Around the State: Greenville County Juniors
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An outsider may ask which is South Carolina’s most populous county and one may think it would be Charleston or Richland (Columbia) counties. In fact, it is Greenville County and as one can guess there is lots of high school girls basketball…
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Continue ReadingAn outsider may ask which is South Carolina’s most populous county and one may think it would be Charleston or Richland (Columbia) counties. In fact, it is Greenville County and as one can guess there is lots of high school girls basketball talent clustered in the area.
Over the last few weeks, Prep Girls Hoops has gone from geographical region to geographical region via our county-by-county rankings to shine a greater light on the standouts that occupy those schools.
We unveiled our 2023 for Greenville County. Without further adieu, here is what the class of 2024 is looking like for the Palmetto State’s signature Upstate county.
On the heels of a 25-5 season for the Lions in 2021-22, Vance converted that momentum into a noteworthy AAU campaign with Upward Stars 3SSB 2023. She is listed at 5-foot-10 but plays primarily in the backcourt despite having the height of a three or a four. Vance can be adept at shooting the 3-pointer and presents plenty of confidence when her kicks make contact with the hardwood. In addition, she welcomes opportunities to have the rock in critical moments of a game. She currently holds offers from Coastal Carolina (coach Kevin Pederson) as well as from Niagara College among others.
Holloway is one of the new additions to a Legacy Early College squad that seemingly year in and year out is flush in talent. She previously competed with Chambers HS in Charlotte as well as Vance and maintains offers from schools that includes Charlotte, Appalachian State, Howard, UNC-Greensboro and Presbyterian College. She can get creative when she has the ball in her hands. Her ball handling skills have a way of keeping defenses on their toes and can make her own offense at times. She stays active away from the ball and knows how to locate open teammates.
It may be difficult to fill the shoes of Cavaliers great McCall King who is now in the college ranks with UNC-Wilmington. Perhaps, that is where Bennon, who previously played at Legacy Early College comes in. The Cavaliers will enter the season as a 1A team the year after they won a state championship as a 2A school. Bennon is coming off an AAU season with coach Milton Parks at FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 17U. She is a classic floor general that can organize an offense in a half-court set. Bennon also is an accurate shooter from long range and makes accurate passes. She can get creative with her ball handling as well.
Highlights
Even though it may not have been the end result the Tigers were looking for, Henderson was a major ingredient to coach Alex Smith’s winning formula last season with 3A Blue Ridge. The Tigers won 26 games and made a deep run in the postseason including a game where they gave eventual 3A champion Keenan a major scare. Henderson can throw many a defense off when she has the ball in her hands and drives to the rim as those defenders do not know if she will attack or pass. She will connect in terms of her open shots and has earned a reputation for being a stellar 3-point specialist.
Prep Girls Hoops first noticed Abercrombie a couple of AAU seasons ago when she ran in the club realm with SC Lady Sixers 17U. One can see via her play why she is worthy of playing up in class. Between her scoring prowess, her ball handling capabilities and how she can attack the rim through a sea of opposing defenders, Abercrombie can take over a game. She will also come in key in the midrange game and thrives mostly as an up-tempo player. Abercrombie is a versatile combo guard who has also played volleyball throughout her athletic career.
Who is Lewis? One of the premier three forwards in the state who plays for a 4A Yellow Jackets team which has established a consistent track record of winning that continued under coach Demarcio Downs. Lewis maintains a high level of activity at all times when she is on the court. What she in the open floor is complimented by what she can get accomplished in the paint. Lewis can turn offensive rebounds into two-point putbacks and makes sure she is in the vicinity of the ball at all times. She is also a lockdown defender that makes things difficult for opposing ball carriers and can make defensive plays seemingly out of thin air. Lewis, who also is a volleyball player, also thrives because of her speed and transition play.
We move from one J.L. to another J.L. and neither one has anything to do with J.L. Mann HS (more on the 5A Patriots later). Listed at 5-foot-7, Lorick primarily plays at the two while also finding minutes in the frontcourt as a three. She gets after it on either the offensive or defensive glass and bolsters an offense with what she gets accomplished as a ball distributor. Lorick also has the ability to penetrate to the basket or set up shop near the wing. She stays active on both defense and offense and stays moving even if the ball is not in her hands. Lorick was a major reason for Southside’s deep run to the 3A Upper State Final and the Tigers should be one of the teams to beat in that class once again in 2022-23.
Color our next two evaluations blue … 5A Wildcats blue to be exact. It can also apply to the FBC Carolina Hawks Elite blue Nesbitt wears when she balls out during the spring and summer months. Prep Girls Hoops got a glimpse of Nesbitt on a couple of occasions during the travel campaign – once at a camp at Presbyterian College and on another occasion at ATL Summer Slam. She has no issues absorbing contact and finding her way to the free throw line. Nesbitt will score at will and haul in a good bit of offensive rebounds. She displays an ability to take care of the ball and finish at the rim – a few of those layups can be of the creative variety.
What applies to Nesbitt also applies to Earle – wearing the Woodmont colors along with those of FBC Carolina Hawks. She runs the floor with a great deal of efficiency and gets herself in the right place at the right time to make plays in the paint. Earle is a skilled board-getter and converts offensive rebounds into two-point putbacks. She makes the correct passes and the ones she gets to her guards can help organize her team’s offense. Coach James Towe has a stout class of 2024 between Earle and Nesbitt that is sure to give other 5A teams fits over the next couple of seasons.
The 2022-23 Patriots will be without two primary seniors from last season’s J.L. Mann rendition, meaning Workman is set up to be a bigger piece of the puzzle for the team this coming season. The 5-foot-9 three forward has played on the grassroots realm with 3 The Hard Way . One of Workman’s elements to her game is what she does when guarding the interior as she will look to block shots. The Patriots have posted winning season after winning season throughout the Lamont Wakefield era and Workman will be a key factor in ensuring that winning streak continues for 5A JL Mann.
Another major reason why the wins have piled up for the Yellow Jackets, Clark-Lamelle’s spring and summer included time on the grassroots circuit with Lady Royals 16U. Her high school team was at the Presbyterian Team Camp in June. Clark-Lamelle personifies what it means to be a floor general. As she consistently sets up her team’s offense in halfcourt sets, she will also attack the rim and convert on layups near the basket. Clark-Lamelle is an accurate 3-point shooter and can convert on floater attempts. She stays very active on the court and that can throw defenses for a loop.
Chambers is yet another talent veteran that comprises the Wildcats’ roster. Listed as a combo guard, she will have games where her ball distribution talents really shine. Hustle plays, such as the ones Chambers delivers, may not be the flashy ones that show up on a scoresheet but they are key in ensuring victory. She has no problem taking advantage of an opposing ball handler’s miscue and going the other way with the rock. Chambers plays with a fearless attitude with a willingness to attack the basket even against a slew of defenders and will absorb contact that can have her at the free throw line.
Prior to joining the Upward Stars 3SSB 2023 program in AAU play, she was competing with FBC Carolina Hawks Elite in grassroots ball. Earley understands how to attack the rim and can put floaters through the hoop. She will also drain her fair share of 3-point shots. Earley stands at 5-foot-10 and primarily plays at the four. She has an aggressive mindset and can look to score when she is at the wing. Earley can call for the ball when she is near the rim and is not easy to score against with her ability to reject shots.
Bowling is another unsung hero at JL Mann that may no longer be that unsung in the coming two seasons. During the grassroots season, she wore the purple of FCA Eagles 2024 and had a schedule that included the Music City Showdown on the Triumph Region of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit. Bowling has no problems upping a team’s offensive output from behind the 3-point line and also has no problems absorbing contact and getting to the free throw line. She puts crooked numbers of scores on the board, is a threat consistently to steal the ball and go the other way with it. Accurate passes are another part of Bowling’s complete skillset.