Next Woman Up: Youngsters Impressing Early (2028)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are only roughly a few weeks into the 2024-25 high school girls basketball season. Of course, one of the stories is how certain teams are already separating themselves from their competition.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of the stories is the large number of young players – either freshman, eighth graders or seventh graders already indicating that they are not waiting until they obtain more experience to put themselves on the map.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops have already had a chance to cover a few of the games these up-and-comers have partaken in. Here are a few freshmen names that have already caught our attention at this early stage of the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":1092474,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1174784' first='Serenity' last='Bethea']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_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":"Marlboro County","_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-67524539e3a3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We begin our list with a freshman from 3A Marlboro County. The Bulldogs were one of the participants at the She Got Next Thanksgiving tournament which was co-hosted by White Knoll and Lexington. Bethea's Bulldogs were matched up the first day of the 48-team event against Cross Schools – defending 1A SCISA champions. And while the Stingrays picked up the victory over Marlboro County, Bethea still turned in an impressive performance where she led the Bulldogs in scoring with 13 points. The ability to make plays near the rim, display her accuracy from deep and her fearlessness will continue to serve her well as she continues to gain experience against high schoolers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["925564"],"_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":1090663,"_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-67524539e3ac3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We shift our focus to the GRAD Athletics Thanksgiving tournament that emanated from the courts of back-to-back defending 4A SCISA champion Heathwood Hall. The second day of the tournament saw the 4A Green Hornets face off against another SCISA 4A combatant in Hammond. The game was close for three quarters before Aiken put the contest out of reach in the fourth quarter. Sapp led all scorers in that game with 16. In addition to an ability to score at all three levels, she gives full effort on both ends whenever she is allotted playing time. Sapp creates matchup problems for opponents on defense and will win her fair share of rebounding battles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["975972"],"_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":1089736,"_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-67524539e3b21"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We first became familiar with heard last season when she was an eighth grader. As a freshman, she is poised for even bigger and better things with 5A Nation Ford. At the Bob Dillon Thanksgiving Invitational, her team was locked in a tight contest with host Spartanburg and pulled off a 58-51 victory over the Vikings. Heard finished with 21 points which led all scorers that game and Nation Ford advanced to the championship game of the tournament against Byrnes. She gives defenses problems with her ability to ferociously attack the rim and is able to fuse together speed, quickness and superb ball handling skills. Heard also draws attention from defenses and that opens things up for teammates.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["824826"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-67524539e3b6c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Capers has been playing at the varsity level for two years – since she was a seventh grader. She is a freshman with a bit more experience than the average 2028. When Capers and her 3A Loris squad took on 5A Westwood, she contributed 10 points to the Lions' 60-53 victory over the Redhawks. As she has gained more experience, various areas of her game are being sharpened, including what she does on the defensive side of the floor. Capers primarily plays as a point guard and places emphasis on ball handling. A 3-point shot is also an element of Capers' offensive arsenal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["553681"],"_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":1067153,"_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-67524539e3c06"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ross being the centerpiece of the 5A Sumter roster should make the Gamecocks' transition from defending champions to back among the pack a bit smoother. The freshman will be the focal point for all things Sumter for the next several seasons. Back at the M-Town Showdown, her Gamecocks took on 2A Marion and nearly got the victory to extend its undefeated streak. Ross tallied 18 points and particularly came up big in big moments. Her team was trailing 48-47 late and she converted on a two-point putback which gave Sumter the lead late. In addition to the points she places on the board, she also excels as a rebounder and as a defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->