Grassroots Preview: FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 17U Parks

The Palmetto State is filled with talented teams – not only talented high school teams, but talented grassroots teams. One of the focal points of that talent South Carolina possesses is based in the Upstate – an area that has no shortage of top-tier players. FBC Carolina Hawks has six teams under its umbrella. One of those teams is FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 17U Parks. The “Parks” in question is Milton Parks, coach of the Southside Tigers who made a run in the 3A state playoffs in 2021-22 to the Upper State Finals. The recently completed Phenom Lady Rumble in Concord was the first event on the schedule for FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 17U Parks. The team went 2-1, claiming victories over Lady Team Hickory 17U and Lady Phoenix Elite 17U. The team is also slated to compete in three events in the next few months in Atlanta in addition to the Apache Memorial Showcase in Charlotte in late April and the much-ballyhooed Run 4 the Roses in Louisville. Eight players make up the current roster for FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 17U Parks. Without further adieu, here is a look at those nine players that will sport the grassroots team’s colors the ensuing three months. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="173132" first="Alexandria" last="Bennon"] – 2024 – Legacy Early College</strong> – Prior to Bennon beginning to sport the light blue of FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 17U Parks, she wore SC76ers red when the AAU season tipped off. In 2021-22, she played in 25 games in what was her second season with the Lions. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-382390" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/6C86FE6D-9670-4652-91D3-E04FC5EB98B9-crop-1095x719-1643597079-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="194863" first="Kamya" last="Hatten"] – 2023 – Legacy Early College</strong> – Hatten was a major factor in the Lions claiming this past season’s USA National Prep Basketball championship. Her scoring, rebounding and defense all were part of the puzzle that lifted Legacy Early College to a 25-5 mark. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-378092" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/9F2BCED5-BE2A-40A2-A437-CADB9567471E-crop-937x615-1642683404-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="373423" first="Moriah" last="Little"] – 2023 – Gaffney HS</strong> – It is probably an often used cliché but Little brings a big impact. She was an anchor in the frontcourt for the Indians as she averaged 9.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-381799" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/IMG_6974.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174559" first="Olivia" last="Martin"] – 2023 – High Point Academy</strong> – One knows that a player is a top-tier center when said big averages a double-double for the season. That is what Martin did for the Grizzlies as her 11.8 points and 10.3 rebounds a game were part of the Grizzlies’ winning formula that got the team to the 1A Upper State Final. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-301648" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/A3D1EF30-DD0A-4D69-8C0C-E6B7AF758E9C.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="124107" first="Anaya" last="Muhammad"] – 2023 – Woodmont HS</strong> – She graduates in 2023 and wears No. 3. Listed as a 5-foot-6 guard, her 12.5 points, six rebounds and three blocks were a boost for the Wildcats in 2021-22. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-392669" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/IMG_1018-scaled-crop-2326x1527-1645778741-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="176203" first="Quayla" last="Nolan"] – 2023 – Southside HS</strong> – Nolan is very used to playing under Parks given her career at Southside. Based on what she is able to do as a scorer, rebounder, passer and ball hawk, Nolan is also used to making plays that lead to wins for her teams. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-392667" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/IMG_1020-2-scaled-crop-2254x1480-1645778660-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="196311" first="Kamari" last="Thompson"] – 2023 – Southside HS</strong> – Thompson may not strike many an onlooker as a prototypical big at first. That all changes once they see how tenacious she is near the rim. Thompson is fresh off a season where she led the Tigers on that deep postseason run to the 3A semifinals. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-301643" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/4C89A261-7530-4366-9F56-BF05AAEC6519.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="197344" first="Lauren" last="Wearbon"] – 2023 – Mauldin HS</strong> – Speaking of standout players that led their teams to deep playoff runs – Wearbon did the same for the Mavericks who made the Upper State 5A finals. She averaged 11.9 points and 2.6 steals per contest for Mauldin.