Six Intriguing Names That Moved Up in SC 2027 Rankings

While the start of the 2025-26 high school girls basketball season across the Palmetto State and nation is still roughly a couple months away, it is rankings season for us at Prep Girls Hoops – particularly here in South Carolina.    Recently, the updated rankings for the senior, junior and sophomore classes were unveiled. As is always the case, some names moved up and others may have moved down.    Lots of movement within rankings – not to mention the emergence of new names – typically mean a state boasts a very deep talent pool. That certainly applies to South Carolina and its 2027 class is no exception. Here are a few names that moved up in the recent junior rankings.     The Patriots of 3A Powdersville became a real player on the state stage last season due to the heroics of this multi-skilled four forward. Assemian completed her AAU ball with AEBL Girlz and has shifted her talents over to a 5A Division 2 Greenville team that advanced to the Upper State championship game earlier this calendar year. Assemian followed up a stellar freshman campaign with a sophomore season where she averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals in 28 games. Adding Assemian to the Red Raiders is a message to the rest of 5A Division 2 that it wants what Berkeley currently has (state championship status) and it wants it in 2025-26.     When Shaw first debuted in the varsity ranks as an eighth grader, it became clear she would be a name to have on one's radar. Since then, she has only improved, improved and improved a bit more. Last season at 2A Kingstree, Shaw played in all 28 games and averaged a double-double of 18.6 points and 11.8 rebounds along with 3.4 steals and 3.1 assists per contest. She led the Blazers to a 22-6 record. Shaw is coming off an AAU season where she wore the uniform of One Force and one can expect her to propel Kingstree to even greater heights in 2025-26.     When watching Brown play this winter, she will still wear a green uniform – except the name on said threads will say “Beaufort” or “Eagles” instead of “Bluffton” or “Bobcats.” Brown is a two-sport athlete who has showcased her talents on the basketball court and on the soccer pitch. She competed in 19 games last season at Bluffton and averaged a double-double of 14.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The Beaufort team she joins had a record of 16-9 last season and the addition of Brown could be what the Eagles need to take that next step in a very competitive 4A field.     With McKinnon, one can ensure Dillon will keep on winning. McKinnon's Wildcats did plenty of winning in 2024-25 – so much of it that Dillon was one of the last two 3A teams standing at the Florence Center back in March. McKinnon also helped the Wildcats to an overall record of 23-4 along with the 3A state berth. The multi-skilled junior guard averaged 14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.2 steals in the 26 contests she played in. The Wildcats will enter 2025-26 as defending 3A Lower State champions and the team has its sights set on a similar distinction this season – one where the word “lower” is erased between “3A” and “state.”     English is a multi-sport athlete who also spends time competing in track and field events in addition to what she gets accomplished basketball-wise. In last year's SCISA 3A tournament, her Generals of Thomas Sumter suffered an early exit at the hands of Greenwood Christian, but English did everything she could to advance her team by virtue of the 24 points she scored. Twenty-point performances were commonplace for English in 2024-25. After all, she averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 steals in the 17 games where she wore Thomas Sumter green and Vegas gold. One reason she is difficult to contain is the speed and agility she possesses when she has the ball in her hands.     Speaking of multi-sport athletes, that distinction also applies to this gifted guard. Volleyball is her second sport of choice outside of basketball. Pelzer first played at the varsity level four seasons ago when she was an eighth grader. Bethune-Bowman has experienced plenty of success with Pelzer sporting the signature burgundy and gold hues of the Mohawks. Along with being a potent scorer, Pelzer also places plenty of emphasis on ball distribution and defense that can create additional offensive possessions for her team. Two years ago, Bethune-Bowman had a great regular season. Last year, the Mohawks won a playoff game (over Johnsonville). A complete season of Pelzer as a junior should put both together.

While the start of the 2025-26 high school girls basketball season across the Palmetto State and nation is still roughly a couple months away, it is rankings season for us at Prep Girls Hoops – particularly here in South Carolina.