Around the State – Calhoun and Orangeburg rankings: 2026-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether it is during the high school regular season and playoffs or during the travel campaign in spring and summer, onlookers can certainly see that the talent pool in South Carolina for high school girls basketball is a deep one.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have given added attention to that vast talent pool over the last few days and will continue to as well. Prep Girls Hoops has gone from geographic region to geographic region, highlighting the standouts in every area via our county-by-county rankings.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We unveiled our 2023-25 list for Calhoun and Orangeburg counties. Without further adieu, it is time to put a lens on the area's youth movement of freshmen and eighth graders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6302d100f7400","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["452368"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":450808,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"With coach Cedrick Simpson at u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eOrangeburgu003c/spanu003e-Wilkinson having lost three of his star seniors from last season's team, it gives a golden opportunity for up-and-comers such as Rumph to find plenty of playing time. She plays primarily at the four or five and is listed at 6-foot-1, giving the Bruins a much-needed presence in the interior. She is sure to have an advantage with her height alone as a scorer, rebounder and interior defender. Bruins fans will certainly be awaiting what comes from Rumph in the coming seasons as u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eOrangeburgu003c/spanu003e-Wilkinson enters the next phase of its Class 3A program.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6302d157f7401","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["452371"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Williams ran on the grassroots circuit with SC Future and is a dual-sport athlete who was already playing varsity for the Orangeburg-Wilkinson girls soccer team. She looks to be the next guard up on a Bruins team that was guard-heavy but lost a number of graduating seniors – including three of its noteworthy star guards. Williams previously was part of the junior varsity basketball team as well with the Bruins but has worked her way up to varsity status at 3A Orangeburg-Wilkinson. When thinking about 2026s that could manage breakout seasons, one has to keep Williams on the radar.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6306bdefd8ddd","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Makiyah Johnson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bethune-Bowman HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eMakiyah will prove herself to be the key for Bethune-Bowman's ascent up the 1A ranks. Johnson also runs track along with what she does as a basketball player. She excels on the defensive side of the floor by getting opposing ball carriers in precarious positions that could induce turnovers. Johnson also welcomes contact that can give her team extra opportunities to score via the free throw line. The attributes that she obtains via track can translate well to the basketball court. The Mohawks have qualified for the 1A playoffs in back-to-back seasons and Johnson hopes to have Bethune-Bowman embark on an even deeper postseason run in 2022-23.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6306bebed8dde","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":450813,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Joliyah Robinson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"SC Future","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Bruins fans will notice a youth movement beginning to bud at Orangeburg-Wilkinson given coach Cedrick Simpson saw many of his seniors depart after last season. Robinson participated with the Bruins as part of Dawn Staley's team camp at UofSC as well as at another summer camp in June at nearby Denmark-Olar HS. She has also ran on the grassroots circuit with SC Future. Robinson plays primarily in the backcourt as a 5-foot-6 guard and possesses lots of rim attacking ability. She is proof positive that the girls basketball program at Orangeburg-Wilkinson is in good hands.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->