Zaxby’s Shootout at Blacksburg HS: Forces in the Frontcourt

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With it being the middle of June, camp month is in full effect and as competitive as the basketball has been, one may think it is January – even if the temperatures outside South Carolina's many gyms do not reflect that reality.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the numerous team camps that have taken place across the Palmetto State emanated from Blacksburg HS as the home court of the Wildcats hosted the Zaxby's Shootout. The 2025-26 season was another solid one for coach Bobby Rodgers' Wildcats as they finished with a 22-7 record and earned a spot in the 2A Upper State semifinals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops were on site for Thursday's festivities. After highlighting names from the backcourt that shined at The Cage, we turn our attention to the frontcourt.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1318971"],"_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-6a2b7911039fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For last season's 2A Blacksburg team, Gomez was one of three who shared team co-captaincy duties. A rising senior with the tendencies of the veteran status she has, she displays her versatility with her ability to be in a team's lineup of five as either a two in the backcourt or a three in the frontcourt. Coaches look for high basketball IQs in veteran players and Gomez certainly possesses that. Handling the ball with either her right or her left hand is another positive element to her game as is the ability to know when to score and when to pass. Gomez averaged 6.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 steals in 23 games for the Wildcats last season.&nbsp;</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":1868604,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1868760' first='Milani' last='Hall']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_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":"Dorman","_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-6a2b791103a80"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When seniors graduate, it creates opportunities for talented junior varsity underclassmen to earn spots on the varsity roster. Hall is one of those for 5A Dorman as she is a rising freshman junior varsity callup. Defensively, she does not leave a lot of space between her and whoever she is guarding, and she can leave opposing ball carriers prone to turning the ball over. Hall stands at 5-foot-7 and is an efficient runner of the floor. Hall is already earning plenty of playing time in a Cavaliers uniform and will be in search of a breakout freshman season in her varsity debut.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1125423"],"_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":1868606,"_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-6a2b791103ab5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gibson found playing time in 22 of Dorman's 26 games throughout the 2025-26 high school season. During the first two months of this year's travel season, Gibson has worn the uniform of Carolina Takeoff and spent the most recent live period Nebraska at Pro 16 Session II. Her 5-foot-10 stature gives her a height advantage over many of her peer power forwards and that comes in useful when grabbing rebounds. Gibson would play in 22 of Dorman's games last season to add depth to the Cavaliers frontcourt and one can expect she will earn even more playing time in 2026-27.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1068042"],"_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":1868613,"_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-6a2b791103adf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One cannot coach height and Thompkins provides plenty of it at a noticeable 6-foot-2. Thompkins would play in all 27 of 3A Chapman's contests from the 2025-26 season and averaged 8.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in addition to 1.4 blocks. Thompkins plays with her back to the basket and is an on-court leader for her team. The veteran big understands the art of establishing herself in the low post and either going directly to the basket or throwing a defense off with a short jumper. Thompkins also understands that playing as a big means dealing with contact making her ability to connect on her free throw tries all the more important.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1868765"],"_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-6a2c36418c663"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This Smith is the other of the two Smiths that look to ensure Gaffney keeps its winning ways going as it transitions from the 5A realm to 4A. Smith's ability to finish strong at the rim should be a point of emphasis for any defender to always stay in front of her. As a defender, she can display plenty of agility with the ability to adjust her defensive assignments on the fly. That can lead to many steals and additional offensive possessions for her team. Her height can provide a formidable paint presence, and she has no problems drawing contact which can place her at the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->