SC’s 2030 Rankings: Guards To Watch

We at Prep Girls Hoops recently unveiled our initial set of rankings for the 2030 class. South Carolina is a state where seventh and eighth graders can play at the high school varsity level. That is a distinction that has created positive fortunes for many a team.    A story of every season is when seventh and eighth graders prove that they are more than worthy of being on the same court with more experienced competition. Several of these names first emerge during the spring and summer months of AAU ball then have breakout seasons in their high school uniforms when more attention is on them.    A number of the 2030s in our rankings are in the backcourt. We spotlight those rising guards here.     Singletary has ran with [program_tooltip program_id='1238252' first='Twelve' last='Time'] throughout the spring months of AAU ball and recently competed during the second live period at Nike's Session 2 in New Orleans. During her weekend in Louisiana, Singletary averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Singletary's Irmo team is set to move from the 5A ranks back down to 4A beginning with the 2026-27 season. The 2025-26 version of Irmo finished with a 16-11 record and Singletary would play in all 27 of the Yellow Jackets' contests. She averaged 23.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals per game. Singletary is playing up in class in 15U.     Speaking of premier 2030 names from the Midlands, Alexander has played for another school that is set to move back down to 4A in 2026-27 – Westwood. She has spent her spring AAU months wearing the [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] uniform. The 2025-26 season would see Alexander's Redhawks finish with a 17-11 record. She played in all 28 of Westwood's contests last season while averaging 11.3 points, three rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest. Alexander was one of only two eighth graders that were part of the roster for coach Gregory Bauldrick's Westwood assembling this past season.     The theme of noteworthy names at high schools moving back down to 4A continues with Land as she has worn Nation Ford black and red during the winter months. Land has landed a number of Division I offers over the years – including App State, Clemson, Georgia and East Carolina. She helped the Falcons to a 14-13 record. Land was the only eighth grader on last season's Nation Ford team and played in all 27 of the Falcons' contests in 2025-26. She averaged 11.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals last season. At Nike's EYBL Session 2 in New Orleans, Land played up in class on the Her Elite 16U team.     Gray recently played her second season at the varsity level for 4A A.C. Flora and turned what was a big three for the Falcons into a core four. She previously ran with [program_tooltip program_id='713672' first='Palmetto' last='Pressure'] during the spring and summer months of AAU basketball and now wears the [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] uniform. Gray has also previously played volleyball throughout her athletic career. Her play contributed to another winning season at the Falcons' nest in Forest Acres as coach Jacob Thompson's team finished 16-9 last season. Gray averaged 12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and three steals per contest in the 24 games that she played.     This past season can be considered a highly successful one for Boiling Springs. Kinard's play helped coach Breanna Ray's Bulldogs to its first season with double-digit victories (12) since the 2019-20 campaign when Boiling Springs won 11 games. She would play in all 27 games this past season with Boiling Springs while averaging 19.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.3 assists per contest. She participated with AEBL at the junior EYBL portion of Nike's Session 2 in New Orleans. Kinard first played at the varsity level as a seventh grader and was the lone 2030 on last season's Boiling Springs roster.     Adams' travel career includes a stint with York County Lady Legends and she now wears the Charlotte Dream Elite uniform on the grassroots circuit. She is another that has played at the varsity level since her seventh-grade year. Adams has played multiple sports throughout her athletic career – including softball and volleyball. She spent May's live period in Georgia at the Live at LakePoint Select Events invite. Adams was one of two middle schoolers on the roster for 4A Lancaster. She averaged 12.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and two steals per contest in the 24 games she played for the Bruins.     Brown has played two seasons at the varsity level with 1A Military Magnet. Both seasons have resulted in state championships. She proved herself worthy of varsity status as a seventh grader and took a major leap forward in her eighth-grade campaign. Brown would compete in all 30 games this past season for an Eagles team that concluded its season with a 26-4 record. She would average 13.8 points, a team-leading 4.9 assists, 4.6 steals and 4.5 rebounds. Brown was one of four from the middle school ranks on last season's Military Magnet group. She had a 25-point, seven-rebound performance for the Eagles in the state championship game against Great Falls.     Rowan is another [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] prospect. Last season was her first at the varsity level with 4A South Pointe and she would play in 28 games this past season with the Stallions. Rowan averaged nine points and 2.1 steals for a South Pointe team that finished 26-3, won its region by going a perfect 12-0 and earned another berth to the Upper State championship game. Rowan was the only eighth grader on last season's Stallions team. She took part in Nike EYBL Session 2 in New Orleans during the month's live period and averaged 10 points per game at the Big Shots Rock Hill Memorial Classic.     Mitchum's spring months of the 2026 AAU season have been spent participating with [program_tooltip program_id='1248511' first='Amp' last='Elite'] Red which plays on the Under Armour circuit. She spent May's live period in Georgia at the Live at LakePoint invite. After playing her eighth-grade season at Pickens, Mitchum will be bringing her talents to a Daniel team that finished 25-2 last season. In 2025-26 for the Blue Flame, Mitchum would compete in 24 contests while averaging 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 3.8 assists. Mitchum is joining a Lions team that will move back down to 3A after a couple of seasons in the 4A ranks.     The 2025-26 season may have featured more lowlights than highlights for 2A Strom Thurmond but a number of those highlights were provided by the lone eighth grader on the Rebels roster last season. Lott is playing her first AAU season with [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] and spent her live period in New Orleans at Nike EYBL Session 2. Lott finished her 2025-26 season with Strom Thurmond claiming All-Region honors. She is finishing up her May schedule at the Phenom Summer Showcase in Rock Hill before resuming [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] play in July at EYBL Session 3 in Las Vegas and the Nike Nationals in Chicago.

We at Prep Girls Hoops recently unveiled our initial set of rankings for the 2030 class. South Carolina is a state where seventh and eighth graders can play at the high school varsity level. That is a distinction that has created positive fortunes for many a team.