SCISA Class 2A Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The countdown to tip-off of the 2022-23 high school basketball seasons across South Carolina has reached the final weeks and will soon hit the final days. That means what better time than now to start looking at the various teams that make up each region in the Palmetto State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the past several weeks, Prep Girls Hoops has offered comprehensive region-by-region previews as we give our outlook on who will finish where in those regions as well as standout players to be on the lookout for.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the storylines of the offseason was SCISA's realignment – and how many schools that used to be in the 1A ranks are now classified as 2A programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2a97940f9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["323979"],"_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":389792,"_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":"Beard assumed team captaincy duties last season for a Warriors bunch that finished 14-9 last season as a SCISA 1A school. She has also played softball and volleyball throughout her athletic career. Beard is an anchor for the Warriors frontcourt and can be counted on to drain big baskets in critical moments. She is an efficient runner of the floor and displays how versatile she is by playing serviceable minutes outside of the frontcourt. Beard also has no issues drawing contact and getting to the free throw line and compliments her scoring with her rebounding. She also leads vocally in addition to by example.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2ad7940fa","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["175382"],"_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/emu003ernrnWith Hilton Head Christian having moved up to SCISA 3A, Washington will be co-leading an Eagles team that will be a popular pick by many a Palmetto State hoops pundit to be the last 2A team standing in a few months. Washington reached the 1,000-point plateau last season and one cannot reach that lofty feat without the ability to score from virtually anywhere on the court. She plays with a tenacious mentality and can reject shots or play strong defense out on the perimeter. She averaged 16 points last season for Beaufort Academy as the Eagles finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 19-7 record.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2b2b940fb","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["255897"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eBetween Washington and Heyward, the Eagles are set up to graduate an impressive 2023 class. Heyward understands what championship euphoria feels like given she (as a freshman) was part of the 2019-20 version that took home SCISA's 1A crown that season. Defensively, she is a consistent threat to steal the ball and create additional possessions for her team. As an offensive player, Heyward is fearless and will absorb contact to get to the free throw line. Heyward can also be reliable in big moments of games with her ability to sink clutch baskets. Coming through with creative passes is another element to her overall game.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2b52940fc","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["256832"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eAnd even once those two standout 2023s graduate, Eagles fans will still have another season of Freeman to enjoy. Her athletic career has included participation in running events in addition to being on the varsity cheerleading squad. She places a great deal of emphasis on ball security and limiting turnovers. Freeman is an efficient floor runner that can be accurate with her 3-point attempts. Freeman also excels as a transition runner and is an opposing ball carrier makes a mistake around her, she is likely to turn that into an additional Eagles possession. She has also ran on the grassroots circuit with H2Lowco as does many a standout from the area.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2b8a940fd","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["315513"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eGriffin led the Generals to the SCISA 1A championship game last season against Newberry Academy. Coach Chris Pouyat's team will be another favorite by many to reign supreme against the 2A field this season. Coastal Select is the team that she runs on the grassroots circuit with during the spring and summer months. At 5-foot-8, she primarily plays at the four. When she has the hot hand, it is wise to feed Griffin the rock as she will have occasions where she embarks on scoring binges. Her scoring capabilities combined with what she gets accomplished as a rebounder make her a double-double possibility on a game-by-game basis.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2bc7940fe","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["257989"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ePouyat began playing at the varsity level when she was a seventh grader with the Generals. She managed to improve statistically improve in 2021-22 over what she got accomplished the previous campaign. Pouyat's ball handling capabilities enable her to find her way out of precarious situations. Another way she does this is with ball distribution as she does possess a pass-first mentality. Pouyat is a consistent threat to put plenty of points on the board and she can get this accomplished by virtue of her 3-point shooting. She also will draw contact that can put her at the free throw line.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2bf1940ff","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["185223"],"_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":"Almeida is a dual-sport athlete who has played volleyball in addition to what she does on Cathedral Academy's basketball hardwood. As is the case with her teammate Pouyat, Almeida has also participated in grassroots basketball with Coastal Select. Almeida reached the 1,000-point plateau last season. She is a potent scorer, but also has a knack for getting her teammates involved in the flow of a game. As she is a talent that can play either of the guard positions, Almeida is a backcourt anchor for a Generals team that will be one to beat as the team ascends from 1A to 2A.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2c8a94100","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["493653"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eSanders is another who now wears the Vegas gold and navy blue colors of the Generals during the high school season and those of Coastal Select when the AAU months roll around. She is a transfer to Cathedral Academy from Berkeley HS. Sanders has also taken part in track and field events throughout her career. As a freshman last season, she earned plenty of playing time at SCHSL 5A Berkeley and that is sure to translate into even more minutes under coach Chris Pouyat's tutelage. Sanders is a left-handed point guard who can find her way around defenses and also is true on plenty of her attempts from the field.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2cb794101","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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe Patriots of last season graduated a bevy of seniors. Given Rice is a senior herself this season, she of course will receive the same sendoff in 2023 and she will be an even bigger focal point for Patrick Henry Academy. She helps a team's scoring output with the number of points she can place on a scoreboard. Rice presents plenty of speed and agility and it enables her to get quickly from one end of the court to the other. She has plenty of shooting accuracy as well as passing accuracy and stays active even when she does not have the ball in her hands. Rice also plays soccer in addition to basketball.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635c2cf194102","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["258138"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eSpeaking of multi-sport athletes, Wyndham is another of those as her athletic resume includes volleyball to go alongside basketball. She is a featured scorer for a Cavaliers team that posted a 19-10 record (9-3 Region 2-A) under head coach Aaron Johnson. Wyndham can be accurate from behind the 3-point arc, but will also convert on plenty of her high-percentage shot chances near the rim. She runs the floor with efficiency, can get out in transition and will haul in plenty of rebounds. Wyndham can absorb contact to get to the free throw line and also does plenty of work as a defender. That includes keeping her arms outstretched, deflecting passes and getting opposing ball handlers in uncomfortable situations.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /-->