Around the State: York County Juniors
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It matters little if one is in one of South Carolina’s low density areas – or a high density area such as the York County area outside of Charlotte, the talent pool in the Palmetto State is deep and the competition…
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Continue ReadingIt matters little if one is in one of South Carolina’s low density areas – or a high density area such as the York County area outside of Charlotte, the talent pool in the Palmetto State is deep and the competition is fierce.
Throughout these past several days and weeks, Prep Girls Hoops has put a spotlight on various regions in the state via our county-by-county rankings. Every area has notable names and we are giving them their deserved recognition as we are still a few months out from tip off of the 2022-23 season.
We unveiled our 2023 rankings for York County and are now moving on to the area’s junior class.
Morris arrived on the scene at South Pointe on point as evidenced by her breakthrough freshman campaign and followed it up by tallying superb numbers as a sophomore. She averaged 11.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals for the 4A Stallions. She was offered by Arkansas-Pine Bluff following her freshman season. Defensively, she can collect steals and gather rebounds off an opposing team’s free throw miss. Those steals can become transition baskets and she plays with a high basketball IQ that can enable her to stay out of foul trouble. Morris is listed at 5-foot-9 and defines leadership by example.
Catawba Ridge HS has only been in existence since 2019 and because of standout talents like Davis, it has already made major waves in the South Carolina high school girls basketball landscape. Davis is a 5-foot-10 big who ran grassroots with Lady Attack Elite. Davis is a skilled handler of the ball who can slice and dice her way to the basket through a sea of opposing defenders. She throws defenses for a loop as they are unsure as to if she will attack or pass and is unafraid to draw contact that can place her at the free throw line.
Lancers fans have to be excited for what more is in store for this 2024. Baker played in 31 of Legion Collegiate’s 32 matchups and has become one of the focal points for the green and navy. Grassroots-wise, she sports the jersey of Blythewood-based SC Future during the spring and summer months. When Baker obtains the hot hand from deep, there is virtually no cooling her off. She is gifted at finding spacing in the open floor and can put herself in position to haul in rebounds. Baker can also gather steals as a defender and create additional offensive possessions for her team.
The 5A Bearcats will enter the 2022-23 season as defending champions, but coach Kenny Orr’s Rock Hill bunch went through a massive talent drain this offseason between the transfer of the Hankerson sisters to Charlotte Country Day and three seniors graduating. This creates a lane for standouts such as Crawford to fill that void. She is versatile in the sense that she can operate as either a point guard, shooting guard or small forward. Crawford understands where her team’s passing lanes are and how to efficiently dish the rock to her teammates. She plays the game with a fearless attitude, will shoot from long range and absorbs contact to get to the free throw line.
Reed is another who will likely see her minutes increase this coming season with the Bearcats given coach Kenny Orr’s team will take on a new look from its championship-winning version of 2021-22. She has participated in track and field events throughout her career and those attributes translate well to the basketball court – particularly when getting out in transition. Reed stands at 5-foot-10 and can play at either one of the forward spots or as a wing. Developing her game as a shooter is another part of her skillset Reed is placing emphasis on. She played in 17 games last season for the Bearcats.
Whether it is the running she does on the basketball court or the the running she does in her other athletic discipline – track and field – Orr primes herself ready to compete on a consistent basis. She competed in all 24 games the 4A Stallions participated in last season and scored a number of timely baskets. Where her talents really shined was as a ball distributor to find open teammates and on defense where she clamped down on whoever she was guarding. Orr wears the No. 5, stands at 5-foot-5 and is poised and ready to thrive this coming season.
When a coach assumes a role at a new school, it gives her or him an opportunity to examine her or his roster. The 2022-23 season will be the maiden voyage for the Shakkia Walker era at Clover and she is sure to be pleased with what she has in Alexander. She has ran grassroots with Charlotte Dream Elite 16U. Alexander is one who will put her footwork to good use in the interior. Her activity enables her to haul in offensive rebounds and convert those into two-point putbacks. Alexander will find playing time as a wing and looks to receive feeds from teammates.
Prep Girls Hoops remembers when Cook was one of the standouts at last year’s Top 250 Expo at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center. She part of what is overall a deep roster with the Lancers. Good luck to anyone that draws her as a defensive assignment. Good luck to anyone looking to score on her with her affinity to come away with steals. Cook brings all-out hustle and makes things happen in the transition game as gifted a floor runner as she is. She plays with her back to the basket in the low post and can convert on high-percentage shot opportunities.
Watt in the name of Marcia is taking place with the Blue Eagles? Winning…such as when she and the rest of her Clover teammates followed up its 5A championship in 2020-21 with a stellar 18-6 showing (8-0 Region 3-5A) and a run to the second round of the playoffs last season. Watt participated in grassroots ball this spring and summer with Charlotte Dream Elite 16U. The next couple of season are sure to be ones to watch for this 5-foot-6 combo guard, particularly considering she will be hooping under the tutelage of the Blue Eagles’ first-year head coach in Shakkia Walker.
Wildy once previously wore the Rock Hill colors as part of its junior varsity team before earning a roster spot on the varsity squad that will be in defense of its first-ever 5A state crown from 2021-22. As a defender, Wildy can be one step ahead of an offensive play and uses that knowledge to intercept passes to get out in transition. She attacks the rim and can be counted on to convert on high-percentage shot opportunities. When another one of her teammates looks to score, she can place herself in position to corral an offensive rebound to give her team more chances to splash the rock through the net.