Region 5-AAA Preview
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November – typically an eventful month on the high school sports calendar. Not only are there playoff matchups taking place in the disciplines of volleyball and football, but it is also the month where attention turns to basketball. That is…
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Continue ReadingNovember – typically an eventful month on the high school sports calendar. Not only are there playoff matchups taking place in the disciplines of volleyball and football, but it is also the month where attention turns to basketball.
That is where we come in. Throughout the last several weeks, Prep Girls Hoops has offered comprehensive previews of every region in South Carolina. We are spotlighting key players to watch in each region along with giving our opinions on which teams will finish where in the standings.
We are roughly halfway through our previews of the teams in Class 3A with Region 5 next up on our radar.
(*PGH Preseason Player of the Year*)rnAll appears to be active on the recruiting front as it relates to this veteran standout from The Creek. Columbia College, Claflin and Newberry College have all offered the veteran backcourt standout for the Diamond Hornets who has sported the SC Future uniform during the AAU months of the spring and summer. Floyd is a multi-sport athlete who has also participated in track and field, softball and tennis events along with what she does basketball-wise. She can play primarily at either of the guard positions. She was integral in the Diamond Hornets’ defensive efforts and is a proficient shooter from behind the 3-point line.
Spencer put together a banner season in 2021-22. She played in 19 games and averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 steals per contest to lead her team to a berth in the 3A playoffs. Spencer has worn the uniform of Carolina Stingrays throughout the travel months of the spring and summer. Defensively, it appears she is always one step ahead of who she is guarding and comes away with plenty of steals. Spencer showcases how confident she is in what she does as a player and gives maximum effort on every play. She can get out of uncomfortable scenarios with her ball handling skills, ensures her teammates stay involved in a game and can be accurate from behind the 3-point line.
Highlights
Veteran talent will be among the keys this season for a Diamond Hornets bunch that is coming off a 2021-22 that saw them make a deep run in last season’s 3A playoffs. Back during the early portions of the summer, Weston announced that she had received an offer from the Owls of the University of Maine-Presque Isle. Weston also wears the green uniform of SC Future throughout the spring and summer months. She provides frontcourt depth to the Lower Richland roster as she typically operates as a five. Rebounding and a high basketball IQ are among her strong suits in addition to her ability to absorb contact to get to the free throw line.
Much of the talent in this region is of the veteran distinction and this standout guard for the Blue Devils is no exception. Ganzy is actually a combo guard who played a key role in lifting Dreher to a berth in the 4A playoffs. One of the strong suits to her game is the ability to make accurate passes for her teammates. Opposing teams have to watch out for Ganzy as a defender as she presents a consistent threat to steal the ball and create additional Blue Devils possessions. Ganzy took to the court in Dreher blue on 11 occasions last season and is poised to conclude her high school career with an exclamation point.
Ganzy is not the only one that is sure to receive her fair share of flowers once Senior Day arrives at the home of the Blue Devils. Hollis is another SC Future product. She is also a dual-sport athlete as she also excels as on the soccer pitch in addition to her basketball accomplishments. Hollis has no problems absorbing contact and finding her way to the free throw line. She may be listed at 5-foot-4 as a point guard, but she can get herself in position to grab plenty of rebounds. Her speed and quickness along with a knack for finding driving lanes to the rim are two other elements to her game that make her an important piece.
In addition to basketball, Green has also showcased her talents as a cross country runner. Another of the standouts that make up what is a veteran core with coach Aaron Lucas’ Diamond Hornets, she stands at 5-foot-8 and can play primarily as a three forward in the frontcourt. In addition, Green can also find minutes as either a four or as a wing. Her length comes in very useful particularly on the defensive end of the floor as she can deflect passes and clog an opposing team’s passing lanes. Green is also unafraid of contact as she will take her opportunities at the free throw line.
During the club months of the spring and summer, Isaac participates with Upward Stars 15U 3SSB under the Adidas umbrella. Among her other athletic disciplines throughout her career include tennis and track and field. Isaac can play as either a one or two in the backcourt. A combo guard, she understands the art of making the correct passes at the correct times. One of the many stout defenders that make up the Diamond Hornets roster, she can get opposing ball carriers to commit turnovers. Isaac can knock down jumpers from long or midrange and displays overall confidence in her game.
Highlights
Coach Cedrick Simpson’s Bruins have been one of the teams to beat in the 3A ranks the past few seasons. With his team having graduated its veteran core from last season, Rumph looks to be one of the faces of the youth movement at Orangeburg-Wilkinson. At 6-foot-1, she can play as either a four or a five to give the Bruins an interior presence. That height advantage is sure to come in handy in terms of scoring, rebounding as well as interior defense. Rumph is poised to be one of the standout 2026’s to watch this season across the Palmetto State.
The same applies to Williams as it does to Rumph in terms of freshmen to watch in 2022-23. Williams has sported the uniform of SC Future throughout the AAU spring and summer months and is a multi-sport athlete who is part of the Bruins’ soccer team. She previously was part of the junior varsity roster at Orangeburg-Wilkinson before ascending to varsity status. Williams participated on a 2021-22 Bruins rendition that was guard-heavy but will look significantly different this coming season than it did last season. She stands at a stature of 5-foot-1 and plays primarily plays at the one in the backcourt.
Joliyah Robinson
Joliyah Robinson
Prep Girls Hoops remembers seeing two notables from the Bruins that stood out at Dawn Staley’s team camp at what is once again USC. Rumph was one and Robinson was the other. Robinson could arguably be the centerpiece of the Orangeburg-Wilkinson youth movement despite entering her eighth grade campaign. She is listed at 5-foot-6 and thrives as a backcourt stalwart with the Bruins. She makes the most of the minutes she receives – something that will certainly be on the increase. Robinson is a skilled rim attacker and will convert on plenty of her high-percentage shot opportunities. She proved last season that she is just getting started.
Prep Girls Hoops Predictions
Lower Richland – Even with losing Anala Nelson (now at Austin Peay), the Diamond Hornets should be just fine.
Orangeburg-Wilkinson – The Bruins should experience a dropoff with losing three star seniors (including Shar’dasia Zeigler at SC State), but its future is bright.
Gilbert – Spencer is poised to close out her high school career in emphatic fashion.
Dreher – The Blue Devils will move down in class from 4A to 3A.
Swansea – It was not that long ago when the Tigers won 23 games in a season (2018-19).
Brookland-Cayce – This will be the Bearcats’ third season back as a 3A team following competition in the 4A class in 2018-19 and 2019-20.