Newcomers: 2027 Unsung Heroes To Watch Out For This Season

A few days ago, we at Prep Girls Hoops combed through our 2027 rankings and decided to give said list a fresh coat of paint as we are roughly two months out from the start of the regular season.    While where current names become ranked is always a much-anticipated element of said rankings, it also means aficionados becoming exposed to new names that may not have always been on their radars.    As deep as the talent pool is across the Palmetto State, one would have to expect a plethora of new names to appear. Without further ado, here are a few of those prospects from our state's junior class.     When Gomez's athletic schedule is taken up by basketball, softball occupies the bulk of her sporting schedule. We got a glimpse of Gomez a few months ago at the SCBCA Live Period event at Riverview Park in North Augusta. She stands at 5-foot-5 but gives a team effective play as a small forward. Gomez was part of a 2A Blacksburg team that concluded its 2024-25 season with a solid mark of 18-9. She played in 23 games last season. The Wildcats have been one of the premier teams in recent years among 2A squads and a returning Gomez is sure to ensure that trend continues.     Bridges looks to be a bridge to lots more victories for 5A Division 1 Spartanburg over the next couple of seasons. At the start of the month, Bridges landed her first collegiate offer from Newberry College and coach Johnette Walker. One can place the 5-foot-6 guard at either of the two backcourt spots. Bridges especially thrives as an attacker rim – a trait many coaches will look for out of point guards. She is a multi-sport athlete as she has also competed in track and field events in addition to what she has accomplished basketball-wise. Bridges did help the Vikings to a two-win improvement over the season before.     A theme continues to develop here with multi-sport athletes. In the case of Van Sickle, not only does she partake in a second part, she transferred from a different school. Van Sickle has played lacrosse before at a 5A Division 1 school in Lexington. She has ran with Team Unleashed South Carolina during the spring and summer months of the AAU season. Effective shooting guards are supposed to have long-range accuracy. Van Sickle has that along with the ability to throw defenses a curveball with how she attacks the rim. Another area of the game she excels is in making transition plays. Van Sickle joins a Gray Collegiate team coached by Brandon Wallace that made the jump from 2A to 4A last season.     When one thinks of the program at 1A Calhoun Falls Charter, one's mind likely shifts to the effective guard play the Blue Flashes have encountered in recent seasons. Paul suggests that Calhoun Falls Charter can get the job done in the interior as well. She is an imposing center with the build of a more traditional big. That attribute not only leads to her doing effective work in close proximity to the rim, but also allows for her to convert on many a high-percentage shot. Paul competed in 21 games last season for the Blue Flashes and was much improved. She averaged eight rebounds and 7.2 points per contest.     This is an interesting case where the word “intriguing” can be used to describe both Tyson and team. Hanahan was seen as an afterthought in the Palmetto State high school sports scene – even among the 3A field. The last two seasons, the Hawks have won 15 games in each and Tyson has led the charge to put the state on notice. An important aspect of her skillset is her ability to drain 3-pointers – including from the wing. Tyson has also displayed a knack for effective passing skills and she greatly excels on the defensive end of the floor. She was the team leader in 3-point shooting percentage and was third among last season's Hanahan players in assists.     Wolpert continues the theme of two-sport athletes that are on this list. Her focus is primarily on volleyball during the early portions of the fall semester before shifting her attention to basketball. Last season, she played in 19 games for SCISA 1A Holly Hill Academy. The 5.8 rebounds she averaged led the Raiders in that category and Wolpert was also second on last season's team in scoring. Primarily operating at the four, Wolpert also was the team's leading shot blocker and was tied for second among Raiders players in steals. Her sophomore year followed up what was an impressive freshman season she put together for Holly Hill Academy.

A few days ago, we at Prep Girls Hoops combed through our 2027 rankings and decided to give said list a fresh coat of paint as we are roughly two months out from the start of the regular season.