Class 3A State Rankings – 2nd Edition

By this same time next month, the regular season will have concluded and high school basketball fans in every corner of the Palmetto State will be engulfed in the frenzy that is February.    There are a number of teams in the 3A realm that have set themselves up nicely to claim tournament bids once the brackets get revealed. But a few have established themselves as head and shoulders above the pack.    We unveiled our first set of 3A rankings at the beginning of the month. Now at the end of the month, here is our updated top 10 list for Class 3A.    Camden (18-2, 5-0)   In our first set of rankings, coach Natalie Jeffcoat-Norris' Bulldogs were second behind another 3A power in Southside (who was undefeated at the time). Camden has made us all remember they were a 3A finalist last season and are the team to beat once again.    This month, the Bulldogs resume has included impressive wins over North Augusta, Crestwood, Marlboro County and (most recently) South Pointe. Camden has yet to lose to an in-state foe.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/10/6A11CA54-B399-437B-B0B9-E91C4DEE1EA9-scaled.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523423" width="256" height="192" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='171798' first='Joyce' last='Edwards'] still looks like one of the top juniors in the nation as she is averaging 26.9 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.7 blocks. Speaking of veterans, senior [player_tooltip player_id='254155' first='Tateyoina' last='Harris'] is averaging 9.6 rebounds per game as well along with 6.9 points. One must not overlook sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='175325' first='Morgan' last='Champion'], who is averaging 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. [player_tooltip player_id='324555' first='Braylin' last='Mungo'] is averaging 10.3 points, 3.7 steals and 2.4 assists – as an eighth grader. As for [player_tooltip player_id='171806' first='Zyasia' last='Carter'], she has averaged 7.3 points, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals.    Wren (18-3, 5-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/11/IMG_0949-scaled-crop-2212x1453-1668631867.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-549458" width="329" height="216" /></figure>   The Hurricanes were also high on our initial set of rankings at the beginning of the month. A month later, Wren looks like an assembling that will cause problems for many a team when the calendar reads February.    Wren's signature win of the month is undoubtedly the 49-45 triumph it achieved against Southside on Jan. 10.    Teams have not been able to do much to contain junior [player_tooltip player_id='175308' first='Raina' last='McGowens'], who recently picked up an offer from Oakland University in Michigan. She is averaging 20.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Coastal Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id='124113' first='Riley' last='Stack'] is once again solidifying Wren's frontcourt by averaging 14.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per contest. [player_tooltip player_id='268139' first='Deyana' last='Hayes'], another frontcourt standout who also plays volleyball, is averaging 8.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. [player_tooltip player_id='175339' first='Olivia' last='Randolph'] has been a worthwhile addition to the team as she has averaged 5.9 rebounds in addition to rejecting 1.6 shots as a defender.   Southside (18-2, 4-1)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/IMG_5319-crop-3308x2172-1672312998.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-573627" width="350" height="230" /></figure>   The Tigers topped our initial list of 3A rankings at the beginning of the month. Southside was looked at as one of the top teams in 3A when the season commenced in November and that remains the case as of today.    Southside has a rematch coming up against Wren on its home floor on Friday. Those two teams are obviously the class of its region.    Since our last set of rankings, [player_tooltip player_id='196311' first='Kamari' last='Thompson'] has added an offer from Columbia-based HBCU Benedict College to her impressive resume. Thompson is averaging 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game. [player_tooltip player_id='197344' first='Lauren' last='Wearbon'] has averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.5 steals. [player_tooltip player_id='194863' first='Kamya' last='Hatten'] now has offers from Benedict as well as Long Island University. She is averaging 11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 3.1 assists per game. One must not overlook [player_tooltip player_id='194865' first='Jakayla' last='Lorick'] and the 5.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 steals she is averaging per game. The same applies with [player_tooltip player_id='176203' first='Quayla' last='Nolan'] and her 5.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game.    Philip Simmons (15-4, 4-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/11/88DBBFC1-70C1-473A-82CC-6F027DE2763F-scaled.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-555833" width="371" height="278" /></figure>   As of this writing, the Iron Horses are not only one victory shy of tying the 16 wins it earned last season, they are also undefeated against region opponents. There is a good chance that will be the case at season's end given the teams in Philip Simmons' region.    There are only four games remaining that are listed on the Iron Horses' schedule. Out of those four, three of them are at home.    The Iron Horses are continuing to get worthwhile contributions from returning senior [player_tooltip player_id='175384' first='Kylee' last='Kellermann'] in addition to two other upperclassmen in [player_tooltip player_id='197358' first='Kennedy' last='Rivers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273201' first='Zhaire' last='Mack']. [player_tooltip player_id='555430' first='Germany' last='Moore'], a freshman, will be a name to keep one's eyes in coming seasons.    Blue Ridge (18-4, 4-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/IMG_5531-crop-3226x2118-1672313331.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-573638" width="378" height="248" /></figure>   The Tigers are another team that is without a blemish in region play this season up to this point. There is good chance that when the season has concluded that it will remain the case for coach Alex Smith's Blue Ridge bunch.   Thus far, the Tigers' signature victory of the month of January is its 59-55 triumph over 4A Eastside on Jan. 3.    [player_tooltip player_id='252636' first='Zikira' last='Henderson'] has resembled one of the premier 2024s in the state. She is averaging 15.3 points, five rebounds and 3.3 steals in the 21 games she has played in. As for [player_tooltip player_id='252633' first='Anyah' last='Henderson'], she has posted numbers of 10 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists and three steals per game. Claire Skinner continues to provide a presence for Blue Ridge in the interior as she is averaging 8.6 rebounds, 7.5 points and 1.7 steals per game. A senior, Emily Horton, has played in 17 games averaging 5.2 points per contest.    Lower Richland (10-6, 4-0)    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/IMG_5061-crop-2089x1372-1672213756.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-573050" width="380" height="249" /></figure>   Coach Aaron Lucas' Diamond Hornets are another team that has began region play without being placed in the loss column. Many of Lower Richland's defeats earlier in the season occurred against tough opponents.    A couple of the Diamond Hornets' more impressive victories this season happened this month against Military Magnet and Orangeburg-Wilkinson.    Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='405364' first='Jhnai' last='Sumter'] has continued to shine this season at Lower Richland. She is averaging 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game. [player_tooltip player_id='496217' first='Chi'nya' last='Isaac'], a sophomore, is averaging 12.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 steals per matchup. Claflin commit [player_tooltip player_id='234751' first='Tyra' last='Floyd'] has averaged 10.5 points and 2.8 steals per game. [player_tooltip player_id='361185' first='Taniyah' last='Weston'] is also averaging 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.    Crestwood (15-4, 4-1)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/E77AB937-FCE9-499A-8A9B-3C2F52884B4E.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-569850" width="386" height="289" /></figure>   With a few games left to play in the season, it certainly appears as if the Knights will eclipse its 16-win showing from last season. Among Crestwood's wins in January include a 64-47 victory over Marlboro County at home on Jan. 10.    The Knights have a rematch against the Bulldogs this week on Friday as the scene shifts to Marlboro County.    [player_tooltip player_id='171786' first='Tashiana' last='Farmer'] may be in her final season as a Knight, but she hopes a few more games are on the schedule as Crestwood looks to make a deep tournament run. The Knights have also been bolstered by the frontcourt play of [player_tooltip player_id='370273' first='Taliya' last='Harris'] as well as the backcourt stalwart that is [player_tooltip player_id='370272' first='London' last='Vaughn'].    Walhalla (11-7, 5-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/07/90895FC5-ABE8-41FF-B78E-B5652B67279A-scaled.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-454322" width="387" height="290" /></figure>   As of this writing, not only are the Razorbacks gone undefeated in region play, Walhalla is also in the throes of a seven-game winning streak. The Razorbacks' 11 victories equal its win total from last season.    The team's victories in January have included defeating a pair of tough region outs in Crescent and West-Oak.    [player_tooltip player_id='412607' first='Marnie' last='Baxter'], in 17 games, is averaging 15.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. [player_tooltip player_id='452376' first='Whitney' last='Winstead'] is a dual-sport athlete who plays both basketball and volleyball. She is averaging 10.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per matchup. [player_tooltip player_id='587302' first='Kami' last='Roach'] is in her second season playing varsity and has averaged 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 steals as a freshman. [player_tooltip player_id='529247' first='Gianna' last='Ortiz'] is listed at 5-foot-10 and has averaged 7.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.   Emerald (15-2, 4-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_8857-crop-3919x2573-1674305222.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-586716" width="397" height="261" /></figure>   Youth is serving the Vikings well. Emerald has successfully re-stacked itself with a young core that should do wonders for the Vikings in coming seasons. Emerald also remains unbeaten in region play.    The Vikings have scored impressive wins this season over Saluda, Woodruff and, most recently, Clinton.    [player_tooltip player_id='438237' first='Danielle' last='Oliver'], who had a 17-point performance against the Red Devils, has averaged 15.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.1 steals and 3.5 assists per game. Her sister, [player_tooltip player_id='438236' first='Cameron' last='Oliver'], has averaged 9.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game in addition to 3.3 assists. The Vikings continue to get major contributions from seventh grader [player_tooltip player_id='563335' first='Jurnee' last='Williams'] to the tune of six points and 1.5 steals a contest.    West-Oak (13-5, 4-1)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/04/D5545DF9-2A49-43C2-A3C4-D6E9BA4DB93B.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-417567" width="403" height="302" /></figure>   The Warriors were ninth on our 3A rankings in our initial list we released earlier in the month. This year's rendition of West-Oak basketball is a far distance from last season's when the Warriors had a double-digit loss campaign.    West-Oak has scored an impressive win over Crescent on Jan. 17 in addition to a close win in overtime on Jan. 10 on the road at Daniel.    [player_tooltip player_id='399198' first='Reagan' last='Mobley'] is West-Oak's leading scorer having averaged 11.2 points, four rebounds and 3.3 steals per game. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='577617' first='Joanna' last='Burgess'] is having herself a breakout 2022-23 averaging 10.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. [player_tooltip player_id='265021' first='Makazia' last='Hunter'], in her senior season, has averaged 9.9 rebounds, 6.8 points and 1.7 steals.

By this same time next month, the regular season will have concluded and high school basketball fans in every corner of the Palmetto State will be engulfed in the frenzy that is February.