A1 Hoops The Fall League Columbia: Primetime Performers

The anticipation for the first tip-off of the 2026-27 season is becoming very apparent. From the perspective of a player, showcase events have a dual purpose. One is to ensure that they are in hoops mode when we arrive at November and to not have any mishaps occur where one gets injured.    Throughout the months following the travel season, A1 Hoops Report does a series of Fall League events throughout South Carolina. One of the latest ones occurred in the shadow of downtown Columbia at 3A Brookland-Cayce.   We at Prep Girls Hoops were also on hand at the home court of the Bearcats for the day's festivities. Here are a few names – mostly from the 2029 and 2030 classes – that raised our eyebrows on Saturday.     Even though portal season was not exactly kind to Lower Richland, Jay looks to be one of the standout names for coach Morgan Stroman as the Diamond Hornets move back to the 3A ranks after a couple of seasons playing in 4A. Jay displayed significant improvement from her freshman season to a sophomore campaign that saw her compete in 21 games for Lower Richland. Jay stands at 5-foot-3. Last season's Diamond Hornets team was 2028-centric as Jay was one of eight from the 2028 class on said team. Her travel career has included a stint with [program_tooltip program_id='903656' first='Lady' last='TUSC'], she is also playing tennis and recently landed an offer from Voorhees.     At this point, Dates needs no introduction given her national profile. The much-ballyhooed FBC United product had arguably the most successful grassroots season of any Palmetto State prospect and has been swimming in Power 4 offers – including her latest one from Indiana as well as another courtesy of South Carolina. With her ability to put crooked numbers on a scoreboard, she attracts plenty of attention from defenses. Defensively, she combines height with length and is an elite scorer on the offensive end. After a 2025-26 season where she averaged 20 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.8 assists per contest last season, Dates and her Goose Creek team have state championship aspirations – and expectations – in 2026-27.     During the offseason, Jenkins picked up an in-state offer courtesy of Claflin. As Jenkins enters her senior season at SCISA 4A Heathwood Hall, she looks to be part of a young nucleus that can propel the Highlanders back to contender status. She is an effective rebounder especially on the offensive glass. Jenkins will display her versatility with her ability to take – and make – 3-point attempts. She has competed in multiple sports throughout her career including volleyball and softball. Jenkins first played at the varsity level as a seventh grader and put up career numbers last season at Heathwood Hall averaging 13.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.     The Gators of 5A Goose Creek were well-represented this past Saturday at Brookland-Cayce. Downey represents another in the Gators' backcourt that is part of the winning formula that has been concocted in the Lowcountry. She is another that has been playing at the high school varsity level since she was an eighth grader and her play is indicative of someone with more experience than the typical sophomore. Downey competed in all 28 of Goose Creek's contests last season and averaged 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest. Getting out in transition and connecting on 3-point attempts are among the strong elements to her game.     We at Prep Girls Hoops have become very familiar with Thompson during this portion of the year. We got a glimpse of her recently at Ben Lippen at the Southeast Elite Showcase Fall Ball Session II. She has plenty of height but also approaches the game with a great deal of agility which is not always conventional for frontcourt players. The defense she plays can leave many a would-be ball handler prone to turning the ball over. Thompson will compete in her sophomore season in the SCISA ranks at Northside Christian and has ran with SC Wolfpack throughout the spring and summer months of travel ball.     Big things do indeed come in “Small” packages. Small put herself firmly on the Palmetto State's high school sports map last season as an eighth grader and has been competing at the high school varsity level since she was in the seventh grade. Last season, Small averaged 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and two steals for a St. James team that is moving down from 5A (Division 2) into the 4A realm beginning with this season. She was one of two from the Sharks to be selected for this upcoming weekend's South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (SCBCA) Elite Camp in North Charleston.     Brown is more than used to being in the statewide spotlight considering the team she plays for. As she enters her freshman campaign under coach Nathaniel Taylor at Military Magnet, Brown already has two seasons of high school experience on her resumé – and two state championships to boot. One can expect plenty of playmaking on both ends of the floor from anyone representing Military Magnet – Brown is no exception. Ball distribution and rim attacking are two other positives of her game. Brown and her Eagles will look to bring another state championship to Carner Ave. – this time of the 1A Division 1 variety. Brown averaged 13.8 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 steals and 4.5 rebounds per game last season.     There are not too many defenses that have answers for Lee's playmaking capabilities. Lee, the standout at 3A Camden, already has two seasons of high school experience on her resumé – both of which occurred when coach Lewis Mungo's Bulldogs competed as a 4A team. She gives Camden a consistent scoring threat from the backcourt. Lee was one of two from the class of 2030 on last season's Bulldogs team – a testament to how well Camden develops young players. Lee looks to be among a healthy mix of experience and youth that should have the Bulldogs among the teams to beat in 3A throughout 2026-27.     Adams' first season at the high school varsity level was last season. She was a key contributor in establishing 5A Dutch Fork as one of the toughest outs in the state yet again. She can be placed in a team's lineup at either of the guard spots in the backcourt, but she particularly thrives at the two as evidenced by how dangerous a 3-point shooter she is. Adams competed in 24 contests last season for the Silver Foxe and averaged 11 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game. She was one of two from the class of 2030 on last season's Dutch Fork assembling.     Norwood adds plenty of size to 5A Goose Creek considering she stands at over six feet. She played her first season with the Gators last season and even though Goose Creek garners attention for its backcourt play, frontcourt forces such as Norwood will be crucial as the Gators will enter the 2026-27 season with heightened expectations. That height helps Norwood convert on high-percentage buckets and also haul in plenty of rebounds. She also combines that height advantage with plenty of length that can clog an opposing team's passing lanes and approaches the game with a heads-up attitude from the first tip to the final seconds.

The anticipation for the first tip-off of the 2026-27 season is becoming very apparent. From the perspective of a player, showcase events have a dual purpose. One is to ensure that they are in hoops mode when we arrive at November and to not have any mishaps occur where one gets injured.