Grassroots Preview: Upward Stars Upstate 2023
Many AAU teams across South Carolina have already tipped off their travel seasons for 2022. In the case of at least one, which is based in the Upstate, it does not hit the road for its first event until April.…
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Continue ReadingMany AAU teams across South Carolina have already tipped off their travel seasons for 2022. In the case of at least one, which is based in the Upstate, it does not hit the road for its first event until April.
Upward Stars Upstate will begin its schedule on April 9-11 for LBI Opening Day in Greenville at Legacy Early College. The team is coached by Devario Burnside and used to operate as Carolina A.C.E.S.
The full slate for Upward Stars Upstate is still being ironed it, but it also includes the LBI Spring Invitational – also at Greenville and also at Legacy Early College from April 30 – May 1. The team is also slated to play at other LBI events include the Southern Memorial Showdown on May 27-29 at Legacy Early College as well as the Summer Showcase on July 6-7 and Carolina Live from July 23-25. Both of the latter events are slated to emanate from Carolina Courts in Concord, North Carolina.
The 10-person roster for Upward Stars Upstate consists mostly of Dorman and Woodruff players with only two not from the Cavaliers or the Wolverines. Without further adieu, here is a look at who Burnside’s Upward Stars Upstate bunch will send onto the court this grassroots campaign.
Alli Burnette Alli Burnette 5'8" | PF Woodruff | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Woodruff HS – The Burnette sisters, her and Sadie, certainly stick together basketball-wise. Both are Woodruff Wolverines and both were part of last year’s rendition of Carolina A.C.E.S. on the grassroots circuit.
Jensyn Turner Jensyn Turner 5'7" | PG Woodruff | 2026 State SC – 2026 – Woodruff HS – Turner is an up-and-coming eighth grade star – so learn her. She was also part of the Wolverines as a seventh grader and, last season, posted a high watermark of 22 points in a 65-53 victory over Chapman.
Sadie Burnette Sadie Burnette 5'10" | SG Woodruff | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Woodruff HS – Coming off her freshman season, Burnette will likely be seen as one of the focal points for the Wolverines in the coming years. In 2021-22, she averaged 11.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 steals for Woodruff.
Amaria Jones Amaria Jones 5'3" | PG Dorman | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Dorman HS – Jones was one of 10 juniors and/or seniors that comprised what was a veteran-heavy 2021-22 Cavaliers rendition. Listed at 5-foot-6, she is a very skilled distributor of the ball as she averaged 3.1 steals for Dorman this past season.
Jenna Myers Jenna Myers 5'11" | C Cheraw | 2026 State SC – 2026 – Woodruff HS – Seeing Wallace with Carolina A.C.E.S. and at team camp events in 2021, she was one of the first names that caught our attention. A talented guard who possesses scoring, passing, rebounding and defensive attributes, Wallace is primed to shine in the coming four years.
Destiny West (2023) – Broome HS – West is a multi-sport athlete who, next year, will be looking to close out her high school career with an exclamation point. She defends with tenacity, scores the basketball, finds open teammates, will grab rebounds and block shots in addition to what she does on the volleyball court.
Dasia Ferguson Dasia Ferguson 5'8" | SF Dorman | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Dorman HS – Ferguson is a stalwart for the Cavaliers’ frontcourt. She finished the 2021-22 campaign having averaged 11.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals and just over one block per contest.
Nakiyah Kelly Nakiyah Kelly 5'11" | PF Dorman | 2024 State SC – 2024 – Dorman HS – Listed at 5-foot-11, Kelly certainly gives the Cavaliers a height advantage in plenty of low post matchups. Kelly is one of only two sophomores that comprises this year’s Upward Stars Upstate roster.
Nevaeh West Nevaeh West 5'6" | PF Dorman | 2024 State SC – 2024 – Dorman HS – West, a teammate of Kelly’s with the Cavaliers, is the other sophomore. A force to be reckoned with in the Cavaliers frontcourt, she is one of seven returning players from last season’s grassroots rendition as Carolina A.C.E.S.
Josie Workman Josie Workman 5'11" | SF Byrnes | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Byrnes HS – Workman proved to be an important piece for the Rebels in 2021-22 as Byrnes made another run to the 5A playoffs. One of the Rebels’ key frontcourt players, she was one of three 5A All-Region selections for Byrnes in addition to teammates Savannah Porterfield Savannah Porterfield 5'9" | SF Byrnes | 2022 State SC and Te’Ericka Dowling Te’Ericka Dowling 5'8" | PG Byrnes | 2025 State SC .