Around the State: Colleton, Dorchester County rankings – Juniors
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As everyone knows by now, South Carolina is a very talent-rich state in the landscape of high school girls basketball. One portion of the Palmetto State that is one of the most bountiful in terms of notable standouts is the Colleton-Dorchester…
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Continue ReadingAs everyone knows by now, South Carolina is a very talent-rich state in the landscape of high school girls basketball. One portion of the Palmetto State that is one of the most bountiful in terms of notable standouts is the Colleton-Dorchester County area.
Throughout the last several weeks, Prep Girls Hoops has looked at various geographical regions across the state via our county-by-county rankings to shine a light on who stands out in every area.
We have already taken a look at a few of the seniors that comprise this extensive two-county area. Here, we begin to put a focus on the area’s juniors.
To be a college coach and not have an eye on Blake is to make a mistake. And “college coach” could be a basketball coach or a volleyball coach given she is a multi-sport athlete. At 6-foot-1, she and 2023 Coral Curry Coral Curry 6’0″ | C Ashley Ridge | 2023 State SC are quite the tandem in the low post for the 5A Swamp Foxes. She is a double-double threat on a game-by-game basis between her scoring and rebounding capabilities. Blake is also a skilled shot blocker. She had her best season statistically last year as she played 17 games, averaging 14.1 rebounds, 12.4 points, 3.6 rejections and 1.7 steals a contest. The Blake name has developed quite the lineage recently in Ashley Ridge athletics. Amanda Blake graduated in 2020 and now plays at UNC Asheville. Vanessa Blake graduated the following year and now plays at Radford.
Prep Girls Hoops got a glimpse of Kitt on several occasions this past AAU season as Team USC Unleashed 2024 made a few stops on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit’s Triumph Region. That included the Knoxville Knockout at Rocky Top Sports World. Kitt also plays volleyball along with basketball. She uses her height advantage to come through with high-percentage shots. Kitt can draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. If she is unsuccessful on an attempt at the line, she will corral her own rebound. Kitt and Team USC Unleashed 2024 also participated at the Lowcountry Summer Shootout in Summerville.
When one plays four sports as Brown does, basketball observes can expect that the athleticism will come through once the ball is tipped. The other sports she has played include volleyball, softball and track. That athleticism combined with her ball handling skills make her difficult to contain when she attacks the rim. Brown also is an efficient floor runner who can get out in transition and convert on high-percentage opportunities. A few of those can be the result of steals and those opposing team turnovers occur because of the work she does on defense. Brown averaged 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds an 3.9 steals per game last season for the Cougars.
Jones owns any basketball court she steps her kicks on. She is fresh off of an AAU campaign that saw her run on with TMP White. Jones is a combo guard who maintains a consistent knack to attack the basket. There is also a shooting element to her scoring repertoire with her ability to drain her attempts from either deep or midrange. Jones will display her confidence by calling for the ball when she knows she can make a play and her shot blocking and ball hawk capabilities are elements to her defense. Rebounding and passing the ball are also part of Jones’ complete game. She will compete in Region 3-AAAA this season with the Panthers because of SCISA’s reclassification.
If one go to see CA, be on the lookout for JA. Almeida posted a banner 2021-22 that included an individual accomplishment of reaching the 1,000-point plateau and a team feat of advancing to the SCISA 1A championship game. Almeida is a backcourt stalwart for the Generals who also adds volleyball to her overall athletic resume. As much of a scorer as she is, she also understands how to get her teammates involved in the flow of an offense. Almeida has previously ran on the grassroots circuit with Coastal Select and was named to the SCISA 1A All-Tournament Team this past season.
Highlights
The Panthers’ resident X-factor has made “X”-cellent strides in her career. She earned plenty of playing time in her freshman season and came back for more as a sophomore. When Vaughn is scoring baskets, the Pinewood Prep offense is in sync. Vaughn can throw defenses off balances with her scoring versatility as she is a threat to either attack the basket or convert in the midrange. She makes things uncomfortable for opposing ball carriers and excels as a ball distributor. Vaughn and her Panthers will enter 2022-23 play as part of SCISA’s new 4A classification as part of its 2022-24 realignment.
It is not often that coaches believe they have enough trust in sophomores to bestow upon them captaincy duties, but that was the case for Geddis with the 2A Wolverines. She ran grassroots this past AAU season with Team USC Unleashed 2024. She is a natural rim attacker and will find lanes to finish at the cup. That combined with accuracy from downtown will certainly throw many a defense for a loop. She stands at 5-foot-5 and can play at either one of the two guard spots. Geddis participated in all 21 games last season for the Wolverines and averaged 11.4 points per contest.
Highlights
The math has certainly been adding up for Mathis as of late. A highlight of Mathis’ offseason had to be when the Patriots participated at Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks camp at UofSC and put together a stellar performance. She displayed her ability to convert on easy baskets and managed to limit turnovers by taking care of the ball. Mathis is a versatile frontcourt force who adds time as a wing to what she can do on the court. She can score at will, rebound and also collect a good bit of steals. Mathis is particularly difficult to contain when she attacks the rim.
Prep Girls Hoops observed Green during the holidays at a Thanksgiving tournament hosted by nearby Summerville HS. Green will connect on 3-point attempts as well as put points on the board through her midrange game. She particularly excels as a defensive standout with how many steals she corrals. Green also delivers on hustle plays and can do a number of the little things that do not always show up on a stat sheet – including diving for loose balls. A number of those steals can translate into transition plays. Green’s play will continue to get her seen in the coming two seasons.
Dare to try to contain Claire … it is not likely to be successful. Griffin was a key piece in the Generals’ run to the SCISA 1A championship game. She also earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Griffin is listed at 5-foot-8 and plays primarily at the four. She is a double-double possibility as often as she puts the ball through the basket and grabs the rock off the glass. Griffin can also have occasions during games where she embarks on scoring binges and lead her team on extended runs. SCISA’s reclassification will see Cathedral Academy compete as a 2A team.