Around the State: Richland County Sophomores
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If there is one state where we have certainly seen 2025s thrive, it is South Carolina – and the budding youth movement that is bountiful throughout the Midlands is a testament to that reality. Throughout the past month or so,…
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Continue ReadingIf there is one state where we have certainly seen 2025s thrive, it is South Carolina – and the budding youth movement that is bountiful throughout the Midlands is a testament to that reality.
Throughout the past month or so, Prep Girls Hoops has gone from section to section of the state via our county-by-county rankings. It is our unique way of putting the spotlight on each area’s marquee names as we get closer and closer to tip off of the 2022-23 regular season.
We unveiled our 2023s and 2024s for Richland County. Without further adieu, onto to its sophomore class.
Jacobs announced that she received her first offer last year – one from in-state Furman University. Back in July, she announced that North Carolina A&T also has Jacobs on their radar. Jacobs had an impressive eighth grade season at Cardinal Newman which resulted in a SCISA 3A championship, but the program took a massive hit in the offseason and Jacobs has found greener (and bluer) pastures at SCISA 4A Heathwood Hall. It is somewhat ironic that she balls out on the grassroots circuit with A’ja Wilson Elite 2025 and will wear the uniform of Wilson’s alma mater. Prep Girls Hoops first saw Jacobs, who also plays volleyball, sporting her new Highlanders look at Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks camp in June.
Here is a sophomore that will be more than thrilled to have Jacobs on the same preps team as her especially considering that she also plays alongside A’ja Wilson Elite 2025 throughout the AAU spring and summer. She too had an impressive showing at Dawn Staley’s camp at UofSC and made our 2025 All-AAU team (as did Jacobs). Gore also a noteworthy outing as part of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit’s Triumph Region at the Peach Games in Atlanta. She has put plenty of emphasis on developing her rhythm from 3-point range and will help a team’s efforts with defense and rebounding.
Aficionados of the SCISA 4A Highlanders will smile with glee at the top of this list – as will coach Brionna Dickerson Zimmerman as she ponders the stacked 2025 class Heathwood Hall will graduate. Monsanto also participates with A’ja Wilson Elite’s 2025s and arrives with the Highlanders from the Cardinal Newman program that saw massive turnover in the offseason. Back in June, Monsanto announced that she received her first Division I – that coming from North Carolina A&T (who also offered Jacobs). Monsanto goes all out every play, every game and brings scoring, energy and rebounding to her team. She also plays softball and volleyball and her addition along with Jacobs’ will make the Highlanders a potent SCISA 4A threat.
Here is a rising star who has also worn the red, white and blue of A’ja Wilson Elite 2025 but plays for a team whose colors are green and gold instead of green and blue. Prep Girls Hoops saw Ratchford on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit’s Triumph Region at Peach Games in Atlanta. Among the attributes Ratchford brings is the ability to make tough shots and a confidence that can translate to the rest of a team. She also will haul in her fair share of rebounds and collect steals as a defender. She was unavailable for the Vikings playoff run due to injury, but a fully healthy Ratchford throughout the season will be huge as coach Megan Assey and her Spring Valley assembling look to shake things up in the Palmetto State’s 5A girls basketball landscape.
Early in the offseason, graduating Spring Valley center Ariana Wilkes announced her commitment to Hampton University in Virginia. It is now safe to say coach Megan Assey has found a viable replacement in Yarborough, who arrives to the Vikings from Fairfield Central. The centerpiece of what Yarborough brings to the table is her play in the low post. On both offense and defense, Yarborough maintains an aggressiveness and her footwork in the paint certainly helps her overall production. Rebounding, being an efficient floor runner and absorbing contact are other elements to her game that will make her very valuable to the 2022-23 rendition of the Vikings.
When Isaac is away from the basketball court, there is a good chance she is sharpening her talents in her other athletic discipline – track and field. Once the season had came to a close for the Diamond Hornets, Isaac put on the Upward Stars 3SSB 2025 Adidas for AAU ball in spring and summer. Standing at 5-foot-7, a hallmark to her game is the confidence she brings day in and day out. Isaac will knock down her jump shots whether they are from midrange or long range. She will also make the correct passes at the correct times to her teammates and, defensively, can get opposing ball carriers to make mistakes with the rock.
Highlights
There are two attributes regarding Spring Valley that make coach Megan Assey’s team a dangerous one in the coming seasons. The first is what they accomplished this past season and the second is its ever growing youth movement which Williams is part of. She is not afraid to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. Williams is a consistent and fierce rim attacker and gives opposing teams problems with the way she guards inbounds passes. Williams is listed as a 5-foot-8 combo guard and one of the reasons why 5A Spring Valley is poised to build on what was a successful 2021-22 season.
Earle has played a number of sports throughout her career – volleyball and soccer being among them. Of course, basketball is another and what she can do as a rebounder really shows itself in timely occasions throughout the course of a game. Earle can set up shop at exactly the right places behind the 3-point line to drain triples. Attempting to score points on her is not easy either as she will occupy space near the rim and reject many of those attempts. Earle can also be relied on defensively to collect steals. She will wear the Skyhawks colors in 2022-23 as the team competes for the first time as a SCISA 4A school.
Prep Girls Hoops got a good look at Harvey back in June at Dawn Staley’s team camp at the University of South Carolina. She had a stellar performance for a Blazers team that will drop down from 5A to 4A this upcoming season. Harvey wears the Palmetto 76ers Select 2025 uniform in the spring and summer months. She stands at 5-foot-11 and does a great deal of work in the painted area. Harvey will bring down rebounds either the easy way or by winning tough battles on the boards. She is also a gifted shot blocker who will reject plenty of attempts with her length. Making her free throws, midrange shots and offensive rebounding are other keys to what she does.
Highlights
With the young up-and-comer Tiller as part of the nucleus of the Shamrocks, the team posted a double-digit winning season for the first time since 2010-11 – when Precious Caldwell was coach. She is 5-foot-5 and helps her team’s defensive efforts by getting steals and getting out in transition with the basketball. Tiller sets herself up to haul in offensive rebounds which can turn into two-point putbacks. Among the sports Tiller has also participated in include softball, track and field and cross country. Expect Tiller and the rest of 2A Eau Claire to build on what was a resurgent 2021-22 under coach Ashley Patterson-Gilmore.
We transition from a Destinee at Eau Claire to a Destiny at 4A Westwood. Omeire heads to the grassroots circuit to play for SC Future 2025 in the spring and summer months of AAU. Track and field events have also been on Omeire’s athletic resume. Omeire does plenty of the little things that end up with a big impact even if they are not always scoresheet-worthy. These include hustling for 50-50 balls and absorbing charges. While standing at 5-foot-6, she has no problem thriving as a four forward. Omiere is a fearless rim attacker and can get from one end of the floor to the other with the ball in her hand.
Highlights
With Crosland, the land that coach Megan Assey and Spring Valley currently occupy will be full of wins – even moreso than the 16 the Vikings compiled throughout the course of the 2021-22 campaign. She brings previous experience as well from competing on the junior varsity team. She also brings AAU experience from her time with Capital City Tyrants. Crosland is a small forward who adds length to her 5-foot-9 stature. Her versatility comes into play with how she takes care of the ball and attacks the rim. She also does many of the little things that lead to wins – such as diving for loose balls.
Highlights
The bottom part of our 2025 Richland County list will be filled with plenty of gold and navy blue for the Raiders bunch that will make its return to 2A play in the coming season. With Jailyn Oree having graduated and about to play her college ball at Spartanburg Methodist College, it creates an opportunity for Donaldson to compile even more minutes. She is a 5-foot-11 big that adds to the depth the Raiders have in the frontcourt. Donaldson will have a great opportunity to have a great season for a Keenan team that will have a bright spotlight on it from start to finish.
It may be a surprise to many, but Milaysia is not the only player on the Keenan roster with the Fulwiley last name. Jayla competed in 17 contests last season for coach McLain and the Raiders and first began wearing the gold and navy blue uniform as an eighth grader. She saw a significant minutes and games increase from her eighth grade campaign to last year as a freshman. Her versatility is apparent as she can give a team productive minutes as either a two guard or a three forward. She also possesses a knack for attacking the basket. With Jayla’s talents, development and upside, the Fulwiley last name will still have a pulse at Keenan even once you-know-who graduates and goes Division I following this season.