Transition Buckets: Palmetto State Transfer Update for 8/31

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The PGH Carolinas Expo takes place on Sep. 6 in Rock Hill! Use the discount code Carolinas26PGH25OFF for 25% off <a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/2394/register/carolinas-freshman-showcase">registration</a>!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>August is giving way to September. At this point, the academic and athletic calendars for South Carolina's high school sports scene have been in full swing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to attending numerous events and reporting on the latest from the recruiting trail, we at Prep Girls Hoops have also kept up with the latest from what was a busy transfer season across the Palmetto State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to recent transfer developments, there was also news regarding players heading to different schools throughout the summer that got lost in the shuffle. Without further ado, here is our latest Palmetto State transfer update.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["616144"],"_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-6a956be1ccb6f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hoops aficionados across the Palmetto State are likely familiar with the name PJ Benson – the one was integral in establishing Cross Schools as one of the premier programs in the SCISA ranks. Benson recently announced that she will be bringing her many basketball talents to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Benson is also a product of the H2 Basketball program. Her most recent complete season with the Stingrays was the 2023-24 campaign where she averaged 11.1 points, 3.6 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.2 rebounds per matchup. This included tallying 17 points and earning All-Tournament honors following a 47-43 win in the 1A championship game against Curtis Baptist.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1871989"],"_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-6a956be1ccbb1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Patriots of 5A J.L. Mann encountered a 2026 offseason that not only included transfers departing from the program but the team's former coach taking a similar job at 4A Easley. Lee was one of those transfers and she will compete her freshman season with another 5A school in Hillcrest. Lee competed in 18 contests last season as an eighth grader at J.L. Mann while academically attending Beck Academy. She played her most recent travel campaign with BBB Elite and her travel career has also included stints with [program_tooltip program_id='713005' first='Upward' last='Stars'] and 1 SC Elite. Lee joins a Rams team that won nine games in 2025-26. It was the first time Hillcrest won at least nine contests since the 2019-20 season when that year's Rams finished with a 12-10 record.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1882110"],"_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-6a956be1ccbd5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Names that used to wear the uniform of Wando making their way to the 3A state power that is coach Mandy Harrison's Oceanside Collegiate team has been a theme of this offseason. Barnes is one of those names. The Landsharks were well-represented at this past weekend's Prep Girls Hoops Carolinas Freshman Showcase in Rock Hill. The 5-foot-11 Barnes was one of three from Oceanside Collegiate that were on hand. Her most recent travel season was spent running with Team L.E.A.D. Barnes previously was part of the junior varsity Warriors. She was one of several eighth graders on a Wando junior varsity team that finished 20-1 last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1823286"],"_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-6a956be1ccbf6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Macri was another of those Wando players from its junior varsity team that would find their way to Oceanside Collegiate. Prior to the start of last season, Macri announced she would wear the Her Elite uniform for her spring and summer travel schedule. Her Elite plays on the Nike circuit and she was part of its 14U Jr. EYBL team during this year's grassroots schedule. Macri's spring and summer included competed at the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit's Peach Games in Georgia back in early May and winning a Gold Bracket championship at this year's Nike Nationals in Chicago. Macri adds plenty of height to Oceanside Collegiate considering she stands at 5-foot-10.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->