Region 3-AAA Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It feels as if late February and March happened yesterday when we were crowning high school state champions across South Carolina. With our calendars being set to October, it is not long before another season tips off across the Palmetto State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That is where we come in. Over the next several days and weeks, Prep Girls Hoops will provide in-depth comprehensive previews of every region in the state. In those previews, we will give our view on how we feel the season will unfold at close along with spotlighting the standouts in each region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have unveiled our previews for the first two regions in Class 3A. Without further adieu, here is Region 3-AAA in the Upstate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63654faf0c736","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["302121"],"_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_0_evaluation":"The Panthers have posted double-digit winning seasons the last four seasons. With Gramling back for her swan song with the orange and navy blue, expect for Chapman to make it five in a row. Opposing coaches have to figure out how to keep Gramling in check when she is behind the 3-point arc. She can get from one end of the floor to the other in a quick amount of time and also bolsters Chapman's rebounding efforts. She plays with a high basketball IQ and will have games where she manages to keep herself away from the referee's whistle. Gramling has also participated in track and field events throughout her athletic career.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["371552"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The 2022-23 rendition of Devildogs basketball will see the team compete back at the 3A level for the first time since 2015-16. Since then, Travelers Rest has been a 4A school. She previously wore Blue Ridge colors and has also competed in track and field events throughout her career. While one would expect she would use her 5-foot-10 frame to convert on baskets near the rim, she is a hustler who will battle for 50-50 balls. Hardin brings offensive versatility to the team in the sense that she stretches the floor and will take her fair share of 3-point opportunities. Converting on free throw opportunities and gathering steals are other strong suits to Hardin's game.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["371889"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Prior to arriving on the scene at Carolina Academy, she wore the colors of the Powdersville Patriots – another 3A team. Taylor is skilled as a ball distributor and her passing proficiency can throw many a defense for a loop. While running point, she maintains a strong confidence in her ability to sink her 3-point shot attempts. Sea of defenders waiting to stop Taylor in her tracks? No problem – she will find the right lanes to get through those defenses and is willing to play the game on contact that can give her opportunities at the free throw line. Taylor is poised for a huge senior season with the Bobcats.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["252636"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cemu003eu003cstrongu003e(*PGH Preseason Player of the Year*)u003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003ernrnThe Tigers graduated a number of star seniors from the previous year's rendition. Among those was Quadaija Langley who is beginning her freshman season at Lander. Henderson translated that stellar season with Blue Ridge into running on the AAU circuit with Upward Stars 2024 3SSB. She is well-known in Palmetto State hoops circles for being an accurate 3-point shooter. Combine that with her rim attacking ability and one has a standout that can throw many a defense off balance as they are unsure as to if she will pass or attack. Henderson stands at 5-foot-4 and can play primarily at either of the guard spots in the backcourt.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["249923"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Even following Gramling's graduation after this season, those who live, breathe, eat and sleep Panthers basketball will have plenty to look forward to in the coming seasons with its youth movement. She put together one of the signature freshman seasons of anyone across the state last season as she averaged 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Wilder also displays a great deal of accuracy from behind the 3-point line and uses her length to disrupt an opposing team's passing lanes. She also is skilled as a transition runner and brings plenty of speed and quickness to the court.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["252633"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Among the teams that Henderson has participated in grassroots ball for include Upward Stars 3SSB 2025 and SC 76ers. Even with the graduations of the seniors from last season, the Tigers will still be a team to keep an eye on in large part because of Henderson. She also played previously at Blue Ridge MS. Defense is a hallmark of her game. Opposing ball handlers have a hard time getting around Henderson with the lockdown defense she deploys. Henderson brings a great deal of speed and quickness to the court and she also will take her opportunities at the free throw line.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["371550"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"One can expect her the profile of this rising star to certainly rise as her high school career continues to bloom. Along with putting a good number of points on the board, she can disrupt an opposing team's passing lanes with her ability to get her hands on the ball. If and when she does, it has the potential to become a transition basket. Dandy also is a skilled ball distributor and defensively will get opposing teams into precarious positions as she assists her Devildogs teammates with double teams. Dandy also plays softball at Travelers Rest alongside her basketball accomplishments.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["490794"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Twitty is another who looks to be a nucleus of the Panthers' future in the coming seasons alongside sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='249923' first='Krislyn' last='Wilder']. She stays busy during the athletic season – whether it is as a volleyball player or as a track runner. Twitty puts a lot of emphasis on handling the ball and preventing turnovers. That is an attribute one needs if looking to be a gifted rim attacker – which she also is. She stands at 5-foot-11 and primarily plays as a power forward. Twitty is particularly effective near the basket in terms of scoring and rebounding, can make clutch plays off inbounds passes and plays the game on contact with a mindset for getting to the free throw line.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Prep Girls Hoops predictions:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chapman</strong> – A Gramling in her senior season and a Wilder and Twitty gaining more experience is poised to take the Panthers to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue Ridge</strong> – How much of a drop off will the Tigers encounter without Langley, Strout and Swinton?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Travelers Rest</strong> – The Devildogs moving to 3A is an underrated element of the changed picture in that class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Broome</strong> – The Centurions finished with a less-than-memorable 1-9 mark in region play last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carolina Academy</strong> – Two of the Trojans' four victories from last season came at the expense of Liberty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->