Around the State: Greenwood, Edgefield and McCormick counties

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether we are spotlighting the Greenville area (as we did in our last set of articles) or the Greenwood area, there is no shortage of talent throughout South Carolina as seemingly every crevice of the state shows.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the last several weeks, Prep Girls Hoops has combed through geographical region after geographical region via our county-by-county rankings. We are each area of the state and the noteworthy names in said areas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our next set of rankings takes us to the southern portions of the Piedmont region and include Greenwood County in addition to two CSRA counties in Edgefield and McCormick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d009fd07d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["235396"],"_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":"Earlier this year, the signature standout for the 4A Eagles announced she received an offer from Division III Averett out of Virginia. The Cougars apparently love what Wardlaw has given the Eagles throughout her career. She was one of the top performing 2023s at Dawn Staley's team camp at the University of South Carolina. If Wardlaw has the ball in her hands, she will put her speed and quickness to good use in getting to the rim after sailing past a number of opposing defenders. Wardlaw has a knack for finishing at the rim and takes care of the ball to limit turnovers. Her great dribbling skills prove to be another major asset to her team. Organizing a halfcourt offense, rebounding, interior play and the transition game are a few of her other strong suits.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d038fd07e","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["175383"],"_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":"Wideman plays off the grid for the 1A Chiefs in a portion of the state that does not always generate a ton of attention. Wideman can come from seemingly out of nowhere and make plays, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. She can get in the correct spots to gather steals and does the little things that may not show up on a stat sheet such as battle for 50-50 balls. Offensively, she can receive passes near the basket and turn those into easy two-point baskets. Wideman also knows when to score and when to pass in addition to making accurate feeds to open teammates. Recently, she announced a track and field commitment to Columbia College.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d05cfd07f","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["256852"],"_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":"The SCISA 1A Cougars managed to maintain its 1A standing even after its reclassification. Cambridge Academy's region will change from 1-1A to 4-1A. As for Harvley, she is a multi-sport athlete who has also excelled as a volleyball and soccer player in addition to what she does basketball wise. A good portion of that occurs via what she gets accomplished in the paint for Cambridge Academy. Attacking the rim is also central to what Harvley brings to the table along with the experienced she has amassed with her current status as an upperclassman. Rebounding is one element of her game that has seen gradual improvement over the years.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d089fd080","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["255898"],"_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":"Speaking of multi-sport athletes who also excel on the volleyball court, Reed fits that description at Greenwood Christian. She stays one step ahead of defenses and her prowess as a defender enable her to switch on who it is she is guarding depending on the scenario. She is a hard-nosed defender that puts as much emphasis on trying tp pry the ball from a ball carrier's hands as she does making said ball handler uncomfortable. Reed can come through with offensive plays as well either in a halfcourt offensive set or in the transition game. If she has a cold scoring performance, count on Reed to turn that around.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d0b1fd081","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["215707"],"_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":"","_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":"In addition to basketball, the “field” in track and field is where Milton's athletic talents shine through given she has participated in events such as the javelin throw and shot put. Milton is a near-six foot big that will surely be one of many from the 2023 class to close their high school careers with an exclamation point. If there is a matchup advantage Milton can take advantage of, she will do so fully. The Chiefs qualified for the 1A playoffs this past season and Milton nearly led McCormick to an upset of Calhoun Falls Charter as she tallied 18 points in leading the charge for the red and black.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>2024s</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d0e3fd082","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["216955"],"_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":383760,"_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":"The Edgefield County-based school that is home to the Rebels has underwent some changes recently. It – including its basketball court – got a massive makeover and Strom Thurmond has moved from 3A down to 2A. Chinn has shown throughout her career that she can and will put points on the board and one way she does this is by stepping up her game in case she is having an off night. She first played varsity basketball as an eighth grader and will go straight at defenders with a fearless attitude. Chinn approaches defense the same way as her talents on the other end of the floor can lead to interceptions and pass deflections. An integral part of the Strom Thurmond backcourt, she is an accurate passer, sets up her team in halfcourt offensive sets and will shoot over taller defenders. Hustling after loose balls is another element to the game Chinn excels at.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d16cfd083","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["256831"],"_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":"Mapes has only become better and better as she has gained more experience. She too first became a member of the 1A Cougars as an eighth grader and plays multiple sports including volleyball and soccer. This past season, Mapes solidified her place on South Carolina's basketball map by having her best statistical season with 9.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. As those statistics indicate, she showcases her skills via her work on the boards and what she does as a scorer. She typically plays the two with an affinity for draining 3-pointers and finds plenty of playing time at Cambridge Academy.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>2025s</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d187fd084","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["375981"],"_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":"Squire will have plenty of time to take her already complete game even higher in the coming seasons. Potentially underrated given she plays off the grid with the Class 2A Wildcats, she also competes in volleyball and softball events at Ninety Six. She may be a 5-foot-7 small forward but her impact near the rim is anything but small as she averaged a double-double of 12.5 points and 15.2 rebounds in 2021-22 for the Wildcats. Squire played in 20 of the 21 games Ninety Six participated in last season and saw the team advance to the second round of the Class AA tournament.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>2026s</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d1b7fd085","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["436756"],"_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":"Johnson is coming off a stellar AAU campaign where she wore the powder blue jerseys of Greenwood Storm. One of her teammates on the club team was Calhoun Falls Charter rising star [player_tooltip player_id='387003' first='Anastasia' last='Gillam'] and they participated in several Prep Girls Hoops Circuit events as part of the Triumph Region. Those included the Music City Showdown in Franklin, Tennessee and the Triumph Region Finals at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg where Greenwood Storm won the 14U championship. She will look to translate that impressive play and high energy into a great freshman season with the 4A Eagles as star teammate Wardlaw enters her final season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311fa4b00a5d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["438236"],"_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":415698,"_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":"Consider the rest of this article a shout-out to Greenwood Storm and the excellent performances they put together while on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit's Triumph Region. Oliver also had a major role in her travel team winning the 14U Triumph Region championship and hopes to translate that momentum to a 3A Vikings team that could be in the throes of a youth movement. Oliver can corral offensive rebounds and turn those into two-point putbacks. She is an efficient runner of the floor and will find her way around a defense en route to the rim. Oliver previously played her middle school basketball at Westview.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311fa8200a5e","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["438237"],"_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":420775,"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe other of the Oliver twins that also had a sizable role in Greenwood Storm's successful AAU campaign over the spring and summer months. With two of Emerald's more notable players moving on to Legacy Early College, it creates a great opportunity for Oliver to shine even moreso in the coming years. She too can put points on the board and she too can also pull down rebounds on either end of the court. Oliver also has no problems absorbing contact and getting to the free throw line. She typically plays as a guard and will have games where her defensive presence is felt with the number of steals she compiles.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->