Carolinas Classic: South Carolina’s Primetime Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 high school season may be in the books and we are still a few days away from the beginning of the AAU schedule for many teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But there is still plenty of hoops-related business to take care of in the meantime. The timeframe between the conclusion of the high school season and the beginning of the club campaign also is All-Star Game season for many a prospect – especially a senior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recently, this year's Carolinas Classic emanated from the largest school in the state – 5A Division 1 Dorman – and welcomed premier 2026s from both South and North Carolina. The next three Carolinas Classics are set to take place at the Cavaliers' plush home court. This year's was won by South Carolina with the final score being 109-107.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 109 points were the most a South Carolina team had scored in the Carolinas Classic since the event debuted in the late 1990s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops were also on hand for Saturday's festivities in the Upstate. Here are a few noteworthy names from the Palmetto State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["496215"],"_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":1810739,"_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-69bf8c38426fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Most Outstanding Player honors would be bestowed upon the senior star of 4A Camden who led South Carolina with a 20-point performance. On any All-Star team, it can be difficult for a coach to choose a starting five. Having Alexander in that starting five paid dividends for the Palmetto State assembling because of her scoring and rebounding prowess. A commit to Tennessee State, she not only earned looks from college coaches because of her being a walking double-double but did so because of her shot-blocking capabilities. Alexander would average 15.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.5 blocks in her senior campaign with the Bulldogs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["468191"],"_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":1810741,"_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-69bf8c3842787"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leamon displayed from start to finish exactly the talent that will translate well to her college career at Morgan State. She would add 17 points to South Carolina's total. Versatility is at the heart of what Leamon gets accomplished. What makes her so difficult to guard against is her ability to score points either from behind the 3-point line or in the interior. At one moment, Leamon is on the perimeter. At the next, she is playing with her back to the basket in the paint. She led 5A Division 1 Mauldin with 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest and got the Mavericks to the Upper State championship game. She also won state with Mauldin in 2022-23.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["320742"],"_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":1810743,"_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-69bf8c38427e8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In the early part of the month, Thomas led her 5A Division 1 Blythewood assembling to a second consecutive state championship. In the latter portions of March, Thomas is helping South Carolina's cause in the Carolinas Classic with a 16-point performance. In addition to her offensive versatility where she can score virtually from anywhere on the court, Thomas is also a superb rebounder and passer. Her final season at Blythewood would see Thomas play in all 29 of her team's games while averaging 22.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals per contest. Two words – unsigned senior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["350281"],"_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":1810746,"_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-69bf8c3842843"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Three rings are on Grant's fingers for a reason. Grant is also fresh off leading her 4A North Augusta assembling to another state championship. At this year's Carolinas Classic, Grant would score 15 points – which is, ironically, the same amount of points she tallied in the Yellow Jackets' state game with Westside. Grant did many of the things that has defined her career at the high school level with North Augusta – including making plays in crunch time and finding her way to the free throw line. She also played in all of the Yellow Jackets' 29 games this season averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, three assists and 1.9 steals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["366551"],"_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":1810748,"_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-69bf8c384289e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of Palmetto State notables with plenty of state hardware, Williams is set to depart from 1A Military Magnet having won four state championships – including this past season's against Great Falls. Williams may not have had the best of games from the field, but she more than made up for it at the free throw line by finishing with 11 points. Games such as Saturday's are a reflection of Williams' high basketball IQ. Her career has also reflected how adept a rebounder she is. She averaged 16.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 2.9 assists this past season in the Eagles' 30 games.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["452369"],"_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":1810753,"_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-69bf8c3842916"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The “unsigned senior” phrase also applies currently to this sharpshooter from 5A Division 1 Rock Hill. Hudson concluded Saturday afternoon's matchup with 10 points, but she made one of the biggest plays of the day. Late in the fourth quarter, North Carolina had a 96-93 lead but South Carolina (and Brookland-Cayce) coach Terrence Gibson remembered how accurate Hudson is from distance. She connected on a 3-pointer from the left wing to tie the contest at 96 apiece, forcing overtime. Hudson is set to depart from Rock Hill having won a state championship at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season and averaged 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 steals this past season for the Bearcats.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["405529"],"_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":1810758,"_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-69bf8c3842966"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Considering that this season's Carolinas Classic was held at 5A Division 1 Dorman, one could call White one of the grand marshals for this season's festivities. White got to showcase her talents on her home court one more time and added 10 points to South Carolina's total. A double-double possibility on a game-by-game basis, White nearly averaged one this past season with the Cavaliers. The 19.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game White averaged led Dorman to a berth in the Upper State semifinals. White is set to take her talents to the next level at UNC-Wilmington.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["405364"],"_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":1810760,"_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-69bf8c38429ac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Every point mattered in a contest that was both close and up-tempo. That also applied to the eight points that were placed on the scoreboard by the veteran star from 4A Lower Richland. Her career as a Diamond Hornet is in the rear-view mirror and Sumter is transitioning to college life at Lander. She has played at the high school level since the seventh grade. Her rebounding and overall defensive development over the years has firmly earned her a place in the conversation of the Palmetto State's premier players. She played in 22 games in what was coach Morgan Stroman's first year at the helm in the Diamond Mine and averaged 16.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, three steals and 2.8 assists per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->