Around the State – Lexington, Fairfield and Saluda: 2025-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From Abbeville County to York County, there is a very high degree of girls basketball talent spread out across South Carolina's 46 counties.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the last several weeks, Prep Girls Hoops has examined a number of geographical areas across the state via our county-by-county rankings. It is our way of putting a lens on the signature players in each area – and, perhaps, starting a bit of conversation as we get closer to the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We unveiled our list of seniors and juniors for a pair of Midlands counties in&nbsp;Lexington&nbsp;and Fairfield plus Saluda in the CSRA. Here, we move on to the underclassmen in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_631739bd78b45","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["242933"],"_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":"Walker-Lee was described by former coach Ashley Bruner as an “energy” player for the 2A War Eagles. One can certainly see how she earned that description given how she plays. Throughout the spring and summer months, she wore the uniform of A'ja Wilson Elite 2025. The bread and butter for Walker-Lee is what she gets done in the painted area. The toughness that she brings on a consistent basis make her a tough out either on offense and defense. Walker-Lee is gifted at finding spacing near the basket and also gifted at playing perimeter defense. Versatility and activity are two 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_63173aca78b46","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["207409"],"_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":495055,"_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":"Phelps helps the War Eagles. It does not feel that long ago when Phelps, instead of wearing the Gray Collegiate colors, was sporting navy blue and red of White Knoll. One can definitely see whenever Phelps takes to the court that the improvement and development are there. She has an ability to finish plays at the rim with either her right or left hand and will find spacing near the basket. Phelps is an unselfish player, but will have occasions where her confidence comes through where she will call for the ball when she knows she can make a play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63173ae678b47","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276129"],"_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":456806,"_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":"Adams is our first noteworthy name representing Fairfield County on our list – more specifically – Fairfield Central in Winnsboro. The Griffins will be moving from Class 3A to Class 2A for the upcoming season. Adams first established herself as a name a couple of seasons ago when she was in the seventh grade. She can connect on midrange jumpers and understands how to play the game regardless of the tempo. Adams will get out in transition and complete plays at the rim in addition to what she gets accomplished on defense with collecting steals and how she will make the right passes to ensure her teammates get involved.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63173b0678b48","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["239025"],"_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":"Booth first caught the attention of many a basketball onlooker in the 2020-21 season when she was in the eighth grade with the 4A Eagles. Booth also had to adjust to a new head coach with Jacob Thompson moving on to another 4A Columbia-area school in A.C. Flora and Chantel Amick taking the reins. Booth can be accurate from behind the 3-point arc and also understands how to get out in transition. At times, she will also make good use of the glass for bank shots. Booth is willing to fall to the floor to complete a play and has no problems drawing contact and heading to the free throw line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63173b4d78b49","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["356922"],"_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":"Misick-Rivas is primed for greatness with the 5A Wildcats given she has one of the premier bigs in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='171785' first='Lindsay' last='Garner'] as a mentor before she heads to West Georgia following this season. The young frontcourt force has played travel ball with u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eLexingtonu003c/spanu003e Hoopsters and participated in 20 matchups this past season. She can give a team productive minutes whether she is coming off the bench or if she is a starter. Misick-Rivas is an efficient floor runner and knows exactly where she needs to be in the painted area. She also will draw contact and give her team added points at the free throw line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63173b7978b4a","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401008"],"_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":"This would be a perfect time to use a “diamond in the rough” reference if Tatum were playing off the grid, but there is no such thing as “off the grid” when in the shadow of the Palmetto State's capital city. Tatum translated a breakout freshman campaign with the War Eagles into running grassroots ball with Upward Stars 3SSB 2025. Whenever she has the ball in her hands, her prime directive is to get an offense going as a point guard. Tatum has developed a knack for taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers. Making the right passes to open teammates and coming away with steals as a defender are two of her many strengths.","_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_63173ba078b4b","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["452367"],"_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":456817,"_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":"Prep Girls Hoops got a glimpse of Anderson during the heart of the AAU season when she participated in the LBI Summer Showcase at Carolina Courts in Concord. If the White Knoll girls basketball program was looking to fill a hole following the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='207409' first='Karlee' last='Phelps'] to Gray Collegiate, the 6-foot-2 frame of Anderson may be a good place to start. Anderson is already on the radars of many a basketball onlooker in South Carolina – a testament to how deep the talent pool is just in u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eLexingtonu003c/spanu003e County alone. She has also been playing grassroots basketball for Infinite Dreams (IDreams) along with [player_tooltip player_id='276129' first='Jordyn' last='Adams'] who plays at Fairfield Central.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63173be078b4c","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408753"],"_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":"Fore (teen)! As in the No. 14 that the freshman Haggard wears when wearing the 5A Chapin colors and how she has played golf throughout her athletic career. Her well-rounded athletic resume also includes time on the softball diamond. Haggard is versatile in the sense that she can play virtually anywhere on the court and give her team productive minutes. Scoring on her is not easy given her proficiency for blocking shots. Haggard can be an accurate 3-point shooter and can also get three the old-fashioned way as she will draw contact and take her chances at the free throw line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63173c0478b4d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["405365"],"_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":"Parks is coming off a notable AAU season with Palmetto 76ers which is now under the same umbrella with coach Jerome Dickerson as A'ja Wilson Elite. The injury bug has derailed Parks, but she is not letting that stop her. She puts plenty of emphasis on her ball handling and limiting turnovers. Parks previously participated with the junior varsity team at u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eLexingtonu003c/spanu003e before finding her way to varsity status. As gifted a scorer as she is, she also knows how to make the right passes that can allow her teammates to make bigger contributions. Parks also can either drive to the rim or pull up for a midrange jumper.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63173c5778b4e","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["450528"],"_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":"Sundell's career is beginning to see sunrise with no inclement conditions in sight. She is another element to the budding youth movement that is sure to ensure that the Wildcats remain one of the state's premier teams. When basketball is not her primary athletic focus, that is reserved for lacrosse – her second sport. She has played travel ball with u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eLexingtonu003c/spanu003e Hoopsters. Sundell is another who has junior varsity experience. Passing ability, a willingness to get past defenders en route to the rim and boxing out on the heels of free throws are integral elements to Sundell's complete – and still developing – game.","_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>2027s</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63173ca578b4f","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["324559"],"_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":420441,"_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":"As she enters her eighth grade campaign with the Griffins, who are moving down from 3A to 2A this upcoming season, McMillan has firmly established herself as one of the 2027s to keep on the radar. McMillan brings versatility as she can give a team worthwhile minutes either as a small forward or in either of the backcourt guard spots. She has been on the grassroots circuit with Palmetto Pressure. McMillan can either set up shop behind the perimeter to attempt a 3-point shot or weave through defenders en route to the basket. She also puts emphasis on ball movement to ensure her teammates stay involved in the flow of a game and can come seemingly from out of nowhere to come away with steals on defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt=""/></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->