Region 7-A Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One look at the calendar and one can see that not only are we in October, but on the cusp of&nbsp;a&nbsp;new calendar year in 2023. That can mean plenty of things, but among those that it does mean is the start of basketball season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the next several days and weeks, Prep Girls Hoops will provide in-depth comprehensive previews on every region in the state as we look at the marquee players in those regions and give our opinion on which teams will finish where in the standings.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are getting close to concluding our look at Class&nbsp;A&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;look at Region&nbsp;7-A. Only one region remains for this class after this one.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634dd1bba62f5","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":"Polite assumed team captaincy duties for the Gators last season and competed in 23 of the team's 25 contests. Out of those 25 saw Estill run the table during conference play last season. She stands at 5-foot-8 and primarily plays at the four. She can clog an opposing team's passing lanes with steals and deflections. She is unafraid to play the game on contact and will take her chances at the free throw line. The Gators advanced to the second round of the u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003e1Au003c/spanu003e playoffs last season and one can certainly expect that “Lex” will want to close her high school career with a “Lex”-clamation point.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634dd169a62f4","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["410294"],"_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":"With the graduation of Erin Rivers, it creates an opportunity for Love to fill that void. She certainly possesses the skillset to still give the Warriors a formidable paint presence this season. She also plays volleyball in addition to basketball. At 6-foot-1, her height advantage can come into play in many aspects of the game – including scoring, rebounding and shot blocking. She has previously participated in grassroots basketball with TMP 17U White during the AAU spring and summer months. Love participated in 26 of the 27 games the Warriors competed in last season and the team finished with a record of 19-8.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634dced7e1c98","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["171804"],"_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":"u003cemu003eu003cstrongu003e(*PGH Preseason Player of the Year*)u003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003ernrnLast year, Mickell received u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e scholarship offer to continue her basketball career at Claflin, one of the two Orangeburg-based HBCUs. Her athletic career has also included competing in track and field events. At 5-foot-10, she provides an interior presence that is difficult for other fours and fives to contend with. Mickell can get physical in the low post, will find spacing near the rim and can turn offensive rebounds into two-point putbacks. She labors for everything she goes after her hard work typically yields positive results. Mickell participated in AAU ball with H2 Lowco – u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e Prep Girls Hoops Circuit team this past season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634dcf14e1c99","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":"This will be the final season of an Estill HS as it and Wade Hampton will merge after this season to become the new Hampton County HS. Smoak will be one of those standouts poised to send the Gators out with u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e bang. She is u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e former champion in the 100 meters (track and field) and has played her grassroots basketball with H2 Lowco. Smoak maintains plenty of confidence in her ability to sink long rang jumpers and can disrupt and opposing team's passing lanes with how she deflects said passes. Versatility is u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e hallmark of her game as she can play as either u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e forward or u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e guard.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634dcf60e1c9a","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["399199"],"_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":"By recent Red Raiders standards, the 2021-22 campaign had to be considered u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e success for the girls basketball program. The team won 11 games last season and advanced to the second round of the 1A tournament. Johnson played in 16 games last season and averaged 11.6 points. She can play productive minutes as either u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e wing or at one of the two guard positions. Listed as u003cspan class=u0022ilu0022u003eau003c/spanu003e combo guard, she plays somewhat off the grid but that could change as long as Bamberg-Ehrhardt continues its ascent up the 1A ranks. With Johnson returning for her sophomore season, the Red Raiders could do just that.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Prep Girls Hoops predictions:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Estill </strong>– The Gators have one more season left in them before the Wade Hampton consolidation and it looks to be&nbsp;a&nbsp;memorable one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Whale Branch</strong> – Who will step up to replace the Warriors dynamic duo of Erin Rivers and Kynew Barnwell?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bamberg-Ehrhardt</strong> – The Red Raiders have posted double-digit winning seasons two of their last three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Allendale-Fairfax</strong> – The Tigers' signature win of last season arguably came against Estill in late December.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bethune-Bowman</strong> – The Mohawks finished two games below .500, but fared decently in region play last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Branchville</strong> – The Yellow Jackets made the 1A tournament last season before&nbsp;a&nbsp;first-round exit at the hands of McBee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bridges Prep</strong> – The team's lone win of last season occurred against Georgia-based Memorial Day.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Royal Live Oaks Academy</strong> – The Knights are moving from Region 6-A&nbsp;to Region&nbsp;7-A&nbsp;this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->