2nd Annual Preseason Jamboree: 2024/2025

With football and volleyball seasons wrapping up across South Carolina, basketball will soon start to rule the sports roost across the Palmetto State. That was evident this past weekend at Bethune-Bowman Middle and High School. The Melvin L. Crum Gymnasium at the home of the Mohawks was the host site for the 2nd Annual Preseason Jamboree and Veterans’ Day Classic. The event featured a nontraditional format with two eight-minute halves in lieu of quarters as well as a 3-point shooting contest at the midpoint of the second day. Prep Girls Hoops was on site to take it all in. The youth movement was well and alive at the Jamboree and here is a look at who caught our attention. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-352006" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/D051E2AD-C83D-45E2-A888-2EB5A45BDCA2-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="216957" first="Kadejah" last="Smoak"] – 2024 – Estill HS</strong> – Following a freshman campaign in which she averaged 16.2 points per game and entering a season after one of its stars from last season’s rendition departed for Hilton Head Christian, a big season is expected out of Smoak for 2021-22. She will make plenty of plays on defense and will shoot the 3-point shot.  She entered the game against Denmark-Olar as one of the starters for coach Marcus Livingston’s team. Smoak will be relied more this season for the Lady Gators with a few players moving on from last years team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="351604" first="Kai" last="Mack"] – 2025 – Fort Dorchester HS</strong> – She was one of the five starters, along with White, in the Patriots’ game against the Bruins – one in where Fort Dorchester raced out early to a 7-0 lead. Mack adds to the depth that coach Javon Gilliard has on his team. In addition to that depth, Mack provides a level of versatility in that she can play a variety of positions. While primarily a forward, she will also see time as a five and also as a wing. Mack provides a presence in the paint, does not give up on an offensive play, will find a way through defenders to the rim and can absorb contact to get to the free throw line. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="175345" first="Aveion" last="Walker"] – 2025 – Denmark-Olar HS</strong> – On lots of occasions, the class of a player can only tell part of the story. Walker did a bit of everything for the Vikings during the weekend at the home of the Mohawks. She set the tone in the Vikings’ game with Estill by scoring the first couple of points after the opening tip and also came through with many big defensive plays. Walker made accurate passes to her Denmark-Olar teammates, managed to take some tries with the 3-point shot and also hauled in rebounds. She drew contact and got to the line. <em><strong>Walker and her teammates will take part in the Hoopin In The Ville Classic this coming Friday November 19-20 in Hartsville. </strong></em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="185427" first="Key’Nyreia" last="Butler"] – 2025 – Scott’s Branch HS</strong> – This Butler is doing it all for Eagles basketball – and doing so as a freshman who plays like anything but one. Butler’s expansive skillset was on full display this past weekend at Bethune-Bowman. She did plenty of ball handling and had a knack for making the extra pass. Butler will try the 3-point shot and plays ahead of where a play could be going. She can be creative with how she finishes at the rim as well in addition to her ability to draw contact and make shots at the free throw line.