translates well to and from her other athletic discipline as she has participated in track and field events over the years while at Newberry. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245730" first="Mya" last="Carroll"] – 2022 – Saluda HS</strong> – With [player_tooltip player_id="171749" first="Kalisha" last="Hill"] graduating and ending her high school career with her 34-point effort that lifted the Tigers to a 2A state championship, coach Jeanette Wilder’s team has big shoes to fill. Carroll could be among those that fill those sneakers. Defense is an element to her overall game where she really comes up big. Carroll will play plenty of lockdown defense and a good portion of that will lead to opponents committing turnovers. Those play to Carroll’s advantage as she will also make things happen when in the transition game. She has also participated in track and volleyball while at Saluda. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-303824" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/07/679171C9-5249-4596-9A81-4DB3C4270257-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1625135259-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="247776" first="Adrian" last="Frye"] – 2023 – Gray Collegiate</strong> –Frye knows how to get the ball through the hoop regardless of where she is on the court. She attacks the rim with a fearless mentality and can do so either through a number of defenders or in transition. Frye will fill the rebounds and assists portion of the stat sheet and plays the game with a very high basketball IQ. Adrian will get some much needed help this season for Mason and Mintz to the mix. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="270385" first="Saniya" last="Boland"] – 2023 – Gray Collegiate</strong> – Boland in the backcourt bodes well for the basketball talent-rich Eagles. And a reason as to why it bodes well is because of the scoring depth that she provides for coach Ashley Bruner – in her first season as Eagles head coach. Boland has the skill to contribute double-digit scoring outputs on a game-by-game basis. She plays impressive defense and will collect steals. Boland also can come up big in the transition game with her skill for finishing around the rim. She was considered a leader of her team at Pine Ridge Middle School and that has translated to what she has done at Gray Collegiate. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="235395" first="Jessica" last="Means"] – 2023 – Saluda HS</strong> – [player_tooltip player_id="235395" first="Jessica" last="Means"] business. And she has become more than used to the hardwood court at Saluda given not only her basketball career but also her volleyball play as well. Means is another integral element to the Tigers’ backcourt. Not only will she put up her fair share of points, she ensures she is in correct position to collect rebounds. A good portion of Means’ scoring output will come via the 3-point shot. In the past, Means has provided depth off the bench and has been praised for her energy as well as her knack for handling the ball. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-303235" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/FE984778-2305-4C89-93C0-96CE135DF33E-scaled-crop-1880x1235-1625049183-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="185424" first="Jordan" last="Mintz"] – 2024 - Gray Collegiate</strong> – The Eagles had an extremely productive offseason on the transfer front between Mason arriving from Irmo and Mintz heading from Westwood to West Columbia. Last season, she played a good amount of minutes and that is sure to translate into her tenure at Gray Collegiate. Mintz displays impressive footwork and that enables her to be a defensive stalwart. She showcases her ball handling abilities extremely well and will give a great deal of hustle for 50-50 balls. Mintz will get to the free throw line, has a midrange jump shot and is a vocal leader as is many “floor general” point guards. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-246209" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/593A8241-CADE-468E-9255-6D08E48ECF9C.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="246204" first="Kaylen" last="Nick"] – 2024 – Saluda HS</strong> – Nick has done the trick for coach Jeannette Wilder’s Tigers and that is sure to continue into this upcoming season. She may have been a freshman in Saluda’s 2A state championship-winning season last year, but she plays with the talent and poise of an upperclassman. Nick knows how to grab rebounds and plays the game with a very high basketball IQ. She creates many a problem for opponents with her defensive versatility as she will take advantage of another team’s turnovers while also rejecting shots in the low post. Nick runs the floor well and that enables her to make plays in transition. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-331548" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/09/C3AD0828-71AA-4452-B23C-5B6E4FBA9FAE.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="242933" first="Kadence" last="Walker-Lee"] – 2025 – Gray Collegiate</strong> – Walker-Lee plays very aggressive and mature for her young age. Kadence saw quality minutes last season at the varsity level last season while playing at Irmo HS. Kadence can impress you with how she plays around the basket and is not rattled by the idea of playing on contact. Walker-Lee will find any way she can to be involved with a play. She plays the game with lots of energy. <em><strong>Prep Girls Hoops predictions:</strong></em> 1.Gray Collegiate Academy – The Lady War Eagles made some key additions and have a new Head Coach in Ashley Bruner. 2.Saluda HS – The Lady Tigers won the SCHSL Class 2A State Championship last season at USC-Aiken defeating Silver Bluff HS. 3.Newberry HS – Could a more emphatic postseason run be in the works for the Lady Bulldogs? 4.Eau Claire HS – The Shamrocks’ will do its best to battle for a playoff spot this season. 5.Columbia HS – The Capitals’ 2020-21 ended on a low note by virtue of a four-game losing skid. 6.Batesburg-Leesville HS – The lone victory the Panthers claimed last season was vs. Columbia.