Top 2027 Forwards and Centers to Watch on the Recruiting Trail

The time around the end of March and the beginning of April is always a very interesting time on the high school basketball calendar. We are preparing to say farewell to one group names that are ready to test their talents at the next level.    With one graduating class having played its final basketball at both the high school and club levels, another class begins the yearlong process of doing the same thing. That begins with the start of the travel season.    The majority of attention will soon shift to the class of 2027 in terms of their recruitment and commitment status. Many of the Palmetto State's premier 2027s can be found in the frontcourt and here are 10 who should particularly be well-sought after by college coaches.     Hartwell and Division I offers go hand in hand these days with one of her latest coming from the national power that is Duke in late November. Her play has given many a college coach – including Blue Devils coach Kara Lawson – plenty to be impressed with. Hartwell reached the 1,000-point plateau for her career in December. She played in all 29 games this past season for a Westside team that has won back-to-back 4A Upper State championships. Hartwell averaged 12.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. She also claimed South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors for 2025-26.     Cunningham is another that has secured her fair share of Division I offers. Since the start of the season, North Carolina Central, Charleston and North Carolina A&T have extended offers in the direction of this talented big from 4A South Pointe. Cunningham is a HER Elite product that became South Pointe's all-time leading scorer for either girls or boys basketball. She played in all 29 games this past season for the Stallions and averaged a double-double of 20.5 points and 11.5 rebounds plus 2.7 steals per contest. Cunningham led the Stallions to another berth in the 4A Upper State championship game.     SC State, Georgia Southern, Elon, UNC-Wilmington, Furman and North Carolina A&T have been among the schools that extended offers in Walker's direction. That list grew to include Coastal Carolina back in August. Walker is already a three-time state champion and will have an opportunity to make it four in 2026-27. She played in 29 games this past season with North Augusta and averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals per contest. Along with another ring, Walker was also named MaxPreps South Carolina Player of the Year. Walker also plays volleyball in addition to her many basketball achievements. She was one of four juniors on this past season's Yellow Jackets team.     Murray is another that maintains an active athletic schedule between playing both basketball and volleyball. Among the schools that have extended offers in her direction are Elon and East Carolina. Murray recently began her 2026 travel schedule with [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] which will compete in its next event the weekend of April 11-12 in Rock Hill at the Phenom Lady Rumble. Murray's 2025-26 season included reaching the 1,000-point plateau for a Wilson team that was among the toughest outs in the 4A classification. She averaged 13.1 points per contest for the Tigers and has been playing at the varsity level since she was an eighth grader.     Hopper helped Gaffney put together another solid season in 2025-26 season as the Indians made a tournament run to the 5A Division 2 Upper State championship game. She played in all 29 games for a Gaffney assembling that concluded its season with a 22-7 record. Hopper averaged 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per contest. In that Upper State championship contest against the Red Raiders, Hopper helped her team's cause with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds plus three blocks and three steals. Gaffney is set to move back down to compete in 4A for the first time since the 2015-16 season next year.     Britt was one of the big transfers of the 2025 offseason as 4A Gray Collegiate and coach Brandon Wallace would benefit off her talents. She helped the War Eagles to a 22-6 record, a second-place finish in its region and a berth in the Lower State semifinals. Among the highlights of Britt's 2025-26 was her reaching the 1,000-point mark for her stellar high school career. Britt averaged a double-double of 19 points and 10.5 rebounds plus 1.7 steals per contest while playing in all 28 games this season for Gray Collegiate. The War Eagles are set to move up in classification to 5A beginning next season.     Assemian recently completed her first season in 5A Division 2 Greenville threads. It was a banner campaign for the Red Raiders veteran. Not only did Assemian play in all 29 games for the Red Raiders this past season, but she guided Greenville to an Upper State championship. Assemian averaged 10.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest this past season. Back in January, Assemian secured an offer to alongside another offer she received from Lenoir-Rhyne in September. Greenville is set to move back to the 4A classification starting with the 2026-27 campaign. She was one of six 2027s on the 2025-26 Red Raiders version. Assemian is ready for the 2026 travel season with AEBL Girlz.     The Silver Foxes of 5A Division 1 Dutch Fork have been among the toughest outs in the Palmetto State these past few years. Crumlin has hooped at the high school varsity level since she was an eighth grader. She stands at a towering 6-foot-2 and possesses a wingspan over seven feet. Crumlin played in 22 games this past season for the Silver Foxes and averaged a double-double of 13.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest in addition to 2.5 blocks and 2.3 steals per game. She was also one of the team's two co-captains. Crumlin guided Dutch Fork to the Upper State semifinals.     The school basketball season may be in the books and Shaw is putting a good bit of her athletic emphasis on softball at 2A Kingstree. She is also looking ahead to the upcoming travel schedule with FBC Bouncenation – that includes competing during five live periods. Her team is also scheduled to take part in the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit's Peach Games in late May in Georgia. In the 24 games she played this past season for coach James Price's Blazers, she averaged a double-double of 19.8 points and 11 rebounds plus five assists and 4.7 steals per contest. Kingstree will be a 1A team beginning with the 2026-27 season.     The conclusion of the 2025-26 season ensured that Levey will depart from the high school ranks with at least two championship rings on her fingers. She will seek a third consecutive crown in 2026-27. Levey also fits the description of a two-sport athlete as she also plays volleyball in addition to her basketball achievements. She first played at the varsity level when she was an eighth grader. This past season for 5A Division 2 Berkeley, Levey would average 10 points and 5.5 rebounds plus one block in the 26 contest she participated in. Levey was one of three juniors on coach Crystal Peace's 2025-26 Stags roster.

The time around the end of March and the beginning of April is always a very interesting time on the high school basketball calendar. We are preparing to say farewell to one group names that are ready to test their talents at the next level.