Lower State 3A Newcomers: Teal is the Real Deal

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!   One understands what the bulk of conversation around high school sports revolves around – wins and losses, coaching changes, transfers and – of course – recruiting. Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) has also entered the chat in some places.    Every few years, another section of the high school athletics discourse revolves around classification. Enrollments are ever-changing at every school around the state and the nation and that has an effect on classification status.    While the last realignment saw many schools move up in classification, this one saw plenty of schools move down. We examined the schools from the Upper State that dropped from 4A to 3A and now turn our attention to those moving to 3A from the Lower State.    Airport   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/IMG_0665.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-759509" style="width:556px;height:auto" /></figure>   Four of the five teams in the newly created Region 4-AAA are dropping from 4A to 3A. The Eagles of Airport are one of them.    Airport last played in the 3A classification during the 2015-16 season. That was a tale of two seasons for the Eagles as they finished 6-14 overall – but five of Airport's six victories occurred against region opponents.    The Eagles did earn a pair of region victories last season over Brookland-Cayce and Aiken, but Airport was on the outside looking in of the 4A tournament landscape. Last season, Airport graduated five as part of the school's 2026 class.    The heart and soul of everything Airport is [player_tooltip player_id='756930' first='Ciara' last='Cooke'] who competed in 22 of the Eagles' 24 matchups last season. Cooke is also a varsity cheerleader at Airport and ran with [program_tooltip program_id='1320709' first='SC' last='Fever'] during the spring and summer months of AAU. She averaged 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 assists per game. Cooke earned an offer recently from Truman College.    Two of the team's leading rebounders from last season were Jaelyn Rivers and Naliyah Staley. Both averaged 3.9 boards per contest last season.    Brookland-Cayce   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_30-12-2024_07-45-47-1670PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1123445" style="width:615px;height:auto" /></figure>   The 2025-26 season at Brookland-Cayce represented the first of the Terrence Gibson era for the Bearcats. Gibson was previously head coach at 5A Ridge View, but he did not experience Blazer-esque results (at least not in his first year).    Brookland-Cayce finished 8-18 – but five of those eight victories occurred during its region schedule. That earned Gibson's Bearcats a berth in last season's 4A state tournament where Brookland-Cayce renewed pleasantries with one of the region's tougher outs in Gray Collegiate.    A plus of the Bearcats' 2025-26 season was how they performed on their home court. Brookland-Cayce was victorious in five of its nine tries in front of its home fans.    Among the key players for last season's Brookland-Cayce assembling were [player_tooltip player_id='1123436' first='Dalacia' last='Rouse'], Kamoryn Booker, Aniyah Alicia and [player_tooltip player_id='1123437' first='Maci' last='Cobb']. Cobb was the team's leader in rebounds last season.    Camden   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/IMG_4948.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1544562" style="width:595px;height:auto" /></figure>   Let a Camden aficionado know that the Bulldogs are returning to 3A from 4A and one will likely see many a face light up with glee. After all, the Bulldogs' two most recent state championships (and three most recent state appearances) occurred while as a 3A team.    Coach Lewis Mungo's Bulldogs were able to hold their own the last two seasons in the 4A realm. Camden went a combined 40-11 those two seasons.    Camden made a statement early during its 2025-26 season as being the lone team to score a victory over the juggernaut that has been North Augusta. That victory occurred at the She Got Next Thanksgiving Classic. When the 4A tournament arrived, the Bulldogs earned victories over Seneca and Blue Ridge before suffering a close loss to Westside in the Upper State semifinals.    Camden is a team built for the present and the future. [player_tooltip player_id='376018' first='Harmony' last='Jefferson'] will soon begin her senior season in a Camden uniform and recently committed to Lander. Jefferson played in 18 games last season while averaging 12.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest. Also entering her senior season is [player_tooltip player_id='637609' first='Jillian' last='Rush'] who recently wrapped up her AAU career with SC Future. Rush averaged 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.8 steals per contest. [player_tooltip player_id='324555' first='Braylin' last='Mungo'] is also part of Camden's 2027 graduating class. She averaged 10.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.8 steals and 2.4 rebounds per game last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='480142' first='Shanaryah' last='Wright'] also recently announced her collegiate intentions as she will remain in-state to play her college ball at Converse. Wright played in 27 games last season and averaged six points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals per matchup in 2025-26. [player_tooltip player_id='925561' first='Laikahlanii' last='Seegars'] is a solid 2028 talent and Laila Selby-Blaylock is also part of Camden's 2027 graduating class.    Three 2030s that one should keep a close eye on are [player_tooltip player_id='1832098' first='Kennadi' last='Lee'], [player_tooltip player_id='1861068' first='Jocelyn' last='DuPree'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1869291' first='Mya' last='Cooper']. DuPree recently earned a Division I offer from Presbyterian and Cooper is a transfer from North Central MS.    Gilbert   Before the most recent round of reclassification which happened before the 2024-25 season which saw Gilbert move up from 3A to 4A, the Indians first moved up to 3A from 2A beginning with the 2012-13 season. That year saw Gilbert complete an 11-9 season where it also went 5-5 against region adversaries.    Last season's Gilbert team concluded said season at 8-15. The Indians did earn a berth into the 4A state tournament but drew eventual champion North Augusta in the first round.    Only one from last season's Indians team was part of Gilbert's 2026 graduating class. The last two seasons have seen Gilbert finish with identical 3-11 region records. Two of last season's region wins were against Airport.    The 2025-26 version of Gilbert had three from the class of 2028 as part of its roster. One of those 2028s was [player_tooltip player_id='847612' first='Blythe' last='Price'] who has been the epicenter of all things Indians since she was in middle school. Price averaged 15 points, 3.9 steals and 3.9 rebounds in 21 contests last season.    Other noteworthy names from last season's Indians include Zamaya Gary, Britten White and [player_tooltip player_id='847613' first='Chanelle' last='Adams']. Adams is a multi-sport athlete who also plays softball.   Lower Richland   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/IMG_5510.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1853571" style="width:596px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Diamond Hornets underwent a coaching change prior to the start of the 2025-26 season as Morgan Stroman took the place of Aaron Lucas who took the job at 5A Ridge View. One thing that did not change? The winning ways of Lower Richland.    It was in 2023-24 when the Diamond Hornets last played in the 3A field. That season resulted in a Lower State championship berth for Lower Richland following a 20-7 season and going a perfect 10-for-10 in its region.    Last season's assembling at The Creek may not have reached the heights of that 2023-24 team (or the 2024-25 team that went 25-2) but it still won often. Both of Lower Richland's 4A tournament games last season were away from the Diamond Mine. The Diamond Hornets earned a first-round win over Darlington before falling to eventual champion North Augusta.    [player_tooltip player_id='1606037' first='J'vyanna' last='Dingle'] emerged as a name to watch at Lower Richland. She competed in 22 games last season while averaging 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. Other names to be on the lookout for with the Diamond Hornets include [player_tooltip player_id='1243459' first='Trinity' last='Jay'], [player_tooltip player_id='885798' first='Ti'Nya' last='Isaac'], [player_tooltip player_id='1606042' first='Heaven' last='Goodwin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1862407' first='Gabrielle' last='Belton']. Goodwin and Isaac were among Lower Richland's leading rebounders. Goodwin - a [program_tooltip program_id='713672' first='Palmetto' last='Pressure'] product - pulled down four boards per game while Isaac hauled in three 3.2 rebounds per matchup.   Bishop England   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3473.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1126401" style="width:637px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Bishops have encountered one of the more fascinating realignment sagas over the past several years. As recently as the 2023-24 season, Bishop England competed in the 2A realm before being moved up to 4A the past couple of seasons.    Bishop England is getting reacquainted with the 3A field. The Bishops under Paul Runey have won two 3A state championships – along with four in 2A. Last season, Bishop England's region slate would prepare it for who it would match up against in 4A tournament play.    Following a first-round victory over May River, the Bishops' 2025-26 season ended by way of Beaufort.    [player_tooltip player_id='877411' first='Olivia' last='Allen'] would proudly sport a Bishop England uniform in 27 of the Bishops' 28 contests from last season. She averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.7 assists per matchup. Another of Bishop England's key players was Ella Runkle who is also part of Bishop England's 2027 graduating class.    Atlantic Collegiate   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/IMG_7316.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1739248" style="width:659px;height:auto" /></figure>   It cannot be stressed enough that Atlantic Collegiate has only been in existence since 2023. In only the program's third year of operation, the Armada won a Lower State championship – and nearly defeated Landrum at Colonial Life Arena last year for the 2A big prize.    Atlantic Collegiate is the lone former 2A team from last year that is moving up to the 3A realm. Prior to qualifying for the state game against Landrum, the Armada only dropped two contests all season. One was against T.L. Hanna at the start of the season and the second was against Oceanside Collegiate in mid-December.    Three seniors graduated from last season's team. Atlantic Collegiate is not only transitioning to a new classification but a new era at head coach as Timothy Lopez assumes the reins with the Armada.    The Armada's efforts were spearheaded by [player_tooltip player_id='824826' first='DaZena' last='Capers'] who competed in 24 of Atlantic Collegiate's 26 contests last season. Capers averaged 13.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Atlantic Collegiate also benefitted greatly from a breakout freshman campaign courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='1240802' first='Erin' last='Williams']. In the 24 games she played, Williams averaged 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per matchup.    [player_tooltip player_id='821381' first='Zaniya' last='Blackmon'] is part of Atlantic Collegiate's 2027 graduating class. She averaged six points, 2.4 assists and 1.9 steals per contest. [player_tooltip player_id='987452' first='Angelina' last='Collins'] was one of the Armada's leading rebounders from last season, averaging 3.8 boards per game in 23 games. [player_tooltip player_id='1180353' first='Cayleigh' last='Johnson'] is a notable two guard that is also part of Atlantic Collegiate's 2027 graduating class.    Crestwood   Considering how the last couple of seasons have unfolded for Crestwood, the Knights are likely a team that does not mind leaving the 4A ranks for 3A.    Crestwood went a combined 15-33 the last two seasons. The 2023-24 season was the most recent for the Knights in 3A – and that was when Crestwood finished with a 16-9 record and an 8-2 showing in its region.    Two of the Knights' victories in region were at the expense of Hartsville – and the other was against Lakewood. As a team that did not perform well in its region, Crestwood would have a tough draw in the first round of the 4A state playoffs in the form of Beaufort.    A bright spot for the Knights last season was [player_tooltip player_id='1833270' first='Charity' last='Washington']. She put together a breakout freshman campaign with the Knights last season as she averaged a double-double of 13.4 rebounds and 11.3 points per game plus two blocks and 1.1 steals.    Darlington   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/IMG_5693.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1574220" style="width:640px;height:auto" /></figure>   The current realignment marks three consecutive reclassification changes that Darlington has been affected by.   Before the 2022-23 season, the Falcons moved from 4A to 3A – similar to what is happening currently. The last round of reclassification saw Darlington go from 3A to 4A. Its most recent occasion as a 3A team saw the Falcons finish with a 19-10 record as well as finishing 5-5 in its region.    When a team can say its only region losses were against Wilson and South Florence, said team did something correct. A banner season for Darlington would conclude unceremoniously in the first round of last season's 4A state tournament by way of another region rival – Lower Richland.    Returning for her junior season at the Falcons' nest is [player_tooltip player_id='897294' first='Aaliyah' last='Woodham']. She competed in 19 games last season with Darlington and averaged 9.7 points, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per matchup. [player_tooltip player_id='831287' first='Yasmine' last='Douglas'] is a notable veteran name that is part of Darlington's 2027 graduating class. She is a multi-sport athlete who has also played softball throughout her athletic career. [player_tooltip player_id='1606146' first='Dy'Nasia' last='Bacote'] is also a two-sport athlete with her second sport of choice being volleyball. Bacote was one of the team's leading rebounders from last season averaging 4.6 rebounds per contest.    Hartsville   Reclassification in 2016 would be the most recent occasion of the Red Foxes moving either up or down. That would see Hartsville move from 3A to 4A – where they have been ever since until this upcoming season.    Hartsville's most recent season as a 3A participant saw the Red Foxes finish with a 12-7 record plus a mark of 6-4 in its region. That took place in 2015-16. Last season was less memorable than that 2015-16 campaign as not only did the Red Foxes finish with a 9-15 record, but they only won one game all season in region.    That region win occurred in mid-February at Lakewood in Hartsville's final road contest of the season.    Nay Gibson played in 20 of the Red Foxes' 24 contests last season. She averaged 13.6 points per game. Another of Hartsville's notable names from its 2025-26 version was [player_tooltip player_id='809750' first='Chaniya' last='Thompson'].   Lakewood    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/IMG_0210.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1048657" style="width:589px;height:auto" /></figure>   It was during the 2020-21 COVID year when the Gators would begin their most recent stretch of 3A play – and that lasted until the 2024-25 season when Lakewood returned to the 4A ranks.    The 2023-24 campaign for Lakewood would result in a 9-12 record along with a 5-5 region showing. Last season, the Gators earned five wins including two during its region schedule. The two region victories were against Hartsville and Crestwood in addition to a win over Laurence Manning Academy plus two wins at the expense of Scott's Branch.    The Gators' non-region wins all occurred in December. Lakewood's season ended with a seven-game losing streak.    Lakewood's efforts in 2025-26 were keyed by three 2028s. One of them was Lauryn Nesmith who averaged 16.7 points per game in 15 contests from the backcourt. The Gators' frontcourt was led by [player_tooltip player_id='1048647' first='Camorri' last='Glenn'] who averaged 9.4 points per game in 14 matchups. Makayla Cisse is another of the Gators' backcourt beasts. She has also played soccer throughout her athletic career in addition to hoops. Glenn averaged 8.4 points per game last season in the contests she played.

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!

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Lower State 3A Newcomers: Teal is the Real Deal

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