A1 Hoops Team Camp: 2027 Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Contrary to popular belief, the only Live Period team camp taking place in South Carolina was not only occurring at Rock Hill.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was another one, albeit smaller but no less competitive. That was one was the team camp hosted by A1 Hoops Report at Riverview Park in North Augusta. While the camp mostly saw Palmetto State teams take part, one of the six teams that was in attendance made it across the Savannah River for the festivities.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops also made the trek to the CSRA for the Friday slate of games. Here is a look at the rising sophomores who turned in impressive performances on the South Carolina-Georgia state line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["324560"],"_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":924716,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666d37e597184"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With big sis Alayah now in the college ranks at Savannah State University, the younger Birch will be the focal point of all things SCISA 4A Northwood Academy for the next three seasons. The rising sophomore got her Friday at Riverview Park off to a great start by tallying 17 points in a 29-17 victory over 4A Midland Valley. Birch made her presence known from distance by connecting on long range attempts and also caused problems for the Mustangs on defense. In addition, Birch also managed to get out in transition and drew contact to get to the free throw line. Her skillset and still developing game will ensure another Birch will be at the collegiate level once 2027 arrives. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":924782,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Blaire Ball","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Strom Thurmond HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666d37e597227"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ball could also be the answer to who will emerge as a premier player for Strom Thurmond. And she has plenty of time remaining to solidify that status. Ball would score seven points to lift the Rebels to that 30-27 victory to dispatch of C.A. Johnson. She only had one made attempt from the field – a 3-pointer – but she displayed an ability to connect on clutch free throw tries which is where close contests are either won or lost. The 5-foot-9 Ball may have the height of a power forward but possesses the ball handling skills of a guard. Ball also plays volleyball and softball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":924916,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1111485' first='Taylor' last='Booker']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Augusta Christian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666d37e5972a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Surprisingly, only one Georgia team was part of the field for this year's live event at Riverview Park. That team's first contest of the day saw the Lions matched up with Northwood Academy in an all-SCISA 4A affair. Booker, a six-foot center, finished with six points in what was a defeat to the Chargers, but where she particularly displayed promise was as a rebounder. She gathered plenty of boards and also used her length to her advantage in complimenting her stature. Booker also displayed a willingness to dive for loose balls. She also takes part in track and field events for Augusta Christian. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":924997,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kaylynn Walker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Silver Bluff HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666d37e597324"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Walker recently completed her freshman season with Silver Bluff and as she transitions from freshman to sophomore status, the Bulldogs are also in transition from the 2A to the 3A ranks. Her Bulldogs may have been on the receiving end of a defeat to 4A Midland Valley but she aided the Silver Bluff effort with an eight-point performance. Walker is continuing to develop as an efficient scorer from the field and also will draw contact which will get her to the free throw line. Her proficiency as a passer also serves her well as she uses the attention she can get from defenses to open her teammates up to make plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":925004,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"ZaKenya Eberhart","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Midland Valley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666d37e59739e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eberhart displays plenty of heart – as well as plenty of height. Her 4A Midland Valley team managed to earn its first victory of the day when they defeated Silver Bluff by a final score of 39-26. She added nine points to the Mustangs' total. Eberhart at one point was on the Midland Valley junior varsity team – but games like what she had against the Bulldogs are why she is now part of the varsity squad. Eberhart understands the concept of physical play in the interior which is why she has no problems drawing contact to get to the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":925005,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kinley French","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Strom Thurmond HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666d37e597417"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023-24 rendition of 2A Strom Thurmond was a young team with several freshmen as part of the roster. French was one of those 2027s and she was one of the several youngsters who turned in impressive outings at the South Carolina-Georgia state line. French was Strom Thurmond's leading scorer in the final game of Friday's play as the Rebels took on Silver Bluff. French was not shy in the slightest about attempting shots from behind the 3-point arc – two of which she connected on. She stands at 5-foot-8 and primarily plays at the three in the frontcourt. French has also played volleyball in addition to basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->