Region 7-A Preview – UNDERCLASSMEN
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While the attention of the South Carolina sports fan may be fixated on football fields, it will not be long before that changes as the 2021-22 high school girls basketball season commences in the Palmetto State. Throughout the following few…
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Continue ReadingWhile the attention of the South Carolina sports fan may be fixated on football fields, it will not be long before that changes as the 2021-22 high school girls basketball season commences in the Palmetto State.
Throughout the following few weeks, Prep Girls Hoops will be releasing comprehensive region-by-region previews with a look at key players to watch out for in each region as well as a team-by-team look at how we believe the standings will look at season’s end.
What is the outlook for Region 7-A which saw one of its own in Military Magnet win the 1A state title last season? This REGION IS LOADED WITH GREAT TALENT for years to come.
Amari Smith Amari Smith 5'6" | PG Charleston Math & Science | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Charleston Math and Science – Smith is one who is very difficult to keep up with. The 5-foot-6 guard for the Riptide recently earned a Top 100 ranking on Prep Girls Hoops’ 2023 list. It should not be much of a surprise when seeing how she plays. Smith is one of those right place at the right time sort of players. She knows how to corral steals and will make efficient passes to her teammates to put them in position to score. Smith’s defensive presence can also be felt by way of her ability to reject shots.
Esmeralda Hernandez Esmeralda Hernandez 5'6" | PG Charleston Math & Science | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Charleston Math and Science – Speaking of juniors for the Riptide who excel on the defensive end of the floor … Hernandez is also a constant threat to make plays on defense. She plays with a high basketball IQ which enables her to get in front of a would-be ball carrier and get both hands on the rock. When Hernandez has the ball in her hands, she displays impressive handles as well as top-notch passing abilities. She is one who plays lockdown defense and is anything but afraid to make things difficult for whoever has the ball in their hands. She also will provide plenty of Riptide points.
Rykia Jakes Rykia Jakes 5'5" | SG Military Magnet | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Military Magnet – The last two seasons have featured Military Magnet in the 1A state championship game – one that the Eagles won last season. Jakes’ offensive game includes a mid range jumper and she will play at either the one or the two. She has established herself as one of the anchors for the Military Magnet backcourt. As she has a mid range jump shot, she can also drain her tries from behind the arc as well. Along with a state championship under her belt, Jakes is also coming off a 2021-22 where she averaged nearly 11 points for coach Nathaniel Taylor’s team.
Kaelin Davis Kaelin Davis 5'4" | PG Military Magnet | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Military Magnet – Coach Nathaniel Taylor has to be thrilled to have Davis back as well for another two seasons. She is another one of the anchors for the Eagles’ backcourt and she proved too that she can put up impressive numbers on the scoreboard. She is a multi-dimensional player with a multi-dimensional skillset as she is a skilled scorer, rebounder, defender and distributor of the ball. Davis averaged over 13 points per game and nearly five steals per contest in addition to just over four rebounds and just under four assists in 2020-21 for Military Magnet.
Chazmin Bradley Chazmin Bradley 5'2" | PG Military Magnet | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Military Magnet – There are some schools that simply know talent. Military Magnet with coach Nathaniel Taylor is one of those certain schools. Bradley is left-handed and has a strong skill for getting to the basket. Court vision and transition game are two other integral elements to what Bradley provides on the court. Bradley also brings a defensive tenacity that is displayed in how many steals she can compile per game.
Her 18 points that she scored in the Class 1A state championship game vs. Southside Christian were important baskets in the Eagles 54-49 win over the Sabres.
Dream Watson Dream Watson 5'3" | PG Military Magnet | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Military Magnet – This Dream is likely to give opposing teams and coaches nightmares over the coming season. One of many 2025s to watch out for, and listed at 5-foot-3, Watson is expected to be quite the addition for an Eagles team defending its Class A state championship. Prep Girls Hoops saw Watson at the NTBA State Championship and she impressed with how well she plays on defense. She is accurate with her passes and has plenty of attributes that make her a force on the defensive side. Watson is transferring from Burke HS and balled out on the travel circuit with S.H.O.T.S. United.
Sabri Mitchell Sabri Mitchell 5'9" | SF Military Magnet Academy | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Military Magnet – Mitchell was one of Watson’s teammates this offseason/travel season with S.H.O.T.S. United and will now be a teammate of hers during the regular season for the Eagles. She knows how to run the floor and be nifty with her footwork. Her athleticism allows her to make plays when she is around the rim and she plays the game with an emphasis on helping her team with her scoring – which she can do from virtually anywhere on the floor. Mitchell has impressive handles and can get from one end of the floor to the other quickly.
Lauren Middleton Lauren Middleton 5'6" | CG Cross | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Cross HS – Prep Girls Hoops saw Middleton perform earlier in the offseason/travel campaign in Lexington at the Elite Showcase and the LBI Spring Invitational in Easley. In those events, she impressed on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Middleton is another who has the ability to score from anywhere on the court – near the rim, in the midrange game or from 3-point land. Complimenting her talents on the offensive end is what she does on the defensive side. She is a constant threat to steal the ball and makes efficient passes to get her teammates more involved.
Nadia President Nadia President 5'4" | PG Ashley Ridge | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Cross HS – The President-Middleton connection at Cross is going to be one to have our eyes peeled on for the next several seasons. She was one of three from coach Reese Felder’s Trojans that made the 7-A All-Region Team along with Middleton and 2023 guard Tranice Smalls. President brings a plethora of talents to her team – including being a defensive stalwart with how she plays hard-nosed defense and recovers the ball after an opponent commits a turnover. She also runs the floor very efficiently, can get out in transition and will knock down a good amount of 3-pointers.