Grassroots Spotlight: H2 16U NxtPro

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even though June is typically reserved for high school team camps, we know that at the conclusion of this month those high school colors will temporarily be replaced with travel uniforms once again.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Carolina has consistently been a state rich in talent and this displays itself every bit as effectively in the AAU ranks as it does from November to March.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the organizations always in the conversation around this time of the year is H2 Basketball which is based in the Hilton Head area. Without further ado, here is a look at its 16U NxtPro (Puma) team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1008394,"width":"402px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/27-JaNia-Hayward.jpg?w=990" alt="" class="wp-image-1008394" style="width:402px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991294' first='JaNia' last='Hayward']</strong> – Hayward put together a breakout freshman campaign last season with 4A Beaufort. In the 24 contests she played, Hayward averaged 14.5 points, 4.2 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1004274,"width":"492px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/56-Amirah-Brown.jpg?w=814" alt="" class="wp-image-1004274" style="width:492px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378103' first='Amirah' last='Brown']</strong> – Brown has been playing at the varsity level since she was a seventh grader. One of the state's premier 2027s, she also competes in soccer alongside her basketball accolades. Brown averaged a double-double of 14.5 points and 10.1 rebounds (plus 3.9 steals, 3.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per contest last season at 4A Bluffton.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":741792,"width":"394px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/08/PJ-Benson-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-741792" style="width:394px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='616144' first='PJ' last='Benson']</strong> – Benson's high school career included a stint with Cross Schools where she won a SCISA 1A state championship two seasons ago. It is unknown as of now where she will play in 2027, but whichever school lands her is getting a bucket.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1195328,"width":"490px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_8145-crop-2077x1364-1739886069.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1195328" style="width:490px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reyannah Maldonado</strong> – This season's rendition of H2 Basketball includes both of the sisters Maldonado from last season's SCISA 2A champion Cross Schools. Reyannah is a two-sport athlete who also competes in softball alongside her basketball achievements</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1092472,"width":"488px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/IMG_1097.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1092472" style="width:488px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='856286' first='Lexann' last='Maldonado']</strong> – Lexann is the younger of the two Maldonado sisters. She is also the other of the Stingrays' representatives on the travel team. Maldonado was one of three Cross Schools representatives from the SCISA 2A all-tournament team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1280028' first='Charlie' last='Hawkins']</strong> – Hawkins is the lone representative from a Georgia school on this year's H2 Basketball version. She is a two-sport athlete who also plays volleyball and was part of a Savannah Country Day team that concluded the 2024-25 season with a 21-5 record.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kelis Fields</strong> – Fields was part of a 2024-25 Whale Branch assembling that moved up from 1A to 2A. She is the lone representative of the Warriors on this year's travel team. Fields is playing up in class as a 2028.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Erin Crosby</strong> – The Eagles of 4A Beaufort are well-represented on the H2 16U NxtPro team. She keeps a very active athletic plate as she also competes in soccer and volleyball at the varsity level at Beaufort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Da'Leah LaBoard</strong> – Speaking of playing up in class, one is doing something right when they are a 2029 playing on a 16U team. Another Eagles representative, she first played at the varsity level as a seventh grader and played in 23 contests in her eighth grade campaign last year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->