Class 5A Newcomers: Upper State Teams

Use code “bailum30” for 30% off the first purchase of any subscription!   As the tip off of the 2024-25 season draws ever closer, many pundits throughout the Palmetto State will give their respective prognostications on how said season should unfold.    While every season has its fair share of storylines at the outset, one of those of this particular campaign is realignment. Many of South Carolina's teams will be commencing the season with new classifications and regions not to mention a few being moved from the Lower State to Upper State and vice versa.    The 5A landscape throughout the state certainly took a massive shift with reclassification. Without further adieu, here is a look at the Upper State teams that moved over to the state's highest classification.    Greenville (11-15, 5-5)   <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_11-02-22-4920AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-925731" style="width:578px;height:auto" /></figure>   The last two seasons for the Red Raiders have seen the team finish with almost identical records. Last season saw formerly 4A Greenville finish with an 11-15 mark while the previous campaign resulted in the Red Raiders concluding with a record of 11-14.    Anthony Gowens' team still managed to qualify for the 4A state tournament the past couple of seasons but both appearances have resulted in first-round exits (to Aiken and North Augusta, respectively).    This season, Greenville will be part of Region 1-AAAAA where the likes of Greenwood, Mauldin and J.L. Mann will await. Other teams in said region include Easley, Hillcrest, Woodmont and T.L. Hanna.    The Red Raiders got themselves a huge get over the offseason with the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='258130' first='Ava' last='Owens'] who played her previous seasons at 4A Pickens. Owens led last year's Blue Flame rendition to a 19-6 record. The star junior averaged 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 3.6 steals per game last season for Pickens.   Greenwood (22-6, 5-5)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_6718.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-826433" style="width:547px;height:auto" /></figure>   LaShonda Chiles' Eagles took a massive step in the right direction last season. Greenwood put themselves firmly on the map by improving from a 10-win season in 2022-23 to a 22-win effort last season.    That was more than enough to get the Eagles into the 4A state tournament where they scored a victory over Aiken before being eliminated by South Pointe.    The expectation is that Greenwood will be one of the teams to beat in their region – and in 5A as a whole. Established 5A powers such as J.L. Mann and Mauldin will not make things easy then there are teams such as Easley, Greenville, Hillcrest, T.L. Hanna and Woodmont also in the mix.    Of course, the focal point of many things Eagles are the Oliver sisters – Cameron and Danielle. Both are entering their junior seasons. [player_tooltip player_id='438237' first='Danielle' last='Oliver'] averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 3.2 assists per game. [player_tooltip player_id='438236' first='Cameron' last='Oliver'] averaged 9.7 points, 3.5 steals and 3.1 assists a contest. Another key figure in Greenwood's success last season was [player_tooltip player_id='436756' first='Ty' last='Johnson'] – another 2026. She averaged 9.6 points, seven rebounds and 1.5 steals in 27 contests. [player_tooltip player_id='599274' first='Camryn' last='Fuller'] also added depth to their frontcourt.    Eastside (11-9, 3-5)   There are few teams that went through the “tale of two seasons” phase more than Eastside did this past season.    Coach Nikki Young's Eagles began the 2023-24 campaign with a seven-game winning streak only to finish with an 11-9 record to conclude the season. Eastside did close out said regular season with wins over Laurens and Wade Hampton which one would think would give them momentum going into the postseason. But momentum is difficult to maintain when one's first-round opponent in the tournament is South Pointe.    This season, Eastside finds itself in Region 2-AAAAA with tough outs such as Dorman, Gaffney, Byrnes, Spartanburg and last season's 4A champion Riverside awaiting. Boiling Springs and Wade Hampton will also occupy said region.    Eastside did suffer a massive loss with the transfer of Ginny Anne Dumont to Providence Day on the other side of the South Carolina-North Carolina state line.   Riverside (21-8, 7-1)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/eZy-Watermark_04-03-2024_01-40-57-8540AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-865574" style="width:622px;height:auto" /></figure>   Coach Brianne Jones' Warriors claimed 4A state supremacy last season – and there are plenty of 4A teams that are delighted that Riverside is now the 5A realm's problem to deal with.    With the Warriors adding state hardware to its trophy case last season, the question that awaits Riverside is how will they follow it up in their first season back in 5A. Its region will not be an easy one to emerge from as the top team.    Byrnes, Dorman, Gaffney and Spartanburg are sure to give last season's 4A champions a stiff test. While Riverside did graduate five seniors from last season's rendition, a number of stars that were key in last season's championship run are coming back to sport Warriors colors in 2024-25.    One of those is [player_tooltip player_id='371196' first='Kyndal' last='Haroski'] who has emerged as one of the premier 2026s in the Palmetto State. She averaged 17.1 points and 2.1 steals in 29 games last season. Haroski anchored the backcourt and [player_tooltip player_id='414178' first='Elly' last='Trickett'] did the same for Riverside's frontcourt as she averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds. Another key contributor in the Warriors championship run from last season was [player_tooltip player_id='682871' first='Madison' last='Garrido']. She averaged 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 steals and three assists in the 25 games she played last season. Riverside also got plenty of production out of [player_tooltip player_id='567030' first='Sophia' last='Powell']. She averaged 8.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 2023-24.   Wade Hampton (17-9, 6-2)   A team that was an Upper State 4A finalist two seasons ago appears to be walking into the 2024-25 season with a host of question marks. The region that Wade Hampton will be in which includes the likes of Dorman, Gaffney, Byrnes, Riverside, Spartanburg, Eastside and Boiling Springs is doing them no favors.    Last season's Generals rendition did qualify for the 4A state tournament. The team began said playoffs with a resounding victory over Catawba Ridge before falling to Westside – a 4A Upper State finalist from last season.    Coach Eric Burrow's team graduated Quinasia Abercrombie who is about to embark on her freshman season at Augusta. In addition, [player_tooltip player_id='375908' first='Reagan' last='Buff'], one of the premier 3-point specialists in the Palmetto State, transferred to Legacy Early College. The Generals are bringing back [player_tooltip player_id='264980' first='Lucy' last='Brewer'] who is entering her sophomore season.    Catawba Ridge (8-18, 6-4)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_7550.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-830038" style="width:506px;height:auto" /></figure>   One had to figure that the Copperheads would finally enter a bit of early growing pains considering Catawba Ridge is one of the newest schools in South Carolina. After a bit of early success – that included an Upper State finals berth in 2021-22, those growing pains have finally arrived.    Sheridan Pressley's team did manage to make last season's 4A playoffs in large part because of a strong showing in its region. Catawba Ridge's season concluded at the hands of Wade Hampton in the first round of last year's 4A state playoffs. Region 3-AAAAA will include Clover, Fort Mill and Rock Hill (5A state finalist from last season) along with Indian Land, Nation Ford and Northwestern.   A bright spot for last season's Copperheads rendition was [player_tooltip player_id='831272' first='Taylor' last='Reilly']. The sophomore standout averaged seven points and 2.1 steals per game.    Indian Land (9-17, 5-5)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_6901-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-826829" style="width:511px;height:auto" /></figure>   In many ways, the 2023-24 season for the Warriors unfolded in the reverse of how Eastside's did.    The team started slow out the gate before encountering better fortunes once region play began. Indian Land was in Region 3-AAAA last season and will be in Region 3-AAAAA once the 2024-25 season commences. Navigating a region with Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Clover is sure to be no easy task then one has to add in Catawba Ridge, Nation Ford and Northwestern.    Kevin King's team did take a hit over the offseason with the transfer of Skylar Young to South Meck. The team is bringing back [player_tooltip player_id='756277' first='Ava' last='Pensule'] who is sure to be a focal point of all things Warriors going forward the next few seasons. Yariells-Vegan Sot will be in her freshman season at Indian Land.    Northwestern (2-22, 1-9)   To say that the Trojans had a season to forget to close out its 4A run would be an understatement.    Northwestern only won two games last season to be on the outside looking in in terms of the playoff picture. Those two games were against North Central and York.    Perhaps the hire of a new coach will be the start of a turnaround for the Trojans. Kyle Habovick will be in his first season at the helm at Northwestern after a five-year stint within the junior varsity boys program at Catawba Ridge.    Northwestern's region will include the Copperheads alongside Clover, Fort Mill, Indian Land, Nation Ford and Rock Hill.    Easley (10-17, 4-6)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_6946.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-826863" style="width:519px;height:auto" /></figure>   Unfortunately for Easley, the team was not able to reduplicate the success it had in 2022-23 where the Green Wave compiled 18 victories.    Easley was able to qualify for last season's 4A playoffs, but the Green Wave's 2023-24 came to an end at the hands of A.C. Flora – 4A championship participants from last season.    The Green Wave is another team that will enter 2024-25 with a new coach as Ashley Baker takes over for Ivan Raymond who resigned back in February following the loss to the Falcons. Greenville, Greenwood, Hillcrest, J.L. Mann, Mauldin, T.L. Hanna and Woodmont will be Easley's regional rivals.    [player_tooltip player_id='831281' first='Ava' last='Proctor'] will be returning for her sophomore season following a freshman campaign that saw her average 7.2 points and 1.8 steals in 26 games.    Irmo (10-12, 4-6)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5597.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-812534" style="width:557px;height:auto" /></figure>   Realignment can be seen as a win for Irmo.    The Yellow Jackets are shifting from a 4A region in the Lower State to a 5A region in the Upper State. And with that shift means Irmo no longer has to deal with the likes of 4A state powers such as A.C. Flora and Ridge View (at least region-wise in terms of the Blazers).    Trina Wagstaff will look to navigate an environment that has Irmo up against the likes of Chapin, Lexington, River Bluff, White Knoll and 5A power Dutch Fork in its region.    The Yellow Jackets did graduate Andrea Collins along with suffering another loss with the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='610469' first='Claire' last='Howard'] to the Silver Foxes. Returning for Irmo is [player_tooltip player_id='404246' first='Abby' last='Livingston'] who averaged 9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, four assists and 2.9 steals in her freshman season. Also returning is [player_tooltip player_id='622398' first='Jayla' last='Anderson'] for her senior season. In 19 games, she averaged 5.5 points and 5.2 rebounds along with 1.6 steals. Another sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='844792' first='JaNiyah' last='Stokes'], averaged 5.1 points and 1.3 steals a contest. Irmo presents yet another sophomore to be on the lookout for in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='759610' first='Elaina' last='Whalen'].

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