Notable SC Guards on 2030 Watch List

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to the recently released rankings unveiled for the 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 classes, we at Prep Girls Hoops also unveiled our Watch List for this season's eighth grade class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Given that South Carolina is a state where plenty of teams have eighth graders as part of their varsity squads, one can expect that list to only grow as we advance from now until March of 2026.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good number of that talent that is so integral to the Palmetto State's basketball youth movement can be found in the backcourt. Here, we place a spotlight on five of those guards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["975807"],"_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-68df9d569533f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Singletary established herself as one of the premier 2030s in the state despite playing for a 5A Division 2 Irmo team that plays in one of the state's toughest regions. She still held her own as the Yellow Jackets qualified for the state tournament. Singletary played in all 25 games last season wearing Irmo black and gold and averaged 10 points, 2.9 rebounds and two steals a contest. One can place Singletary in a starting five as either a two guard or at the point. Singletary's play helped the Yellow Jackets secure back-to-back double-digit winning seasons for the first time since 2019-20 and the COVID year of 2020-21. Three consecutive double-digit winning season is a likelihood with another full season of Singletary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["926321"],"_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":1123441,"_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-68df9d56953ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Not every high school athlete can say that they were a state champion in their seventh-grade season. Brown can say that following Military Magnet reclaiming its place as 1A state champions last season. It was not as if coach Nathaniel Taylor simply had Brown on the bench to take in the sights and sounds. She played in 30 games last season for the Eagles and averaged 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals a game. Brown also led the team in 3-point percentage, was second in assists and free throw percentage. After running on the grassroots circuit with [program_tooltip program_id='988463' first='Mosch' last='Ball'], Brown has all of the tools to display that her 2024-25 was only her getting started. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1068009"],"_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-68df9d5695465"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The last time Boiling Springs reached the eight-win threshold was in 2019-20 when the Bulldogs were victorious on 11 occasions. Kinard ensured last season's version of 5A Division 1 Boiling Springs reached eight wins and earned a berth in the state tournament. Kinard wore the Bulldogs' uniform on 26 occasions throughout the 2024-25 season. She averaged 14.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and three steals per contest. She led Boiling Springs in a number of statistical categories for last year's team – including points per game, assists per game, steals per game and free throw percentage. Kinard can certainly lead the Bulldogs to what has to be a goal of its first double-digit winning season since that 2019-20 Boiling Springs version. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1319003"],"_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-68df9d56954da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We have seen Belk on numerous occasions throughout the last few months with TUSC. Belk may currently play at Dent M.S. but it will not be long before she is in the orange and blue hues of 4A Richland Northeast. She also achieved a career highlight during the AAU season. TUSC was on hand at the Triumph Region Finals of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit in Columbus, Georgia. Belk was named to our 13U First Team. Belk continues her solid play and one can guess that accolade will not be the only time her name is affiliated with the phrase “First Team.” </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["885788"],"_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-68df9d5695546"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 2024-25 version of Westwood may not have had the season previous Redhawks teams enjoyed, but its fans – and coach Gregory Bauldrick – have a reason to be excited for the future. Alexander made sure Westwood's move from 4A (where it once reached a state championship) to 5A Division 2 was a bit less daunting. She averaged 10.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in the 28 games where she sported a Westwood uniform. The [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] organization knows how to get Palmetto State prospects prepared for the next level and it may have spotted another hidden gem in Alexander. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->