Region 3-AAAA Preview: A Chip on South Pointe’s Shoulder

November has arrived. There may only be two months remaining in the calendar year of 2025 but basketball will be on the minds of many high school basketball fans for the next five months.    With the upcoming few months of hoops on the brains, we at Prep Girls Hoops have been unveiling comprehensive region-by-region previews so fans will know everything there is to know about the state's many teams.    We have shifted our focus to 4A. Last season was another one for North Augusta which has become accustomed to winning state championships.    There are plenty of teams that want to be where the Yellow Jackets are – including the seven teams that comprise Region 3-AAAA.   South Pointe   (2024-25 Record: 29-1, 12-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_28-12-2024_08-01-14-2110AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1121284" style="width:607px;height:auto" /></figure>   The dubious mantra that has followed South Pointe in recent years can be summed up in a few words – so close, yet so far.    It appeared as if last season would be the year for coach Stephanie Butler-Graham and her Stallions. Victories over Bluffton, Wren and Lancaster set up a 4A Upper State showdown where South Pointe had a lead on Westside at the half only for the Rams to stun the Stallions for that Upper State crown.    Of course, with every new season, hope does spring eternal. And one can expect South Pointe to once again be in the contenders' chat from start to finish.    Key Players:   A good portion of the cast of characters that has built the Stallions into a state power are back for another season – including [player_tooltip player_id='429828' first='Kaleigh' last='Lucas']. The dynamic sophomore guard averaged 20.8 points, 4.7 steals, 4.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.    Lucas keys South Pointe's efforts in the frontcourt and [player_tooltip player_id='324542' first='JaNyia' last='Cunningham'] does the same for the Stallions in the interior. Cunningham averaged 19.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals playing in all 30 games last season.    Region 3-AAAA is where two former Legion Collegiate notables are calling home for their senior seasons. One of them is [player_tooltip player_id='562105' first='Aiyana' last='Murrell'] who will add depth to the Stallions' frontcourt. She averaged eight rebounds and 7.2 points for the Lancers last season.   The Stallions have playmakers throughout its roster – another of them is freshman [player_tooltip player_id='671661' first='Kemoni' last='Hardy'] who has played at the varsity level since the seventh grade. She averaged 5.7 points and 3.2 steals in 2024-25 as an eighth grader.    Another name Stallions opponents have to game plan for is [player_tooltip player_id='831269' first='Ailema' last='Land']. She has also been playing at the varsity level since she was in the seventh grade. Land averaged four rebounds in 26 games last season.    South Pointe's senior class also includes [player_tooltip player_id='567029' first='Morgan' last='Young'] who primarily plays as a shooting guard. Young stands at 5-foot-6 and spent some time with Queens City Ballers during her now-complete grassroots career.    A.C. Flora   (2024-25 Record: 14-14, 9-3)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_30-11-2024_10-58-27-9830PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1092958" style="width:615px;height:auto" /></figure>   As last season commenced, the lion's share of attention in this region was bestowed upon South Pointe and Camden.    Coach Jacob Thompson's A.C. Flora assembling may not have been the same team that played in that 2023-24 4A state game against Riverside but the Falcons displayed it can still compete in its region. A.C. Flora posted the same 9-3 record as Camden and even earned a win over the Bulldogs late in the season.    The Falcons earned a victory over Seneca in the first round of last season's 4A state tournament before a close loss to Daniel ended their season. Three seniors graduated from last season's team. A.C. Flora moved from 4A's Lower State to its Upper State with realignment.    Key Players:   One more season at the high school level awaits for [player_tooltip player_id='257992' first='Teonna' last='Draughn']. She competed in all 28 games last season for A.C. Flora and averaged 14.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per contest.    The Falcons' 2026 graduating class also includes [player_tooltip player_id='496281' first='Skylar' last='McCray'] who saw playing time in 27 games for A.C. Flora. McCray, who primarily plays at shooting guard, averaged 9.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 rebounds in 2024-25.    After playing at the varsity level since she was in the eighth grade, [player_tooltip player_id='429827' first='Tamira' last='Delaney'] is also part of A.C. Flora's graduating class. Last season, she averaged 7.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per matchup.    A new birdie entered the Falcons' nest last season in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='885789' first='Naja' last='Gray'] who primarily plays at point guard. Gray saw playing time in 26 games last season for A.C. Flora and averaged 6.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.   Another name that could be familiar to Palmetto State high school hoops fans is [player_tooltip player_id='429826' first='Tyshana' last='Leverette']. She played in 28 games last season averaging 3.8 rebounds a game and also competes in track and field events.    Camden   (2024-25 Record: 17-7, 9-3)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/IMG_8290.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1279723" style="width:601px;height:auto" /></figure>   Find a team that underwent a more stark transition than the Bulldogs did. One would be hard-pressed to do so.    Its generational talent graduated and is now in the college ranks at South Carolina. Lewis Mungo replaced Natalie Jeffcoat-Norris as head coach. Camden also moved from a 3A Lower State region to a 4A Upper State region.    The 2024-25 Bulldogs may not have been the same juggernaut they were the previous three seasons but Camden more than showcased it is still a contender. The Bulldogs earned a first-round victory over Laurens in last season's 4A state tournament but were on the receiving end of a 24-point defeat to eventual Upper State champion Westside in the second round.    Only one senior graduated from last season's team.    Key Players:   LaKiara Alexander is the other of the two former Legion Collegiate notables that are playing in Region 3-AAAA for their senior seasons. Alexander committed to Tennessee State over the offseason. She averaged a double-double of 16.8 points and 10.8 rebounds plus 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game last season as a Lancer.    Alexander will spearhead what Camden wants to get accomplished in the frontcourt and [player_tooltip player_id='324555' first='Braylin' last='Mungo'] will do the same for the Bulldogs in the backcourt. She played in all 24 games last season for Camden and averaged 15.1 points, five steals and 4.8 rebounds.    Another of the returners that is part of the Bulldogs' 2027 class is [player_tooltip player_id='376018' first='Harmony' last='Jefferson'] who also competed in all 24 games last season. Jefferson averaged 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game.    The 2024-25 season was the first one for [player_tooltip player_id='637609' first='Jillian' last='Rush'] in Bulldogs black and gold after transferring from Lugoff-Elgin. Rush averaged 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals while also playing in all 24 games.    Also among the many 2027s that make up Camden's roster is [player_tooltip player_id='480142' first='Shanaryah' last='Wright']. The six-foot Wright adds depth to the Bulldogs' frontcourt. Wright averaged a team-leading 11.5 rebounds, 9.4 points, three steals and a team-leading 1.6 blocks per game.    [player_tooltip player_id='925561' first='Laikahlanii' last='Seegars'] also saw court time in all 24 games last season as a freshman. Adding depth to Camden's backcourt, Seegars averaged 3.2 rebounds per contest last season. She runs with [program_tooltip program_id='713005' first='Upward' last='Stars'] on the Adidas circuit.    Bulldogs fans are also certain to get a glimpse of its future in the form of eighth grader Jocelyn Dupree. Dupree has spent her AAU schedule wearing the [program_tooltip program_id='713672' first='Palmetto' last='Pressure'] uniform and has been a name to watch at Camden MS.    Lancaster    (2024-25 Record: 14-14, 6-6)   The Bruins remained a 4A team even after realignment and remained in Region 3-AAAA. Obviously the Region 3-AAAA of 2023-24 was different than last season's Region 3-AAAA as now the Bruins had A.C. Flora and Camden to deal with in addition to South Pointe.    Lancaster improved overall and did not experience that much of a drop off against region foes.  When the 4A tournament commenced, the Bruins earned a victory over Fountain Inn then followed it up by defeating Blue Ridge before running into that Stallions buzzsaw.    After graduating six seniors – including all three of the Bruins' team captains from last season, there is much intrigue as to what coach Ronnie Robertson's 2025-26 team will resemble.    Key Players:   Those graduations will likely lead to a larger role for Kaylyn Hollenbeck who is entering her sophomore season at Lancaster. Hollenbeck played in 28 games last season and averaged 5.4 points and 4.7 rebounds as a freshman.    The Bruins also benefitted greatly from the seventh-grade season that was put together by India Adams. She played in 22 games last season for Lancaster and averaged 5.3 points per contest. Adams stands at 5-foot-5.    Richland Northeast   (2024-25 Record: 10-16, 4-8)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3540-crop-1840x1208-1736285687.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1132136" style="width:549px;height:auto" /></figure>   Realignment may not have changed the classifications of many teams but it did shift some from the Lower State to the Upper State or vice versa. Richland Northeast was one of those teams as that move from Region 5-AAAA to Region 3-AAAA put the Cavaliers in the Upper State.    The 10 wins the Cavaliers amassed last season represented the first double-digit winning season for Richland Northeast since 2017-18 when the Cavaliers were in the win column on 20 occasions. Richland Northeast's season did come to an end in the first round of last season's 4A state tournament at the hands of Daniel.    Three seniors graduated from last season's team.    Key Players:    After playing in 20 games in her freshman season, Latia Ray saw playing time in all 26 games last season with the Cavaliers. Ray, who stands at 5-foot-4, averaged 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and two steals per contest.    [player_tooltip player_id='1274761' first='Linda' last='Ellison'] is part of Richland Northeast's graduating class for 2026. In her junior season last year, Ellison took to the court in 14 games. She averaged 6.1 points and 1.2 steals per matchup in 2024-25.    Dreher    (2024-25 Record: 7-14, 2-10)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/04/IMG_1185.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1238988" style="width:558px;height:auto" /></figure>   Times were dreary for Dreher in 2023-24. That season was a winless campaign and represented the final season for the Blue Devils before moving up in classification from 3A to 4A.    New classification. New region rivals. Renewed fortunes for Dreher. This included a Dec. 17 victory over 3A Orangeburg-Wilkinson. The Blue Devils may have been on the outside looking in of the 4A state tournament, but seven wins is obviously better than going zero for the season.   The hiring of coach Kristin Fortenberry as coach also was an element to the Blue Devils' turnaround. Fortenberry is beginning her second season at the helm at Dreher.    Key Players:   A young core made up the bulk of much of what Dreher got accomplished last season. That core included [player_tooltip player_id='885802' first='Kynadi' last='Breland'] who stands at 5-foot-8. Breland averaged 9.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.    Also part of that core is [player_tooltip player_id='885801' first='Mallory' last='Gosselin']. She is listed at 5-foot-10 and is a multi-sport athlete who also plays soccer in addition to her basketball achievements. Gosselin averaged 6.8 points, three rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1255106' first='Raigan' last='Adams'] played in all 21 contests last season for the Blue Devils. She is also part of Dreher's 2028 class. Adams averaged five points and 1.2 steals per matchup last season for the Blue Devils.   Dreher's 2028 class also includes Mikayla Wooden. She saw the court in 19 of the Blue Devils' 21 games last season. Wooden was one of the team's leading rebounders as she averaged 4.4 per contest.    York   (2024-25 Record: 0-20, 0-12)   The unfortunate distinction of a winless season that was experienced by Dreher two seasons ago was what York went through in 2024-25.    The Cougars were in the midst of a season that was a far distance from its 1995-96 version when it advanced to a 3A state championship with Battery Creek. It was also a far distance from its 2002-03 team that won a 3A state contest against Dreher.    All of the Cougars' defeats were by double-digits with its slimmest margin of defeat occurring on Jan. 24 in a matchup with the Blue Devils. Five seniors graduated from last season's York team.   Key Players:   One name to be on the lookout for with the Cougars is Brooklyn Dial. She is a multi-sport athlete who plays softball in addition to her basketball accolades. Dial averaged 5.1 points per game in 2024-25.

November has arrived. There may only be two months remaining in the calendar year of 2025 but basketball will be on the minds of many high school basketball fans for the next five months.