Around the State: Abbeville, Oconee, Pickens rankings (23-24)
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With the basketball calendar all but having come to a halt across the Palmetto State, it has given us at Prep Girls Hoops an opportunity to take a deeper dive into where the class of South Carolina ranks from area…
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Continue ReadingWith the basketball calendar all but having come to a halt across the Palmetto State, it has given us at Prep Girls Hoops an opportunity to take a deeper dive into where the class of South Carolina ranks from area to area.
Over the next couple of months as we get closer and closer to tip-off of the 2022-23 basketball season, we will take a look at every county and area of South Carolina to see where its top stars stand in terms of where they play.
We will begin with the far western corner of the Upstate where we will put a spotlight on Abbeville, Oconee and Pickens Counties. Without further adieu, here is part 1 of our area rankings.
Hoover represents our first from the 3A ranks on our list – and our first rising senior. Following the graduation of two seniors from the 2021-22 season, one can expect Hoover to be even more of a focal point of the Lions’ rendition in 2022-23. Hoover is a backcourt stalwart for Daniel. She goes all in and all out every play she is part of. Mid-range jump shots are another key element to Hoover’s all-around game. Hoover at time will finish with her left and can play perimeter defense which includes the ability to block shots. She averaged 13 points in the 21 games she played for the Lions last season.
The Bobcats’ gain is serving as Legacy Early College’s loss as Chaney will trade Lions purple and gold for Seneca’s blue and gold. She is listed at 6-foot-2 and proves herself to be an asset in any team’s frontcourt. Chaney also ran previously grassroots with FBC Carolina Hawks Parks 2023. In addition to being an efficient runner of the floor, she proves her prowess in said frontcourt with what she does in the painted area. Chaney has also made strides in her defensive game. Chaney previously was at Seneca in her freshman and sophomore seasons and she looks to be a worthwhile re-addition to the 3A Bobcats.
Speaking transfers to Seneca for the 2022-23 season, the Bobcats having Ivey’s services after she arrived from Daniel should also pay dividends. In addition to basketball, she also plays volleyball during the early portions of the academic calendar and runs grassroots under the Adidas umbrella with Upward Stars 16U 3SSB. Ivey contributes plenty of work in the paint and a good deal of that comes defensively. She is difficult to score on as much of a threat as she is to block shots and can also haul in rebounds. Ivey also adds to her team’s offensive output from near the rim and from the free throw line.
Highlights
She plays basketball really well. Bell plays in a school in a town that has a population less than many Palmetto State high schools, so she plays somewhat off the grid. In addition to basketball, she also excels as a volleyball player and track and field runner. She stands at a tall 6-foot-2 and that presents plenty a matchup advantage over many a frontcourt foe. With her scoring and rebounding, she is can be double-double possibility on a game-by-game basis and possesses shot blocking abilities as a defender. Bell’s game indicates basketball may not be the secondary sport, but one would expect she places more emphasis on volleyball when she reaches the college ranks.
Similar to Bell, Hunter is another dual sport athlete whose other discipline is volleyball. Hunter averaged nearly a double-double this past season for the Warriors with 9.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Those rebounds can occur on either end of the floor and she also stands out as a shot blocker. Hunter stands at a near six feet as a 5-foot-11 big. She participated in 17 games last season. She also plays somewhat off the grid in South Carolina’s westernmost county (Oconee) but she is poised to be one of many across the Palmetto State that will close out their high school careers with an exclamation point.
Winstead is another diamond in the rough from Oconee – South Carolina’s northwestern-most county. She has become much accustomed to the indoor sports gym the Razorbacks call home since she also participates on Walhalla’s varsity volleyball team prior to basketball season. The 5-foot-9 standout who primarily plays at the four can be very agile in the painted area. Winstead possesses the ability to finish with the left hand, attack the rim and absorb contact that will place her at the free throw line. She will also turn offensive rebounds into two-point putbacks and connect well from midrange. Winstead and Walhalla will compete the upcoming season as a 3A team after the program spent the last four years in 4A.
Similar to Bell, Hunter is another dual sport athlete whose other discipline is volleyball. Hunter averaged nearly a double-double this past season for the Warriors with 9.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Those rebounds can occur on either end of the floor and she also stands out as a shot blocker. Hunter stands at a near six feet as a 5-foot-11 big. She participated in 17 games last season. She also plays somewhat off the grid in South Carolina’s westernmost county (Oconee) but she is poised to be one of many across the Palmetto State that will close out their high school careers with an exclamation point.