Grassroots Preview: Charleston Raptors 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's travel season has began in earnest across the Palmetto State and one of those teams is competing this season under a new insignia.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remember a team out of the Lowcountry called TMP that wore black, white and teal uniforms? That team is still around, but is now sporting black, white and red uniforms under the banner of [program_tooltip program_id='713840' first='Charleston' last='Raptors']. Several of [program_tooltip program_id='713840' first='Charleston' last='Raptors']' teams made an impression a couple of weeks ago at the Prep Girls Hoops Triumph Region Kickoff in Spartanburg at the Upward Star Center.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without further adieu, let us take a look at [program_tooltip program_id='713840' first='Charleston' last='Raptors'] 2026 assembling.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madison Nowell</strong> – She is one of the taller members of this year's team at 5-foot-10. Nowell is one of two listed at the lofty height.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elsie Newton</strong> – Newton is playing up in class as a 2028. In fact, she is the lone 2028 playing on the 15U squad.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":633462,"width":278,"height":208,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/AEDAA0C2-5715-4EA1-B6FE-340EF51BE6C6.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-633462" style="width:278px;height:208px" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496228' first='Josie' last='Hanks']</strong> – Hanks has a busy schedule athletically between basketball and the varsity soccer she also partakes in. She is one of two representatives of the 2A Landsharks on the team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blair Acker</strong> – Acker is the other of the two from [program_tooltip program_id='713840' first='Charleston' last='Raptors'] 2026 that is playing up in class. She has also participated on the swim team at First Baptist.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='688645' first='Ella' last='Hunter']</strong> – She is the other representative from Oceanside Collegiate on the team. Prior to joining [program_tooltip program_id='713840' first='Charleston' last='Raptors'] 2026, she wore the uniform of Coastal Select on the travel circuit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":633464,"width":305,"height":229,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/4B655FD3-CED7-4349-9F6B-E4CD0ACA08F5.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-633464" style="width:305px;height:229px" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='387006' first='Dyarri' last='Braddick']</strong> – The old saying is true with standouts such as Braddick that height cannot be coached. At 6-foot-4, she makes scoring on her in the post a difficult task.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1173496' first='Kylie' last='Finley']</strong> – Finley earned plenty of minutes for the Cavaliers when she was an eighth grader. She also is part of the softball team at St. John's Christian Academy.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Brown</strong> – The SCISA 4A Hurricanes are well-represented on this year's [program_tooltip program_id='713840' first='Charleston' last='Raptors'] 2026 Roster. Brown (one of four from First Baptist) is also standing at 5-foot-10 as is Newton.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='686740' first='Avery' last='Clark']</strong> – Clark participated in 20 games this past season for Palmetto Christian. She has excelled particularly as a rebounder.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reagan Conrad</strong> – Conrad has contributed noteworthy numbers from the junior varsity experience she has amassed at First Baptist. One would believe it sets herself up nicely for future varsity success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='778131' first='Lachar' last='Lawrence']</strong> – Lawrence played her first season at the varsity level as an eighth grader. She also has experience participating in track and field events.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":635719,"width":246,"height":328,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/20230407_222511.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-635719" style="width:246px;height:328px" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761890' first='Andrea' last='Kelly']</strong> – Kelly finished this past season having earned 8-A All-Region honors. She is the lone representative from Burke on this year's roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->