Anderson County Holiday Classic: 2023
It may be Christmas break academically for high school kids across South Carolina, but for the Palmetto State’s young athletes, the season took no holiday as the Anderson County Holiday Classic took place. The event was split between two of…
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Continue ReadingIt may be Christmas break academically for high school kids across South Carolina, but for the Palmetto State’s young athletes, the season took no holiday as the Anderson County Holiday Classic took place.
The event was split between two of Anderson County’s schools and featured teams from throughout the county. Girls games were held at T.L. Hanna High School, home of the Yellow Jackets with a boys slate emanating from Westside High School, home of the Rams.
Prep Girls Hoops made the trip up to T.L. Hanna for Monday’s games. Here is a look at how the class of 2023 performed.
Riley Stack Riley Stack 6'5" | SF Wren | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Wren HS – Stack recently announced she had received an offer from USC Upstate and previously received recruitment offers from Wofford, Charlotte, South Carolina, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech and Niagara along with a USA Basketball U16 trials invite over the summer. Stack, as she does often at 6-foot-5, won the opening tip then proceeded to put in a great deal of work in the low post. If she corrals an offensive rebound, she is likely to turn said offensive board into a putback and two more Hurricanes points. If she gets fouled, Stack is likely to turn those into points at the charity stripe. Her blocking ability and perimeter defense are two other attributes that make it no surprise as to why she has been a well-sought after prospect. She scored 18 points in the Hurricanes win over Palmetto on Monday afternoon.
Makayla Blango – 2023 – Pendleton HS – Blango managed to stay out of foul trouble in the Bulldogs’ Monday afternoon game with host school T.L. Hanna as she only had two personals called against her while being one of Pendleton’s starters. Her speed serves her very well both on the basketball court and in the other sport she excels in – track. Blango will make plays out of nowhere, plays tough defense, runs the floor well as a point guard and can make midrange jump shots. Blango scored eight points in the Bulldogs’ contest with host school T.L. Hanna and had a made bucket from the field in every quarter except the third.
Taylor Wessel – 2023 – T.L. Hanna HS – Wessel has been a vessel to success for the Yellow Jackets. A veteran leader for coach Glenn Elrod’s team, she has displayed she can lead vocally as well as by example. She can get creative with her passes and her ability to find passing lanes for her teammates. Wessel can also be creative with how she will finish near the rim, but straightforward with her 3-point shot. She takes advantage of an opponent’s miscues, turning them into turnovers for said opponent along with getting out in transition. Wessel can shoot from midrange, change direction with the ball in her hand and hit her free throw attempts. She scored nine when the Yellow Jackets faced off against Pendleton.
Shakari Gaines – 2023 – Westside HS – Gaines has spent her entire high school career with the Rams and she is a key element as to why the defending 4A state champions are a major threat to repeat. Gaines is a lockdown defender who makes plenty of heads up plays on either end of the floor. She will assist on double teams to trap opposing ball carriers in addition to how she will take long range jumpers. Gaines will draw contact and get to the free throw line as well. She finished with eight points in the Rams’ Monday afternoon game with Belton-Honea Path.