So Long, Seniors: 2026s Leveling Up in Other Sports

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With every season that concludes, another senior class prepares to bring a close to their time in high school and transition into the college ranks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are those that further their basketball careers in college. Then there are those that decide to focus entirely on academics when they head to the collegiate ranks. Then there are those who are multi-sport athletes who elect to continue their athletic careers in their other sport.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For a number of premier hoopers throughout the Palmetto State, that will indeed be the case. Without further ado, we shine one more spotlight on those 2026s here.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["380650"],"_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":1379454,"_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-69bb276636d70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To say that Helmer has left a massive imprint on athletics at St. Joseph's Catholic is an understatement. Helmer will depart from St. Joseph's Catholic as the Knights' all-time leading scorer and has had a banner raised in her honor. When she begins her collegiate journey, Helmer will be wearing purple instead of blue – as in the signature purple hue of Division I Furman where she will focus on volleyball. The last two seasons would see Helmer lead her St. Joseph's Catholic group to back-to-back 3A Upper State championship games. She first played varsity basketball in the seventh grade and varsity volleyball in the eighth grade. Helmer averaged 14 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.5 steals this past season for the Knights. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["355639"],"_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":1379474,"_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-69bb276636de2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 2025-26 season for Carolina Forest arrived at a conclusion at the hands of Lexington in the Lower State portion of the 5A Division 1 tournament. That defeat for the Panthers also brought a conclusion to Mclean's basketball career. She is now transitioning to college life at Division I Kennesaw State where she will put her full emphasis on track and field. Mclean was also one of three team co-captains for this season's Carolina Forest team. Whoever fills Mclean's shoes as the leader of the Panthers' frontcourt has a tough act to follow. Mclean averaged a double-double of 15 points and 11.5 rebounds plus 3.8 blocks and 3.1 steals in her senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["259992"],"_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":"","_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-69bb276636e37"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hightower will depart from 5A Division 1 Blythewood as a two-time state champion. She is another that will place her full emphasis on track and field when she heads to the collegiate ranks. Hightower is set to take her talents to Purdue and the Big Ten. This past season would see Hightower sport a Bengals uniform in all 29 contests Blythewood played in. She would average 5.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.3 steals per contest. The 2026 graduating class is a special one for Blythewood considering Hightower was part of the Bengals' big three that lifted the team from worst to first over a number of seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408753"],"_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":1125730,"_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-69bb276636e84"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The conclusion to someone's high school career ideally ends on the field of play – preferably in a state championship. Unfortunately for Haggard and her 5A Division 2 Chapin team, it occurred a couple of months ago as she suffered a torn ACL. Haggard would only play in 17 games in her senior season as an Eagle and would average 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Chapin, with former Denmark-Olar coach Terence Jones now at the helm, would have a successful season where the Eagles advanced to the Lower State semifinals. Ask anyone on that team and they would have lauded how they would have loved to have a healthy Haggard on the court for all 26 games. The basketball, golf and softball standout will head to East Tennessee State where she committed for softball.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["258130"],"_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":1610791,"_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-69bb276636ecd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Owens is not entirely leaving basketball behind – and Lander's athletic program will be the beneficiary of that distinction. When the 5A Division 2 Greenville veteran star announced her commitment to Lander in early February, it was for both basketball and track and field. Owens recently completed a banner 2025-26 that not only saw her reach 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for her high school career but saw the Red Raiders win an Upper State championship. One of two seniors and two team co-captains for this past season's Greenville bunch, she averaged a double-double of 11 rebounds and 10.6 points plus 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals per contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->