Passion Driven Showcase: 2026 Backcourt Beasts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the showcase portion of the basketball calendar, new events will occur every now and then that give talents even more opportunities to showcase their talents in front of – and possibly land offers from – collegiate coaches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those new events was the Passion Driven Showcase. Approximately 12 collegiate coaches were on hand with players sorted into four teams coached by Lake City coach Shaquetta Cooper, Trinity Collegiate coach Bree Goodson, River Bluff coach Jordan Leath and Manning coach Justin Johnson.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops were also on hand for the grand occasion at the Pearl Moore Center in Florence. We begin our recap by looking out standout guards from this season's senior class.&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":1293665,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mariah Randolph","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westside","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='1231019' first='Upward' last='Stars 3SSB'] 17U","_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-68996399aff30"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The day at the Pearl Moore Center began with four-on-four drills and Randolph wasted no time displaying that she brought her best to the Pee Dee. Randolph was part of Team Cooper this past weekend. What makes 4A Westside so difficult to defeat is the combination of talent and height the Rams have – something they added more of in the offseason. Randolph stands at 5-foot-10 but she can play as a guard. She is a high-energy player that can make a clutch play on offense then do the same on defense a few seconds later. Randolph will once again be an important element to the winning formula that is Westside – 4A championship game participants from last season. She made the Passion Driven Showcase's All-Tournament Team.&nbsp;</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":["637732"],"_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":1293666,"_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-68996399affa2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Blue Eagles of 5A Division 1 Clover made its presence known this past weekend in Florence. Chambliss' most recent offers were courtesy of Davis &amp; Elkins and Montreat and her grassroots campaign was spent with EA Lady Stars Bridges/Team KB Bridges. A 3-point shot is one element of her overall skillset and another element of it is her ability to make smart passes – including in the transition game. That is complimented by what she can do when she attacks the basket. While she can be placed in a lineup at either the point or at the three in the frontcourt, Chambliss' bread and butter is as a two guard. She was part of Team Leath this past weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["357552"],"_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-68996399affea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Experiencing the euphoria of a state championship is a pinnacle of one's high school career. Gray, entering her senior season this year, experienced that last season with 5A Division 2 Berkeley. Her ability to take care the ball and limit turnovers translates well into her her ability to make plays for her team. She also does plenty of the little things that may not show up on a scoreboard such as hustling for loose balls. Gray averaged 7.6 and 1.7 steals in 26 last season for the Stags and similar – or improved - numbers will be key if Berkeley's title defense is to be success. Gray played with Team Johnson – 5-on-5 champions at the inaugural Passion Driven Showcase. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["688596"],"_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":1293667,"_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-68996399b0037"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='688596' first='Mariah' last='Mcilwain'] had many meaningful moments in Florence. She was another name of note from a Shakkia Walker-coached Clover team that will be a 5A Division 1 favorite among many a South Carolina high school hoops pundit. Mcilwain is difficult to contain – especially when she gets the hot hand from behind the 3-point arc. When one is as gifted a ball handler as she is, many a play will be made. Mcilwain recently completed her AAU season with EA Lady Stars/Team KB Bridges and recently landed an offer courtesy of Division II North Greenville University and its head coach Lakeisha Gregory. Mcilwain was one of the standouts for Team Johnson this past weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1278048"],"_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":1293668,"_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-68996399b0081"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clover – one of the teams to beat among 5A Division 1 combatants – was well-represented this past weekend in Florence. Smith was one of the more consistent playmakers at the Passion Driven Showcase. Her heads-up attitude enabled her to make a large number of plays and she understood the art of getting out in transition. A 3-point shot is also part of her offensive arsenal and she knows how to move and make plays even without the ball in her hand. It is only fitting coach Shakkia Walker's Blue Eagles were well-represented at a showcase event that mostly featured seniors and juniors given Clover's veteran core has it poised to once again contend for state in 2025-26. Smith was one of the five All-Tournament recipients for the weekend. Smith was part of Team Goodson's roster this past weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->