Unsung Heroes: 2027 Forwards and Centers Outside the Top 100

With some months still remaining prior to the start of the 2025-26 high school girls basketball season, one may have a keen idea as to who the big names to watch are.    These marquee players are those many fans expect to lead their respective teams to state championships. On many occasions the unsung heroes, are the real difference makers in ensuring a squad will be bringing championship hardware on that bus ride from the big dance.   We at Prep Girls Hoops are shining a spotlight on a good number of these names. We highlighted a few of the 2027s in the backcourt and now shift our focus to frontcourt forces among this year's junior class.     With last season's 3A West-Oak team having graduated two of its star seniors, one would expect that Simpson will be more of a focal point of the Warriors' efforts for the next pair of seasons. She is coming off running with SC Sixers on the AAU circuit and her play helped West-Oak to a 17-8 season and only finished behind eventual 3A champion Walhalla in its region. Simpson is a multi-sport athlete who also plays volleyball alongside what she gets accomplished on the basketball court. She played in all 25 games last season for West-Oak and averaged 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. Simpson was second among last season's Warriors on 3-point percentage, going 29 percent from behind the arc.     Blue Ridge had its work cut out for it given it made the jump from 3A to 4A last season. Maxwell's play was key in letting the Palmetto State know that Blue Ridge still belongs in that contenders' conversation. The Tigers concluded last season with a 20-7 record and only trailed the juggernaut that is Daniel in its region. Maxwell played in all 27 contests for Blue Ridge and averaged 11.1 rebounds, 5.8 points and 2.8 steals per contest. She was the team's leading rebounder and also led all Tigers in field goal percentage. Maxwell was also second on the team in steals and third in blocks and assists.     We stay in the 4A realm but shift our focus from the Upstate to the CSRA. Midland Valley had a rough go of things last season – and the region the Mustangs play in does it no favors (North Augusta, Gray Collegiate, Aiken, Airport, etc.). Eberhart proved to be a bright spot for Midland Valley as she played in 23 of her team's 25 contests last season, averaging 7.3 points per game. Eberhart was second on the team in scoring. She displays her versatility with her ability to give a team productive minutes as either a forward or at the two in the backcourt. Eberhart stands at 5-foot-9.     Opponents of SCISA 4A Palmetto Christian Academy still have to deal with a tall standout who has the last name Suddeth. The younger sister of the now-graduated Cokey, Adelaide is a two-sport athlete who competes in volleyball alongside what she gets accomplished on the basketball court. She has played at the varsity level since she was in the eighth grade and averaged 9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, two steals and two blocks per contest. Suddeth stands at 5-foot-11 and can find minutes in a team's lineup as either a three or a four. She led last season's team in field goal percentage and rebounding, was second in scoring and blocks and was third in steals and assists.     The Red Raiders of 5A Division 2 Greenville were already resembling a scary team with this season drawing ever closer. The transfer of this talented frontcourt force from a 4A team in Greer should particularly put the rest of the state on notice. Moore spent the spring and summer on the Under Armour circuit with [program_tooltip program_id='715412' first='SC' last='Eagles'] UA Rise 16U – a team that also made an appearance on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit at the Triumph Region Finals in Columbus, Georgia. She played in 22 of the 25 games the Yellow Jackets were in last season. Moore averaged 10 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.     Last season, 3A Chapman concluded last season with a 19-10 record. This year's Panthers version has the chance to be improved over last year's given the number of veterans this assembling sports. Thompkins is among those veterans as she is set to embark on her junior campaign with Chapman. Her bread and butter is how she helps the Panthers' efforts on the defensive side of the floor. Thompkins led all Panthers in blocks last season. Thompkins sported Chapman's signature navy blue and orange colors in 28 of the 29 games the Panthers played in 2024-25. Her 6-foot-1 stature should provide a matchup problem that will frustrate many an opposing big.     Last season's Woodmont team improved its win total by four with 14 victories. The depth that Hall added to the Wildcats' backcourt added a huge boost to Woodmont's efforts. Hall can play plenty of minutes as a traditional big but can also be placed in a team's lineup as a four. When watching how she converts on high-percentage baskets near the rim and how she rebounds, one can see how important she is to a team like the Wildcats. Hall can display efficient floor running and has no issues getting herself to the free throw line by getting physical and drawing contact.     Weston is another who is a two-sport athlete and whose second sport of choice is another hardwood athletic discipline in volleyball. The move from 3A to 4A did coach Anne Hamilton-LeRoy's Seneca assembling plenty of favors last season as the Bobcats improved their win total by four from the previous season. Weston ensured that transition to the higher classification would be a smooth one. She played in all 26 games which Seneca was part of. She averaged a double-double of 12.4 points and 11.6 rebounds. Weston led last season's Bobcats group in points and rebounds per game. She was also third among Seneca players in blocks.

With some months still remaining prior to the start of the 2025-26 high school girls basketball season, one may have a keen idea as to who the big names to watch are.