A1 Hoops Team Shootout: 2028-29 Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Camp months can be very advantageous from a coaching perspective.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They can provide a glimpse of what they can expect from their high school teams months out from the season. This can especially be the case if said team has benefitted – or not – from transfers. It can also be advantageous from a player perspective as it gets said players reacquainted with their teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the litany of camp events taking place across the Palmetto State was the two-day A1 Hoops Team Shootout that emanated from Northside Christian. We at Prep Girls Hoops made it to the home of the SCISA 3A Crusaders for Tuesday's games.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After putting a spotlight on the rising senior class, we do the same here with 2028 and 2029 standouts.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1319101"],"_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":1867938,"_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-6a295a0207627"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Johnson is a rising junior at 4A Fountain Inn. On Tuesday at Northside Christian, she took plenty of steps in taking that next step forward to becoming one of the signature players for the Fury. Even though a coach can place Johnson in their lineup as either a three or a four, Johnson's versatility and accuracy from 3-point range can ensure it is as if there is another two guard on the court. Johnson would play in 25 games last season for the Fury. She has spent her AAU season wearing the [program_tooltip program_id='1248511' first='Amp' last='Elite'] uniform and was at Live at LakePoint during last month's live period. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1867939,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Faith Taylor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Wilson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a295a02077f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Even though Taylor may stand at 5-foot-6, she thrives as a versatile rising junior that can operate as a wing or in the frontcourt as a three. Taylor would play in 22 games last season for 4A Wilson and was a key contributor to a 20-5 season in coach Ki'Ari Cain's first season at the helm. What particularly makes Taylor effective in the frontcourt is her ability to corral her fair share of rebounds. Drawing contact and giving herself – and her team – opportunities at the free throw line is another positive attribute to Taylor's game. She has the ability to connect from 3-point range and can often find herself on the receiving end of transition plays resulting in layups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1867940,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Madison McClain","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"White Knoll","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a295a0207900"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Following a 2025-26 season where 5A Division 1 White Knoll won only four games (two of which were at the expense of 4A Aiken), the Timberwolves are looking for the right formula to restore its winning ways. McClain could be part of that formula. She brings plenty of height, plenty of length and plenty of accuracy from distance. That height advantage can also prove to be very useful when looking to make plays in close proximity to the rim. McClain's performance was instrumental in the Timberwolves closing out its portion of Tuesday's play with a victory over the Capitals of 2A Columbia. She previously played at American Leadership Academy Lexington. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["637592"],"_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":1867941,"_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-6a295a02079ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thompson is a rising sophomore with 5A White Knoll. She is one of the standouts across the state among the 2029 class and looks to be a leader for the Timberwolves frontcourt over the next several seasons. Thompson can give a team worthwhile minutes either as a three forward or at the four. Thompson also displays how fearless she is by her willingness to draw contact and get to the free throw line. She also displays leadership skills not always found in many younger players. Prior to arriving on the scene at White Knoll, Thompson played her middle school ball at Beechwood MS. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1276426"],"_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":1867942,"_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-6a295a0207a4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fowler's 2025-26 season would see her compete in all 27 contests last season with 4A Fountain Inn. The numbers she put up last season with the Fury backed up the playing time she received as she would average 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest. Her travel season has been spent with [program_tooltip program_id='1248511' first='Amp' last='Elite'] which included a stop at the Live at LakePoint event during last month's live period. It was back in April that she received her first Division I offer courtesy of George Mason and she will certainly have more to mull over as long as she keeps putting forth performances similar to what she had during Tuesday's camp event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1833276"],"_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-6a295a0207ad8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite being only listed at 5-foot-5, Gunn is listed as a frontcourt player at 2A Columbia. A midrange jump shot is part of Gunn's offensive repertoire and she can display impressive ball-handling skills even when being guarded by one or multiple defenders. Gunn showcases her toughness with her ability to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. Gunn was one of three from the class of 2029 that were part of last season's Capitals roster. She played in 19 of Columbia's 22 contests this past season and averaged 10.6 points per contest throughout 2025-26. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->