Region 4-AAAAA – Underclassmen
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For high school basketball fans across South Carolina, that countdown has almost concluded. With that countdown having almost reached its ending, Prep Girls Hoops has released comprehensive region-by-region previews with a look at each region in the Palmetto State along…
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Continue ReadingFor high school basketball fans across South Carolina, that countdown has almost concluded.
With that countdown having almost reached its ending, Prep Girls Hoops has released comprehensive region-by-region previews with a look at each region in the Palmetto State along with the teams and players that fans will surely be watching for. The Underclassmen in Region 4-AAAAA should receive plenty of attention from college programs in the years to come.
Laila Hankerson Laila Hankerson 5'6" | PG K.O.D. Skills Academy | 2023 NC – 2023 – Rock Hill HS – Even after the Bearcats’ group of star seniors calls it a high school career after this season, coach Kenny Orr still has plenty of talent coming through Rock Hill. She also is a multi-sport athlete with track and field being the other area of athletic competition she is involved in outside basketball. Hankerson is confident in her capability to make her 3-point attempts and also plays the game with plenty of quickness. Hankerson will dive for loose balls to give her team extra possessions, get out in transition and has an overall knowledge of the game.
Jaidah Liebert Jaidah Liebert 5'9" | SF Spring Valley | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Spring Valley HS – Liebert may play at Spring Valley but her career, it appears, is still reaching its peak. She is coming off a 2020-21 where she averaged 11 points per game with the Vikings. Liebert does many of the little things that do not always show up on the stat sheet, but can go a long way in putting a team in the win column. She will go hard at the rim and slice and dice her way through a slew of defenders with plenty of quickness. Liebert will find ways to make a play whether it is via her scoring or her ball distribution. She also has no problem knocking down 3-pointers and particularly brings plenty of energy on defense.
Madison Entzminger Madison Entzminger 5'1" | PG Spring Valley | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Spring Valley HS – While her initials may be M.E., Entzminger is one of many talents that puts emphasis on W.E. over M.E. Entzminger can put points on the board as a go-to scorer. She averaged 8.6 points per game in the contests she participated in last season. She will obtain a good amount of steals, has a 3-point shot as part of the tools she possesses on offense and will run the floor to get out in transition. Entzminger not only can shoot from long range, but also will deliver on some midrange jump shots as well.
DeKayla Starr DeKayla Starr 6'0" | C Northwestern | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Northwestern HS – Starr, similar to Workman and Wynn from our earlier 5A previews, is another appropriate last name to sport as an athlete. This Starr shines brightest as part of the Trojans’ frontcourt. She at times will play the role of a power forward with the ability to also take on the task of being a five. Starr will find herself on plenty of occasions ahead of where a play is with how she can run the floor and get out in transition with a great deal of speed. She will also reject shots near the rim.
Darby Grigg Darby Grigg 5'5" | PG Northwestern | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Northwestern HS – Grigg comes up big for the Trojans in a variety of athletic disciplines. The word athletic is likely one that can describe Grigg perfectly as outside of basketball, she also participates in volleyball and soccer with Northwestern. Grigg concluded last season having obtained All-Region accolades – one of two Trojans from last season to achieve the honor with the other being McKenzie Evans (2022). Grigg can set the tone for Northwestern with both her offense and defense. She looks to make things happen even in the toughest of scenarios for her team with a combination of ball handling as well as her agility.
Katie Reed Katie Reed 5'10" | SF Rock Hill | 2024 SC – 2024 – Rock Hill HS – Reed made Prep Girls Hoops’ 2024 watch list from last season and currently stands at fifth among sophomore small forwards on the 2024 rankings. The speed she displays on transition opportunities translates well to and from her other athletic foray as she has also participated in track and field events as part of her athletic pursuits. She adds to the depth that coach Kenny Orr’s Bearcats team once again poses as a 5A state championship is the primary objective for Rock Hill. Reed once represented South Carolina as part of the U.S. Basketball Games in 2020.
De’Ashaj Crawford De’Ashaj Crawford 5'6" | PG Rock Hill | 2024 State SC – 2024 – Rock Hill HS – In addition to what she does in Bearcats colors, Crawford balls out on the grassroots circuit with Team Elite Next Generation SC 15U. Crawford is versatile in the sense that she can play as either small forward or shooting guard while primarily playing as a point guard. She is a gifted passer who can find open teammates and utilize her prowess in that aspect of her game to get her team out of uncomfortable situations. Crawford will shoot and make shots from long range and plays the game with a fearlessness that comes in handy when attacking the rim and drawing contact in heading to the free throw line.
Alyssa Hankerson Alyssa Hankerson 5'6" | SG Charlotte Country Day (1 of 1 Prep) | 2025 State NC – 2025 – Rock Hill HS – The Hankerson name is one that is very common around Bearcats girls basketball circles between sisters Alyssa, Alana and Laila. Alyssa can put the ball through the hoop from anywhere on the floor. She will pull up in the midrange game and also make plenty of 3-pointers. Hankerson plays well without the ball in her hands and has plenty of skill in reading defenses. As potent a shooter as she is, Hankerson is not one to force shots. She will take care of the ball in showcasing how talented of a ball handler she is.
Alana Hankerson Alana Hankerson 5'6" | PG 1 of 1 Prep | 2025 State NC – 2025 – Rock Hill HS – Amongst the litany of talent Bearcats coach Kenny Orr fields as part of the 2021-22 rendition of Rock Hill basketball is the Hankerson sister act of Laila (2023), Alyssa and Alana. Hankerson is integral in that she can be a proverbial “straw that stirs the drink” for her team. Her court vision and high basketball IQ enable her to read defenses and put her teammates in position to score points. Hankerson can get from one end of the floor to the other quickly and looks to make things happen by going at the basket or shooting the 3. She plays unselfish basketball and maintains a confident demeanor.
Anasia Harvey Anasia Harvey 6'0" | C Ridge View | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Ridge View HS – With Lanasia Brown Lanasia Brown CG Ridge View | 2022 State SC graduating after this season and on the heels of Mya Wasswa and Laila Acox’s graduations, Harvey is setting herself up nicely to be part of the nucleus of Blazers girls basketball for the next few seasons. She sets herself up in the paint to receive passes then find her way to the rim in the low post. Harvey is tough to score on with how she can block shots and also pull down rebounds. She will attract a fair bit of contact and she can get to the free throw line where she can be true on her attempts from the stripe.
Zie’l Ratchford Zie’l Ratchford 5'7" | CG Spring Valley | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Spring Valley HS – Prep Girls Hoops saw Ratchford on plenty of occasions during the offseason and grassroots slate. Much of that was when she was playing on the same Palmetto 76ers team as Crosland, her Vikings teammate. Ratchford does not take plays off on either offense and defense and can particularly make plays on the perimeter. She can find her way to the rack through opposing defenders and is effective as a transition player. In addition to playing away from the ball nicely, Ratchford is a hard-nosed defender who will help out a teammate to stifle an opposing ball carrier. She is quick to the rim, draws defenses off guard and can make her shots from the free throw line.
Imani Sterling Imani Sterling 5'9" | PF Rock Hill | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Rock Hill HS – Sterling is another one of the seven forwards the Bearcats will present this season, a characteristic of the frontcourt depth Rock Hill has as contenders. Even though she will be a freshman this season, her post play is indicative of someone who is either a junior or a senior. Sterling will play her game on contact and can assert herself either near the rim or on both offense and defense. Prep Girls Hoops saw Sterling over the summer at the Francis Marion University Team Camp where she made an awfully good impression with her stellar performance.