Class 4A Newcomers: Upper State Teams

Use code “bailum30” for 30% off the first purchase of any subscription!   Basketball will eventually have its turn at the mic when we get to October and November. While football and volleyball will get the early lion's share of attention from South Carolina high school sports fans, it will not be long before that focus shifts over to hoops.    This season will have a bit of a different feel given it is one that is coming after the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) introduced new classifications for a sizable percentage of the teams in its ranks.    Many of the teams that will assume new classifications for the next few seasons within 4A from either 3A or 2A. To begin our spotlight on the new 4A teams, we look at its new teams in the Upper State.    Emerald (8-11, 4-4)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/8AAD4315-7D9D-43DC-B503-8B35461310D2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-674377" style="width:531px;height:auto" /></figure>   In recent years, the list of notable players that have departed from the program at Emerald has read like a who's who. Ask Cameron and [player_tooltip player_id='438237' first='Danielle' last='Oliver'] who are now at Greenwood and Kendahl Spearman and Hailey Chiles that left the Vikings for Legacy Early College before graduating.    And while Emerald held its own in its 3A Upper State region that included the likes of Clinton and Woodruff, a first-round exit at the hands of Powdersville definitely was not in the plans for Merv Rollinson's team.    The Vikings' new 4A regional home will see then have to deal with the likes of Fountain Inn, Laurens, Southside, Westside and Wren. Out of the six Region 1-AAAA teams, four of them are newcomers thanks to realignment.    Perhaps the continued play of [player_tooltip player_id='563335' first='Jurnee' last='Williams'] will hint at a turnaround for Emerald. She did average 7.8 points and 2.4 steals last season as an eighth grader and has played at the varsity level since she was in the seventh grade.    Fountain Inn (19-8, 7-4)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_6566.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-823740" style="width:523px;height:auto" /></figure>   Another relatively new school to South Carolina's athletic and academic landscape.    Fountain Inn has not been around that long, but has already succeeded in making plenty of noise in girls basketball. Berkley Thomas' team won 19 games last season in its final (for now) campaign in the 3A realm. Last season in the 3A state playoffs, the Fury earned a hard-fought first-round victory over Woodruff before its season came to a close at the hands of Blue Ridge.    The Fury will adjust to a new regional reality where it will take on the likes of Emerald, Laurens, Southside, Westside and Wren. Southside and Wren will remain regional rivals. So long Palmetto, Powdersville and Belton Honea-Path.    Fountain Inn's roster will include sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='867173' first='Chaniya' last='Jackson'] who averaged 8.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals as a freshman. It will also include [player_tooltip player_id='903647' first='Zipora' last='Sullivan'] who is moving into her senior season. She averaged 6.5 points and 2.1 steals as a junior.    Southside (11-10, 4-6)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/06/1AC58086-6BDB-4BF7-AE02-E2F6EDE4AAA4-scaled.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-303266" style="width:506px;height:auto" /></figure>   Personnel turnover virtually guaranteed that the Tigers would take a step back from where they were a few seasons ago when they looked like state championship contenders.    Instead of coach Milton Parks' team making a deep postseason run, Southside suffered a first-round playoff exit at the hands of Clinton (which itself dropped from 3A to 2A). This season, its new regional rivals include Emerald, Laurens and Westside.   The Tigers are already very familiar with Wren and Fountain Inn given both were regional rivals from their days in Region 2-AAA. Among the returners for Southside is [player_tooltip player_id='264981' first='Kenedi' last='Sullivan'] to anchor the team's frontcourt.    Wren (28-3, 10-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5196-crop-3733x2451-1700305672.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-808325" style="width:514px;height:auto" /></figure>   The last two seasons Wren had a good enough team to claim state championship glory at the 3A level. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes their state championship dreams were dashed due to the juggernaut that is Camden.    Wren previously played in 4A as recently as 2019-20 and the Hurricanes are looking to re-establish themselves as a team to beat in that classification.   The Hurricanes had a busy offseason. Raina McGowens graduated and is preparing for her freshman season at Furman after originally committing to UNC-Asheville. Deyana Hayes and Olivia Randolph also graduated. Coach Pam McGowens has resigned and Samantha Camp will assume the reins at Wren.    Its new regional reality includes the likes of Emerald, Fountain Inn, Laurens, Southside and Westside. Two of the returners for Wren are [player_tooltip player_id='755000' first='Scarlett' last='Howell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='628577' first='Ava' last='O'Shields'].    Blue Ridge (23-5, 7-1)   After posting 20-win seasons in three consecutive years, questions are now abound regarding Blue Ridge.    We knew the Tigers were going to take a hit in the offseason because of the graduations of Zikira Henderson and Claire Skinner. What we did not anticipate was [player_tooltip player_id='252633' first='Anyah' last='Henderson'] transferring out of Blue Ridge to play at Legacy Early College for her senior season.    Demarkus Langley will have his work cut out for him in 2024-25. Blue Ridge last season scored wins in the 3A tournament over Seneca and Fountain Inn before falling to eventual Upper State finalist Daniel. The Lions will be one of Blue Ridge's regional rivals in Region 2-AAAA alongside Berea, Greer, Pickens, Seneca and Travelers Rest.    Daniel (17-10, 9-1)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_4165-crop-2376x1560-1709127430.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-862770" style="width:581px;height:auto" /></figure>   There are plenty of reasons why Daniel's fortunes are looking up.    For starters, the Lions rode stellar regional play into a deep postseason run that saw Daniel qualify for the Upper State finals. Another reason why stock is high for Daniel is the team only graduated one senior from last season's rendition.    And while Daniel's 2023-24 season did end at the hands of Wren, it is looking at a new regional environment where it will share Region 2-AAAA alongside Berea, Blue Ridge, Greer, Seneca, Pickens and Travelers Rest.    Cosandar Griffin's team is coming into 2024-25 with expectations. Only time will tell if they will be met, but the Lions have the roster to continue that upward trajectory.    It includes [player_tooltip player_id='753233' first='Lila' last='Mann'] who averaged 11.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in her freshman season. It also will include [player_tooltip player_id='844773' first='Janiyah' last='Wilson'] – also a sophomore. She averaged 7.3 points in 27 games in 2023-24. Also returning for Daniel is [player_tooltip player_id='672998' first='Shala' last='Williams'] – another sophomore and plays primarily at the three. She averaged 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest last season. [player_tooltip player_id='529246' first='Colleen' last='DiMaio'] is also sure to play a huge role for the Lions. She is entering her senior season after averaging seven points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game. [player_tooltip player_id='827524' first='Campbell' last='Epting'] will be on this season's Daniel roster as well after playing in 25 games as an eighth grader.    Seneca (8-17, 4-6)   The initial part of last season brought better outcomes to Seneca than region play did.    The Bobcats compiled four victories when regional play began and those victories came against teams they were supposed to beat in Pendleton and Crescent. Seneca struggled against teams such as Daniel, Walhalla and West-Oak.    Despite the record, the Bobcats still managed to claim a berth in the 3A state playoffs before its season came to an end in the first round at the hands of Blue Ridge. The Tigers will be among the regional rivals that await Seneca in its new reality as a Region 2-AAAA combatant. Coach Ashlen Dewart Dorn's team will also deal with the likes of Berea, Daniel, Greer, Pickens and Travelers Rest.    Travelers Rest (10-15, 4-4)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/9F0AE831-3E77-4A2B-A16E-ABC73265A59C-crop-1079x709-1641204655.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-371558" style="width:517px;height:auto" /></figure>   Speaking of the Devildogs…   The last two seasons has seen Travelers Rest hover around the 10-11 win range. One difference between last season's Devildogs rendition and that of two seasons ago is the one of two seasons ago were victorious in six of the eight games they played in its region.    Last season, Travelers Rest played .500 basketball in its region going 4-4. The Devildogs did qualify for 3A postseason play but were eliminated for the second consecutive season on the road at Walhalla. Travelers Rest is familiar with Blue Ridge and will once again see the Tigers as they are a regional rival of the team in Class 2-AAAA along with Berea, Daniel, Greer, Pickens and Seneca.    One of Travelers Rest's featured players in recent seasons has been [player_tooltip player_id='371550' first='Jadin' last='Dandy'] - a junior guard who has also played softball throughout her athletic career.   Camden (28-2, 10-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_16-06-2024_07-33-42-4950AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-925609" style="width:505px;height:auto" /></figure>   Teams that have generational talents wearing their colors and leading them to championships encounter a stark transition once those talents take their talents to the collegiate ranks.    That is what the Bulldogs are encountering currently. While life sans Joyce Edwards is one that Camden will have to get used to, the transition may actually be a bit eased by the fact that the Bulldogs still have a top-tier team.    Along with Edwards now being at South Carolina, Natalie Jeffcoat-Norris left her post as coach and Lewis Mungo is serving in his stead. Camden also moves from a 3A Lower State region to a 4A Upper State realm that includes A.C. Flora, Dreher, Lancaster, Richland Northeast, South Pointe and York.    A huge get for the team was when [player_tooltip player_id='637609' first='Jillian' last='Rush'] transferred from Lugoff-Elgin to sport the black and Vegas gold colors of the Bulldogs. She averaged a double-double of 13.8 points and 11.5 rebounds. A number of familiar names from Camden's previous two championship runs are also returning. One of those is [player_tooltip player_id='324555' first='Braylin' last='Mungo'] who is going into her sophomore season. A young standout already with Division I offers, she averaged 12.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 steals in 30 games. Also returning is [player_tooltip player_id='175325' first='Morgan' last='Champion'] who averaged 10.2 points and 1.9 steals in 19 contests last season. [player_tooltip player_id='376018' first='Harmony' last='Jefferson'] played 29 games last season as a freshman and averaged 5.1 points and 1.5 steals. [player_tooltip player_id='480142' first='Shanaryah' last='Wright'] adds depth to the frontcourt ad [player_tooltip player_id='925561' first='Laikahlani' last='Seegars'] will be a freshman this season.   Dreher (0-18, 0-10)   No matter how one slices it, a team that goes zero for the season will only look at said season as forgettable. The Blue Devils had a few near misses against opponents such as West Florence, Swansea and Brookland-Cayce but a win was not in the cards for Dreher.    Perhaps that changes in 2024-25? Only time will tell. Going up against region rivals such as A.C. Flora, Camden, Lancaster, Richland Northeast, South Pointe and York in Region 3-AAAA will be no easy task. Seeing Diamond Berry graduate also will leave a void for the Blue Devils.    Longtime Dreher coach Teresa Jones has departed after 22 years and four state championships with the program. Taking her place will be Kristen Fortenberry whose resume includes a previous stint at SCISA 4A Ben Lippen.

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