Lowe’s Roundball Classic: December 28-30
PrepHoopsNC is proud to be a sponsor for this year’s Lowe’s Roundball Classic held December 28-30, 2016 at Chesnee High School in Chesnee, South Carolina. Team Previews: Chesnee High School: Nate Lamb Head Coach: Andy Pitt Assistants: Bryan Cooper, Barry…
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Continue ReadingPrepHoopsNC is proud to be a sponsor for this year’s Lowe’s Roundball Classic held December 28-30, 2016 at Chesnee High School in Chesnee, South Carolina.
Team Previews:
Chesnee High School:
Nate LambHead Coach: Andy Pitt
Assistants: Bryan Cooper, Barry Toney
Director of Basketball Operations: Gerald Mills
Administrative Assistant: Kunagee Nesbitt
About Coach Pitt
Coach Pitt is in his 6th year as Head Coach of Chesnee High School. During this span, the Eagles have had 10 players make All-Region and Deion Holmes was Region Player of the Year for 4 consecutive years. Holmes was also named AA All-State each year and AA Player of the Year twice. The Eagles tied for the Region Championship in 13-14, finished as Runner Up twice, and reached the playoffs in 3 of the 4 years. During his tenure, the Eagles have competed in prestigious events such as the Bojangles’ Bash, Farm Bureau Classic, and Cumberland Falls Invitational. Prior to Chesnee, Coach Pitt had stops as an assistant at Union County High School for one year and Byrnes High School for six years. Pitt is married to Ineka Pitt and they have a daughter, Lauren (3).
Returning Starters
Nate Lamb, 6’6 F – Jr – Preseason All-Region
Mari Phillips, 6’2 G – Jr
Tyler Mahaffey, 6’2 F – Jr
Terrence Duren 5’10 F – Jr
Other Players to Watch
Will Proctor, 6’2 G – Sr
Zeke Blackwell, 6’3 F – Soph
2016-17 Outlook
Following a rebuilding campaign in 2015-16, the Eagles look to bounce back and make a run to the playoffs. Chesnee gained valuable experience over the last season and look to capitalize on growth and improvement.
2014-15 Record: 6-17 (5-9)
T-6th Region I-AA
Berea High School:
Head Coach: Jeff Maness
Assistants: Grey Little, Steven Norris, Fred Bostic, Ernie Brewster
About Coach Maness
Coach Maness is in his 7th year at Berea were he also serves at Athletic Director. Prior to Berea, Maness was head coach at D.W. Daniel from 2004-2010. In 2010, Daniel claimed the AAA State Championship. Coach Maness spent time at Gettys Middle School and Easley High School prior to his time at Daniel. He is a 1992 graduate of Berea High School and 1996 graduate at Erskine College. Playing for coach Steve Corn and Ralph Patterson respectively. Maness is married to Dawn (Berea Class of ’93), they have three kids, Sydney, Emily, and Will.
Returning Starters
Raymond Williams, Jr – Junior
Returning Starter, 15-16 All-Region
Preseason Region Player of the Year
Jaylan Gordon – Junior
Returning Starter, 15-16 All-Region
Preseason All-Region
2016-17 Outlook
The Bulldogs lost 7 players off the 15-16 Region Championship team. However, 7 players return, including 6 juniors. Raymond Williams was voted Preseason Region Player of the Year and should provide the team with needed experience. Junior post player, Jaylan Gordon is a returning starter that will shoulder the bulk of the load inside for Berea. Voted #2 in AAA this preseason, the Bulldogs will need to build some chemistry, but should be competitive in AAA this year.
2015-16 Record: 22-5
Region II-AAA Champions
Brookland-Case High School:
Head Coach: Robert Wells
Assistants: Carlos Harrington, Joey Footman, Jeremy McLeod
Follow on Twitter: @BC_BearcatBball
About Coach Wells
2003 Graduate of Brookland-Cayce
2007 Graduate of Newberry College
2009-12 AC Flora HS – Assistant Coach
2012-Present Head Boys Basketball Coach/Assistant AD
Players to Watch
Lloyd Hemming 6’5 G – Sr
Offers from Lander, Limestone, Columbia International.
15-16 All-Region
Phenom Hoops #37 player 2017 in SC
Big Shots #30 player 2017 in SC
Marquis McCoy 6’5 G – Sr
15-16 All-Region
Mike Williams 6′ PG – Sr
15-16 All-Region
Dominique Perry 6’1 G – Jr
2016-17 Outlook
Brookland-Cayce returns the most experience in Coach Wells’ tenure. The Bearcats will rely on its size and guard play. Led by 6’5 Lloyd Hemming, who currently has 3 offers. Dominique Perry and Mike Williams will help support in guard play. McCoy’s 6’5 frame will be a big impact on the wing and he has the potential to become a big time player. The remainder of the Bearcats will provide excellent support and could have a big game on any night. Brookland-Cayce looks to compete for a Region Title and make a deep run in the AAA Playoffs.
2015-16 Record: 14-12 (6-4)
Lost in 2nd Round of AAA Playoffs
East Rutherford High School:
Head Coach: Brad LeVine
Assistants: Howard Hamilton, Giorgio Lowrance, Steve Waldroup, Steve Jones, Jim Hyatt
About Coach LeVine
Coach Brad LeVine has spent the last 20 years at East Rutherford and his teams have made the State playoffs 16 of those seasons. In those 16 seasons his teams have made the State Regionals 5 times and won the NC 2A State Championship in 2011. The last appearance in the Regionals was in the 2014 season. Coach LeVine has compiled a 374-158 record while at East Rutherford, and a 501-216 mark over his 27 years of coaching. He coached the East-West All-Star game in NC in 2012 and also coached the Blue-White All-Star game. Coach LeVine also coached at Southwest Randolph HS, Enka HS, and Owen HS.
Players to Watch
Juwan Blanton 6′ G – 16.9 pts, 4 asst. Drawing interest from Lenoir-Rhyne, Johnson C. Smith, and among other D2 schools
Malik Hamrick 6’1 G – 14.2 pts, 8 reb, 3 asst. Drawing interest from Lenoir-Rhyne, Johnson C. Smith, and among other D2 schools
Josh Searcy 6’5 G – 18.2 pts, 8 reb, 4 asst. Newcomer is drawing interest from Appalachian State, Gardner Webb, and D2 schools
Stephen Archie 6’6 – Drawing interest from several JUCO schools
2016-17 Outlook
East Rutherford returns 4 starters and one newcomer. Several Juniors and rising JV players should give the Cavaliers much depth. East Rutherford expects to contend for another conference title and a deep push into the NC state playoffs.
2015-16 Record:12-13
1st Round AA State Playoffs
2015 Lowe’s Roundball Classic Champions
Fort Mill High School:
Head Coach: Dwayne Hartsoe
Assistants: Bryan Zulka, Troy Brace
About Coach Hartsoe
-Coach Hartsoe is in his 26th year as a head coach
-Previous stops include Hudgens Academy, Williston-Elko, Lancaster, and South Pointe
-While at Williston-Elko, Hartsoe led the Blue Devils to the 1995 A State Championship
-Has led each school coached to the state playoffs.
-Selected as Region Coach of the Year 9 times
-President of SCBCA, 2006
2016-17 Outlook
Fort Mill will be lacking game experience. The Yellow Jackets will utilize the Lowe’s Roundball Classic to get ready for region play.
2015-16 Record: 22-4; 11-1 Region
AAAA Playoffs – Elite Eight
Region III-AAAA Champions
Mid-Carolina High School:
Head Coach: Emmanuel O. DeWalt
Assistants: Rhea Faris, Kevin Winch
Follow on Twitter
@MC_Rebel_Hoops
@edewalt
About Coach DeWalt
This is Coach DeWalt’s 6th season as Head Coach, all at Mid-Carolina. In each of his first four seasons, the Rebels improved their record from the previous year. they reached the State Playoffs in his 3rd & 4th seasons, winning on the road in the opening round both years.
Prior to Mid-Carolina, DeWalt was an assistant coach at York Comprehensive HS in basketball & football.
Key Returners
Keenan Boland (Preseason All-Region)
Iyon Thompson
Westley Hall
Kadarious Maybin
Players to Watch
Jack Edwards, Soph
Chris Boyd, Fresh
2016-17 Outlook
This year the Rebels have four returners from last year’s team. Two of the four spent time in the starting lineup. This season, Mid-Carolina moves into Region III-AAA with Broome, Chapman, Clinton, Newberry, and Woodruff. The Rebels are excited to be competing in this region and hope to make a playoff push.
2015-16 Record: 8-15
6th in Region
Summerville High School:
Head Coach: Dr. Greg Elliott
Assistants: David Long, Mark Meyer, Mark Edeburn
About Coach Elliott
Dr. Greg Elliott enters his 30th year of coaching basketball and his 8th year leading the Green Wave Basketball program. In a short span, Coach Elliott has led the Green Wave to four consecutive Region VIII-AAAA Championships and three runner-up finishes. Prior to accepting the position at Summerville, he served as the Athletic Director & Head Basketball Coach at Hilton Head High School for 13 years. Before returning to the high school ranks, Coach Elliott spent several years coaching at the Division I level at The University of Southern Mississippi and Virginia Tech. Coach Elliott has enjoyed success at both levels with teams advancing to NCAA & the NIT tournaments, plus advancing to the numerous state play-offs appearances at the high school level.
Coach Elliott started out as an assistant coach at Andrews High School, then served as the Head Coach for Choppee High School (now Carvers Bay HS), then an assistant Coach at Georgetown High School. During Coach Elliott’s 20 years as a head coach, his teams have advanced to the play-offs 14 times and captured six region titles. He holds the school record for victories in Boys Basketball at Hilton Head High School, and his teams set several school records. He has been selected region coach on six different occasions, and was named the State AAAA Coach of the Year in 2005. Coach Elliott is also very active in the SC Basketball Coaches Association where he was elected President for the 2007. He served as an assistant coach for the 2005 North-South All Star game, and was selected as the Head Coach of the South Team for 2012 North-South All Star Game. In 2015, he was chosen to coach the South Carolina All Star Team versus the North Carolina All Stars in the Carolinas Classic in Myrtle Beach. He currently serves as Chairman of the SC Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Committee.
A native of Georgetown, SC, he received his B.S. degree from Francis Marion University & his Doctorate Degree from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is married to Jaye Jones Elliott, also of Georgetown.
Players to Watch
Shaq Davis 6-5 Center – Drawing interest from College of Charleston, Presbyterian, among others
Jonathan Bennett 6-0 Guard – Drawing interest from several Mid-Major and D2 schools
2016-17 Outlook
The Green Wave look to replace 3 starters off last year 21-5 team including All State & North-South All Game Player Terrelle Bowens. Returners include 6-5 Center Shaq Davis Jr & Jonathan Bennett 6-0 guard. We need some reserve players & JV players to assume a larger role on the team this year. We are looking to find the best 7-8 man rotation and different combinations in competitive tournaments like this to prepare us for region play.
2015-16 Record: 21-5
Union County High School:
Head Coach: Will Hickson
Assistant: Mitchell Moss
Follow on Twitter: @UCbasketball
About Coach Hickson
Head Coach Jonesville HS 2003 – 2007
Head Coach Union County HS 2009-Present
Returning Starters
Doug Brannon
2016-17 Outlook:
After losing 11 players from last years team and only have one returning player, we are very inexperienced. We will have some growing pains but will be a hard working blue-collar team. We are excited about this years team.
2015-16 Record: 15-10
Lost 2nd round playoffs