SC’s 2030 Rankings: Under-the-Radar Names

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first portions of the 2030 travel season will soon be in the books and many a prospect will be with their high school teams for June's camp month.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With June looming, we at Prep Girls Hoops released our initial set of 2030 rankings. Many of these names are very familiar to Palmetto State high school sports aficionados considering middle schoolers can play at the high school varsity level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our first two articles spotlighting the 2030 class featured names that many a fan could already be familiar with. Then there are those that could be flying slightly under the radar. We place a focus on those names here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1861068"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6a1a0cf1b78ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DuPree played her first season at the varsity level in 2025-26 with 4A Camden and competed in 23 games for coach Lewis Mungo's Bulldogs. When one wears the [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] uniform as a 2030, that is a sign of the upside a name has. The Camden team DuPree was on finished its 2025-26 season with a solid record of 23-4 in addition to going 9-3 in its region and earning a berth in the 4A Upper State semifinals. DuPree previously played her middle school ball at Camden MS. The Bulldogs are set to return to the 3A ranks beginning in 2026-27. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1123459"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6a1a0cf1b796f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a solid seventh grade season wearing Military Magnet's signature red, Smith returned for her eighth-grade season with coach Nathaniel Taylor's Eagles. Both seasons have resulted in state championships. Smith would take to the court for Military Magnet in all 30 of the Eagles games in 2025-26 and would average 10.6 points, 3.8 steals, three rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest. Smith was one of four from the middle school ranks that earned roster spots with last season's Eagles. One of her final signature performances of the high school season occurred in the 1A Lower State championship game against Latta. The Eagles blew out the Vikings by a final score of 76-29 and Smith led all point-getters with 16 in addition to seven steals and four assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1605758"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6a1a0cf1b79cb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We at Prep Girls Hoops had an opportunity to get a glimpse of Washington in late November when her 1A Baptist Hill team was one of several squads on hand at 5A Summerville for the Teresa Kendle Thanksgiving Classic. Washington also played at the varsity level as a seventh grader and competed in 21 contests for the Bobcats in 2025-26. She would average 12 points, three steals and three rebounds per game last season. Washington was a key name on one of the youngest teams in the state last season – Baptist Hill's roster included eight from the middle school realm. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1318843"],"_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-6a1a0cf1b7a3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prescott is one that has consistently maintained a busy athletic schedule. In addition to what she gets accomplished on the basketball court, she also excels as a softball standout as a catcher, shortstop and utility fielder. She has also played volleyball. Prescott managed to lead her SCISA 1A Holly Hill Academy assembling to a state tournament berth and a first-round victory over King Academy. She would play in all 21 games last season for the Raiders while averaging 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals per contest. Prescott was one of two from the eighth grade ranks on last season's Raiders team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1606222"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6a1a0cf1b7aac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nunez was one of two eighth-graders on the 2025-26 version of Eau Claire – a school that will be moving from the 2A ranks down to 1A when the 2026-27 season commences. Considering the seniors that the Shamrocks had graduated from its 2024-25 team that won an Upper State championship, it was expected Eau Claire would have a drop off in 2025-26. Nunez was a bright spot on a team where four of its five victories occurred against region opponents. After a high school season where she averaged 13.2 points, 3.4 steals and 3.1 rebounds in 21 contests, Nunez is running with [program_tooltip program_id='713672' first='Palmetto' last='Pressure'] on the travel circuit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1606081"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6a1a0cf1b7aff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This offseason has already been a rough one for a Pickens program that is set to move from 4A to 3A in 2026-27. Several players from last season's Blue Flame have transferred – including Moldovan who is set to bring her hoops talents to 2A Liberty. Moldovan, an FBC product, played in all 24 games for a Pickens team that appeared to be on a resurgence last season. Moldovan averaged 12 points, 2.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest in 2025-26. She was one of two from the class of 2030 that were on last season's Blue Flame assembling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1252757"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6a1a0cf1b7b52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Silver Foxes of 5A Dutch Fork present one of the tougher teams across the state to defeat. Adams ensured that continued to be the case as she was one of two from the class of 2030 on last season's Dutch Fork team. In her first season at the high school level, Adams would compete in 24 contests for the Silver Foxes while averaging 11 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.7 steals per contest. Adams' career has also included a stint where she played AAU with Team Unleashed South Carolina. It has also included a time where she wore the IDreams uniform. Now, she runs with SC Lady Wolfpack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1252742"],"_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":1616025,"_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-6a1a0cf1b7bb9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hall is a name on the rise for a team that is on the rise too. She was the only eighth grader on last season's 5A Division 2 Lugoff-Elgin team coached by Dominique Thompson. Hall played in 24 of the Demons' 25 contests last season and averaged 8.1 points, 1.8 steals and 1.4 assists per game. Lugoff-Elgin qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10 last season – and unlike that 2009-10 team, last season's Demons won its playoff game. It defeated St. James in the first round of last season's 5A Division 2 tournament in large part because of Hall who tallied 18 points to send the Sharks to an early exit. Lugoff-Elgin will return to the 4A ranks starting next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1742868"],"_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-6a1a0cf1b7c1c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Culp was the only eighth grader on last season's 1A Lewisville assembling. She ensured that the Lions would put together one of most noteworthy turnarounds of the 2025-26 campaign. Culp played in 24 of Lewisville's 25 games for a Lions squad that finished last season with a record of 16-9. She averaged 10 points, a team-leading five steals, 3.6 rebounds and a team-leading 3.3 assists per contest last season. She was also among the Lions' leaders in 3-point percentage and blocks per game with 1.3 – which one would consider a high amount for a guard. With one of the breakout eighth-grade seasons in the Palmetto State in the rear-view mirror, Culp appears to be just getting started. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["889285"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6a1a0cf1b7cb5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Gators of 5A Goose Creek will be a team to watch these next several seasons. Norwood was the only eighth grader on last season's Gators team. One can place Norwood in a team's lineup in the frontcourt at the four or three or as a wing. Her travel career has included a stint wearing the uniform of Lowcountry Premier. Her height certainly adds depth to the Gators' frontcourt. Last season's Goose Creek assembling earned a berth to the Lower State championship game. She previously played her high school ball at Marrington MS before ascending to high school varsity status. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->