SC Recruiting Notebook for 9/22

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The closer we get to the tip-off of the 2025-26 high school basketball season, the sounds of sneakers squeaking against hardwood, basketballs being dribbled, shots being made and raucous fans cheering their teams to victory become clearer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two primary elements of the basketball schedule rule all until then – showcase events and the always-busy realm of which players are being offered by which schools.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past week was another of the more active ones on South Carolina's typically news-heavy recruiting trail. It even featured enough commitments to split our weekly notebook into several articles. Without further ado, here is the first of said articles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["496215"],"_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":783417,"_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-68d0608271195"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whether Alexander has worn an Andrew Jackson, a Legion Collegiate or (currently) a Camden uniform, she has built a solid profile as one of the premier bigs in the Palmetto State. Once her final season is in the books, Alexander will head to Tennessee State to play her collegiate ball. She played in 32 of the Lancers' 35 contests last season, averaging a double-double of 16.8 points and 10.8 rebounds plus 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Alexander brings that same level of production in her first and only season sporting Bulldogs colors and coach Lewis Mungo's team will remain in the 4A state contenders' conversation.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["496281"],"_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":1092954,"_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-68d0608271264"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of commitments from names representing 4A Midlands schools, McCray's recruitment has picked up recently. She secured an offer from Wesleyan in Georgia this past week. At the end of last month, McCray picked up her first collegiate offer by way of Earlham in Indiana. McCray's final time through the AAU ranks was spent with [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite']. She played in 27 games last season for A.C. Flora and averaged 9.6 points and 1.9 steals per contest. McCray first played at the varsity level as an eighth grader and is poised for an emphatic close to her high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["355639"],"_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":1142345,"_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-68d06082712f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For this talented standout from 5A Division 1 Carolina Forest, extending her career into the college ranks is not only a matter of where to go, but which sport to hone in on. McLean's talents can be seen in both basketball and track and field and she landed in-state offers from Converse for both athletic disciplines back in late August after an official visit to the school. McLean put together another impressive season for the Panthers. She played in 28 games for a Carolina Forest team that finished with a record of 25-4 plus winning its all-Horry County Region 6-AAAAA. McLean averaged 14.8 points, nine rebounds, 4.1 blocks and 1.9 steals per contest.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["567030"],"_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":"","_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-68d07aee837bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of Grand Strand standouts securing collegiate offers, Powell enters the chat. A few days ago, Powell landed a collegiate offer from Brevard College in western North Carolina. Powell is another who concluded her AAU career with [program_tooltip program_id='715414' first='SC' last='Lady Sixers'] and has made the cross-state move from 5A Division 2 Riverside to another 5A Division 2 school in North Myrtle Beach. She played in 28 games last season for the Warriors averaging a double-double of 11.8 points and 10 rebounds plus 2.3 steals a contest. The Chiefs advanced to the 5A Division 2 Lower State championship game last season and the addition of Powell should once again solidify state contender status for North Myrtle Beach.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sami Stephenson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Chapin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d06082713e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stephenson is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in volleyball and softball – all at the varsity level – alongside her basketball achievements. South Carolina Central Christian College recently extended an offer to the standout from 5A Division 2 Chapin. Stephenson averaged seven points, 5.8 rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot last season for the Eagles. She stands at 5-foot-11 which will give the Eagles a formidable advantage in the interior. Chapin will be an intriguing team to watch throughout the 2025-26 season as Terence Jones, who had a successful tenure as coach at 1A Denmark-Olar, assumes the reins with the Eagles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->