Around the State: Hampton and Jasper Counties

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few of our previous sets of “Around the State” pieces profiled a few counties in the Upstate/Piedmont regions of the Palmetto State. Now, we had back to a couple of South Carolinas more geographically southern areas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the last few weeks, Prep Girls Hoops has virtually traveled the state via our county-by-county rankings to put a greater spotlight on which standouts play where.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After spending some time in the Greenville and Greenwood areas (that are very easy to get confused) we are heading back to H2 Lowco country and Hampton and Jasper counties. We did an earlier set of rankings for Beaufort County back in August.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>2023s</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d374b2400","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["171781"],"_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":286342,"_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":"It can be very easy to get the Wade Hampton in Hampton County confused with the 4A Wade Hampton up in Greenville. Mitchell plays for the Red Devils and her team is a 2A competitor. She was part of a team that made it to the second round of the 2A tournament and she formerly wore the Estill colors. Mitchell makes things happen near the basket and also can help her team offensively from behind the 3-point arc. She also can haul in a good number of rebounds and previously ran on the grassroots circuit with Carolina Shockers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d434b2401","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["343091"],"_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":"“Lex” was one of the big reasons why the Gators completed last season going a perfect 12 for 12 in Region 6-1A. Polite plays with an aggressive attitude and does a great deal of work around the paint area. She brings a versatile dimension to the team and can disrupt an opposing team's passing lanes with steals and deflections. Polite also plays the game on contact and knows she will get plenty of chances from the free throw line. That versatility comes in her ability to deliver valuable minutes to a team regardless of the position she plays. Estill made it to the second round of the 1A playoffs last season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d499b2402","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["258141"],"_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":"Rice is nice for the Patriots. Patrick Henry Academy graduated a bevy of seniors from its 2021-22 rendition, giving Rice more status as one of the featured players this season for coach Belinda McCoy. The Patriots will move to the 2A class per SCISA's reclassification. Rice will place crooked numbers on the board and will have games where she can really deliver plenty of shooting accuracy from the field. Rice also makes accurate passes and maintain a high degree of activity away from the ball. The speed and agility she possesses enable her to get from one end of the floor to another quickly. Rice also plays soccer at Patrick Henry 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>2024s</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6311d4b6b2403","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["216957"],"_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":"Smoak also has made waves as a multi-sport athlete who has also competed at track and field events alongside basketball. She also is a former 100 meter champion and played during the spring and summer with H2 Lowco. Smoak is confident in her ability to drain shots from behind the 3-point arc and in her ability to go at defenders en route to the basket. Her versatility comes where she can play as either a guard or a forward. Smoak also helps her teammates with double teams in addition to being an excellent floor runner. She also disrupts an opponent's passing lanes with her ability to deflect passes.","_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_6311d51db2404","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["369392"],"_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":"Carter will be entering her sophomore season after putting her name firmly on the state's preps basketball map with what she accomplished as a freshman. She played previously in Yemassee at North District MS. She will get out in transition and be true on easy layups. Carter understands when the right time is to score and to pass and delivers plenty of assistance for her team on defense. With Carter wearing the red and black colors, the future of the Red Devils girls basketball program appears to be bright. The Red Devils will move from Region 5-2A to Region 6-2A.","_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_6311d545b2405","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["429826"],"_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 Region 6-2A, Ridgeland/Hardeeville was already in that region and has played there the last three seasons since moving from Class 3A. Leverette played alongside H2 Lowco and made an appearance on the Triumph Region of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit. One of those was Southeast Slam at Mainland HS in Daytona Beach, Florida. Leverette was one of her travel team's five wings and she possesses plenty of speed that enables her to get from one end of the floor to the other quickly with the ball on her hand. Leverette is an accurate shooter whether she is attempting a shot from midrange or long range. She also displays constant hustle – such as when she comes seemingly out of nowhere to prevent an opponent's easy layup in transition.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->