SC’s 2030 Rankings: Forwards and Centers to Watch

Recently, we at Prep Girls Hoops unveiled our initial rankings for South Carolina's 2030 class. The Palmetto State is one where eighth (and seventh) graders can play at the high school varsity level and many a high school coach is glad that is the case.    A number of those names may have played their first seasons in varsity or their first pair of seasons in high school ball if they first played as seventh graders. They have worn high school uniforms while still attending middle school and are now making the transition to becoming fully-fledged high schoolers.    We began our look at the 2030 class with an emphasis on guards and now turn our attention to the frontcourt.     There are not too many players that can boast about winning a state championship in their first season at the varsity level. Fulton is not one's typical 2030 prospect. During May's live period, she was at Nike Session 2 in New Orleans as she played up in class on the AEBL 15U team. It was during last year's travel season where Fulton secured an offer from Newberry College. Fulton would play in 29 games last season for 5A Division 1 Blythewood and averaged 9.4 points per game. She helped the Bengals' cause in the state championship game against Wando with an eight-point performance.      Seasons lately for 1A Scott's Branch have been defined by overall records that leave much to be desired but playing better basketball against region foes. Maxfield would play in 24 games last season for the Eagles while averaging a robust 15.8 points, six rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. She has worn the [program_tooltip program_id='1238252' first='Twelve' last='Time'] uniform throughout her travel career and has also spent time wearing the Sumter Splash uniform. Maxfield's career has also included a stint in the private school circuit with Ragin Prep. She was one of four from the class of 2030 on last season's Scott's Branch team.      There are few teams across the state more deserving of the “team of the future” phrase more than SCISA 4A Ben Lippen. Summons' play helped the Falcons to a 22-8 showing in 2025-26 along with 10-0 record in its region and an appearance in the SCISA 4A semifinals. She is one of three from the eighth-grade ranks that were on last season's Falcons team and she averaged 9.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest. Last season was Summons' second playing at the high school varsity level. Summons has ran with [program_tooltip program_id='1238252' first='Twelve' last='Time'] during this year's grassroots season.      A young nucleus appears to be taking shape at 4A South Aiken and it enabled the Thoroughbreds to put together its first season with a winning record since the 2018-19 campaign. Harris was one of two eighth graders that were part of last season's T-breds team that concluded its 2025-26 season with a 14-10 record. She played in 19 of South Aiken's 24 games last season and averaged 11.3 points to lead the team in scoring. Harris nearly averaged a double-double as she also led the T-breds with 9.2 rebounds per contest in addition to the 2.9 steals she averaged (also a team-leading statistic).      Small stands at a tall 5-foot-11 and is a noteworthy name at 5A St. James. She has ran with [program_tooltip program_id='713574' first='Confidence' last='Cougars'] during this year's AAU slate but is set to reconvene with her Sharks team throughout June's camp month. Small's June schedule includes an appearance at Dawn Staley's South Carolina camp. She – as the only eighth grader on the 2025-26 Sharks team – helped St. James to a 14-10 record. Small averaged 11.1 points, a team-leading 6.7 rebounds and two steals as she would compete in all 24 games for the Sharks. [program_tooltip program_id='713574' first='Confidence' last='Cougars'] is scheduled to take part in the NTBA National Championship in Myrtle Beach next month and July's Run 4 Roses in Louisville.      Lewis is another intriguing prospect from the SCISA ranks. She is a multi-sport athlete who also excels in softball as an outfielder and pitcher in addition to her basketball accomplishments. Lewis helped her Richard Winn Academy assembling qualify for last season's 1A state championship game against Wardlaw Academy. She was one of three from the class of 2030 that were part of last season's Eagles assembling. Lewis would help the Richard Winn Academy cause with six points – including four made free throws – in what was a competitive state contest with Wardlaw Academy at the Sumter County Civic Center.      Brown recently completed her eighth-grade season with a Chesterfield team that is set to move down from 2A to 1A starting with the 2026-27 season. Next season will be the first time the Rams have been a 1A combatant since the 2011-12 campaign (when Chesterfield finished 5-14). Brown was the only eighth grader on last season's Chesterfield roster and she would play in 24 of the 26 games for a Rams team that finished with a record of 15-11 – a four-win improvement over its 2024-25 season. Brown would average a team-leading 9.7 rebounds, 7.6 points and 1.7 steals per contest.      Whiteside is another top-tier name from the SCISA ranks. She has maintained a busy athletic plate throughout her career between basketball and playing first base on the softball diamond. The 2025-26 season was a stellar one for Lee Academy as the Cavaliers would earn a berth into the SCISA 2A semifinals against eventual champion Dorchester Academy. Whiteside would compete in 20 of the Cavaliers' 21 games last season on a Lee Academy team that concluded its 2025-26 season with a record of 13-8. She averaged 7.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest. Whiteside was the only eighth grader on last season's Cavaliers team.      It can be easy to look at teams such as Palmetto and automatically think they are devoid of talent. Lusk – who was the only eighth grader on last year's Palmetto assembling – displays that there is talent on Palmetto. Even though Lusk may be listed as a center and resembles one when she is on the court, Lusk possesses the ball-handling capabilities of a point guard and the 3-point shooting prowess of many two guards. When she is playing more in the paint, Lusk is a consistent threat to block shots in addition to the rebounds she can corral on defense. Collecting steals is another positive element to her game.      Drummond was the lone eighth grader that was on last season's 5A Division 1 Mauldin team. She would play in 25 of the 26 games that the Mavericks played and was part of a team that finished with a 24-4 record in addition to a 12-2 record against regional opponents. Drummond also helped Mauldin earn a berth to the Upper State championship game. Her career on the travel circuit has included running with FBC Lady Supreme 2030. Her spring has included a stop in Pennsylvania at Under Armour Session 1 during the first live period in April and another in Georgia at the Live At LakePoint invite for May's live period.

Recently, we at Prep Girls Hoops unveiled our initial rankings for South Carolina's 2030 class. The Palmetto State is one where eighth (and seventh) graders can play at the high school varsity level and many a high school coach is glad that is the case.