SC Recruiting Notebook for Oct. 19

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The middle of October is typically defined by several attributes – including the changing of the leaves, dropping of temperatures and Halloween decorations on the front of many a home.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is also defined by a shifting focus of the high school sports fan. Volleyball and football are building towards the ends of their seasons and the eyes of those fans will shift towards the many basketball gyms throughout the Palmetto State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside of senior commitment announcements, we are at the point of the year where recruiting news does take a bit of a back seat to the building hype for the 2026-27 season. There is still some news on the recruiting trail taking place – as well as others that flew under the radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["567023"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad5010daf9b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There was a noteworthy commitment this week – outside of the realm of basketball. Mathis, one of the featured names at 4A Gaffney will be staying in state as she committed to Wofford for tennis at the Division I level. The tennis season is also reaching its crescendo, and Mathis will shift her attention to hoops. Last season, she was part of a Gaffney team that was a 5A Division 2 Upper State finalist. Gaffney was reclassified back into the 4A realm last season. Mathis was one of several team co-captains last season and played in 25 games last season. She averaged 10 points, 3.4 rebounds, a team-leading 3.1 assists and a steal per game in 2025-26. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["756275"],"_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":1450523,"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad5010dafa7a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Freeman had already secured a pair of in-state offers from Denmark Tech and Voorhees. She recently added a third offer from Shaw University in Raleigh to her résumé. After a 2026 AAU season where she ran with [program_tooltip program_id='713550' first='Palmetto' last='76ers'], Freeman is preparing for her senior campaign with a Gray Collegiate team that was reclassified into the 5A ranks. Last season, Freeman was part of a War Eagles team that advanced to the 4A Lower State semifinals. She played in 26 of Gray Collegiate's 28 contests last season while averaging 9.9 points, 3.6 steals, 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["429831"],"_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":1871671,"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad5010dafb0a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Considering the national profile Dates has established, rarely does a week go by without her landing at least one Division I or Power Four offer. The latest offer that the FBC United product landed actually occurred close to home as Dates secured an in-state get courtesy of the College of Charleston. Dates, who recently earned the top spot in Prep Girls Hoops' South Carolina 2029 rankings, is entering a season with Goose Creek where the Gators will be a pick among many a Palmetto State hoops pundit to be the last 5A team standing. Dates averaged 20 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.8 assists last season en route to the 5A Division 2 Lower State championship game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197033"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad5010dafb5f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bruyere still has plenty of time before she decides where she will play collegiately but the star junior guard from SCISA 2A Laurens Academy landed an offer back in July from Bryan College. Bruyere guided the Crusaders to a 24-3 record en route to a semifinal appearance in last season's SCISA 2A tournament. Bruyere has ran with [program_tooltip program_id='715412' first='SC' last='Eagles'] on the Under Armour circuit during AAU play and that included an appearance in this year's Sparkle City Slam as part of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit. She was one of four from the class of 2028 on last season's Laurens Academy team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["651810"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad5010dafba4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was in mid-June when Poindexter secured her first offer. It was of the in-state variety courtesy of Erskine. In late September, the star guard representing 4A York also secured a second offer by way of Johnson and Wales. A product of the Team Accelerate program, Poindexter is preparing for her senior season with the Cougars. Her club career has also included a stint with Team United. She competed in 21 of York's 22 contests last season and was one of seven from the class of 2027 on last season's team. Poindexter averaged 8.8 points, two rebounds and 1.3 steals per game throughout the 2025-26 campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->