LBI Summer Showcase: Rising Juniors on the Rise

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The PGH Carolinas Freshman Showcase is Aug. 30 and the Expo takes place on Sep. 6! Use the discount code Carolinas26PGH25OFF for 25% off registration!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Concord athletic facility formerly known as Carolina Courts recently received a fresh coat of paint courtesy of former Charlotte Hornets great Kemba Walker.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the first events at what is now the Kemba Walker Sports Academy in the Charlotte area was this year's LBI Summer Showcase. It took place the Sunday during Fourth of July weekend and welcomed a number of teams from both Carolinas.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops also made the trip to the new facility for the day's slate of contests. The Palmetto State was well-represented in Cabarrus County and that includes the state's very talented class of 2028.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["903676"],"_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":1878772,"_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-6a4bcbc11a7ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The hiring of coach Dominique Thompson as coach of Lugoff-Elgin paid massive dividends for the Demons. Samuel helped her team earn a first-round playoff victory over St. James in the 5A Division 2 tournament and Samuel hopes to continue that success as Lugoff-Elgin moves back to the 4A ranks. Samuel is a hard worker and all-around competitor that blends together talent with tenacity. She has played at the high school varsity level since she was in middle school and that development has particularly displayed itself as a scorer and defensive playmaker. Samuel averaged 17 points, five steals, 3.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["925569"],"_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":1878773,"_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-6a4bcbc11a82e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Earlier this offseason, we spotlighted Cannon as a 2028 that is ascending to a leadership role. It applies considering the talent graduated from last season's 3A Walhalla assembling. On Sunday at the Kemba Walker Sports Academy, she displayed plenty of the attributes indicative of someone poised to thrive as a featured player with the Razorbacks. In fact, she displayed that in last season's 3A state championship contest against Keenan when her 19 points helped coach Byron Wimphrie's Razors to a second consecutive state championship. Cannon averaged 12 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 steals last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["666608"],"_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":1878774,"_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-6a4bcbc11a857"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Earle is wearing Legacy Early College gold and purple at a very opportune time as the Lions are set to join the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) as a 3A team beginning with the upcoming season. As a rising junior, one would expect veteran instincts out of her and she certainly has plenty of that as part of her game. Guards that can impact a game not only as scorers but also as rebounders will always be in high demand. Earle is a skilled handler of the ball on the offensive end and understands the art of making things difficult for opposing ball carriers on the defensive end of the floor. Earle was previously offered by Pfeiffer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["563335"],"_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":1878776,"_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-6a4bcbc11a87c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For the two seasons that Greenwood played as a 5A team, the Eagles encountered plenty of success – including a 5A Division 2 Upper State championship. Williams is returning to Greenwood for her 2026-27 campaign and looks to continue the Eagles' success as the team moves back to 4A. Williams would compete in 27 contests last season in Greenwood black and gold while averaging seven points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest. She is a 3-level scorer that paved the way for her Carolina All In 16U team to rally from behind to a 43-39 victory over Charlotte Monarchs 16U.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1131794"],"_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-6a4bcbc11a89c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tisdale is a multi-sport athlete who also excels in volleyball as a middle hitter, middle blocker and outside hitter in addition to her growing list of basketball achievements. At 5-foot-10, versatility is a major element to her game as she can be placed in a team's lineup as either a two guard or in the frontcourt or the three or the four. Tisdale emerged as a name to watch for a 1A Latta team that finished with a solid 20-5 record last season. Following a 2025-26 campaign where she averaged a double-double of 14.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per contest plus 3.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the Vikings, Tisdale looks to solidify her status as the face of Latta's program for the next couple of seasons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1878781"],"_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":1878782,"_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-6a4bcbc11a8c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Midway through Sunday's play, Heyward and her Charlotte Monarchs 16U team was in a hard-fought contest with Carolina All-In 16U. The standout from 5A Rock Hill greatly helped in her team's efforts with 10 points. She particularly made her presence known in the first half by getting to the rim and drawing contact which placed her at the free throw line. Eight of her 10 in that contest occurred in the first half of play. Heyward would play in 27 games last season as a Bearcat. She now looks ahead to this weekend where she will be in Cincinnati for the LP32 Session 2 Live Period event in Cincinnati.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["925567"],"_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":1878784,"_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-6a4bcbc11a8e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The LBI Summer Showcase being in the rear-view mirror means Barlow can turn her attention to the upcoming weekend in Las Vegas at Nike EYBL Session 3 for the weekend's live period. Barlow's most recent offers were courtesy of Furman and Queens University. Opposing teams have to watch for Barlow's ability to connect from long range as well as what she can get accomplished as a defender. Her prowess as a passer displays that she knows when to attack and when to distribute. Barlow would play in all 26 of Dorman's games last season and was part of a Cavaliers team that advanced to the 5A Division 1 Upper State semifinals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->