2021: Diamonds Classic

The first week of December 2020 saw many of the best players from private schools throughout North Carolina travel south on Interstate 85 to Spartanburg, SC for the inaugural Diamonds Classic. The all-day event, which was held at Spartanburg Christian Academy hosted lots of teams and lots of standouts – from both Carolinas. As basketball onlookers know, this is an area plentiful in talent and it was on full display in Spartanburg. Prep Girls Hoops was on hand to observe many of these teams and take in the festivities. Here is a list of names from the Class of 2021 that stood out in the South Carolina upstate. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="206401" first="Josie" last="Hester"] – United Faith Christian Academy (pictured on front)</strong>– Hester was Best(er) in her team’s contest with Oakbrook Prep in Spartanburg. It is to be expected for someone who averaged 31 per game for the Falcons last season and she looked like that in their 59-35 win over the Knights. Of those 59 points, 41 of those points came via Hester and she displayed her skillset in a number of ways. In addition to being a scorer via driving to the basket as well as shooting 3-pointers, making shots in traffic and free throws, she will also find open teammates, rebound and defend. <strong>Desiree Smith – Trinity Christian School</strong> – Six-foot-two is six-foot-two and that cannot be taught. Someone with that height certainly puts a team in position to strategize much of its game plan around trying to convert on high percentage shots and shot blocking or rebounding on defense. If one of her teammates misses a shot, she will corral a rebound and put it back for a pair of points – and maybe get to the free throw line for two more if she draws contact. Smith led the scoring charge for the Crusaders in the first half, scoring six of Trinity Christian’s 12 points in what was a defensive-minded contest with Victory Christian. <strong>Iyonnah Council – Trinity Christian School</strong> – Whenever the Crusaders’ skilled senior guard has a productive game, we can call it a Council meeting. It is also a case of why one cannot simply get all of their insight on how a player performed via a stat sheet. Council only scored two points in the Crusaders’ overtime game with Victory Christian but she showed promise as a skilled ball handler. In addition to that, she displayed that she will hustle out for loose balls and also displayed a bit of fancy footwork as well. Those two points she scored came off a layup off a fastbreak which tied the game at 33 to send it to overtime. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172613" first="Reagan" last="Dickens"] – Concord Academy</strong> – She is another that does the little things that may not always show up on a stat sheet. Dickens brings experience to a Concord Academy team that will be filled with said experience this year – half of the Eagles’ 10-person roster is seniors and Will Middlebrooks’ squad went a robust 27-7 in 2019-20. Dickens also provides a great deal of energy to her team and a knack for grabbing rebounds. Last season, Dickens averaged nearly seven rebounds a game and has found a footing for herself at Concord Academy’s team after transferring from Hickory Ridge prior to last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208369" first="Jael" last="Hall"] – Concord Academy</strong> – Make the call to Hall and she does it all. The Eagles defeated Legion Collegiate Academy in blowout fashion with the final score being 60-16. The first two points of the game for Concord Academy were scored by Hall. She possesses scoring ability which includes penetrating to the cup. Hall scored 11 points which included making three free throws in the third quarter. Hall also is a big help on defense as she will intercept passes and have everyone going down the other end of the floor. Hall is also an unselfish player as her first instinct is to dish the rock out to an open teammate.