Class 2A – Region 5 Preview

<p>Can the Red Devils make it back to Columbia ? Will the Warhorses be able to dethrone the Red Devils ? What team will make it out of Class 2A - Region 5 this coming season ? Read more inside right here on your source for prep basketball coverage in the Palmetto State. </p> <p><em><strong>Predictions:</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Wade Hampton (Hampton) - </strong>The Red Devils will be the favorite here to make it back to Columbia. The Red Devils finished last year at (20-7). </p> <p><strong>Barnwell HS - </strong>The Warhorses will feature junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="930599" first="Russell" last="Branch"]. </strong>Branch is the leader of this squad here<strong>. </strong></p> <p><strong>Edisto HS </strong>- The Cougars are led by veteran Head Coach Herman Johnson. The Cougars lost in the 2nd Round of the Playoffs last season to Cheraw HS 65-46. The Cougars finished the season at (19-6) last year. </p> <p><strong>Pelion HS -  </strong>The Panthers finished last season at (7-20). </p> <p><strong>Silver Bluff HS - </strong>The Bulldogs finished last season at (5-18). The Bulldogs will need to battle out of the cellar this season. </p> <p><em><strong>Players to Watch in the Region: </strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/08A2029C-2E26-4B7C-BEFF-0CA85501EC9E.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1009329" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/08A2029C-2E26-4B7C-BEFF-0CA85501EC9E-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="746986" first="Brandon" last="Brantley"] (2021) - Wade Hampton HS (Prep Hoops Region Player of the Year) </strong></p> <p>Brantley averaged 16.4 ppg last season for the Red Devils (20-7). The Red Devils lost in the Class 3A State Championship Game to Keenan HS 55-32. Brantley recently played in the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo in Myrtle Beach back in October. Brantley a rangy forward has a nice mid-range game and the has the ability to rebound on both ends of the floor. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/1C19C873-843B-4574-92F0-44CBAA6C1E65.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1081314" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/1C19C873-843B-4574-92F0-44CBAA6C1E65-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1074340" first="Versalius" last="Johnson"] (2021) - Wade Hampton HS </strong></p> <p>Johnson averaged 8.4 ppg last year for the Red Devils. Johnson came off the bench last season as a role player for the Red Devils. Johnson has a great nose for the ball and really likes to pickup his opponent on the ball as a defender. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1074342" first="Adam" last="Clarke"] (2021) - Barnwell HS </strong></p> <p>Clarke runs the show at times for the Warhorses. Clarke rebounds the ball very well from his guard position. Clarke averaged 7.5 ppg and 6.6 rebounds last season. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1074341" first="DeShontez" last="Gray"] (2021) - Pelion HS </strong></p> <p>Gray plays multiple sports for the Panthers. Gray 6’4 Tight End on the football team also excels in track. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/E85346E2-84C8-4B7E-BD86-70C599D899CA.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1004942" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/E85346E2-84C8-4B7E-BD86-70C599D899CA-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="930599" first="Russell" last="Branch"] (2022) - Barnwell HS </strong></p> <p>Prep Hoops first saw Branch play as a 8th grader for the Warhorses. Branch averaged 19.1 ppg, 4.9 assists and 4.1 rebounds last season for the Warhorses (14-6). Branch really excels attacking the basket and getting to the foul line at a high rate.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/0AAF3635-5DF6-4179-B2C8-4A19FCF34BE5.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1081317" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/0AAF3635-5DF6-4179-B2C8-4A19FCF34BE5-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="936270" first="Jamie" last="Risher"] (2022) - Wade Hampton HS </strong></p> <p>Risher really started to make some noise last season in the playoffs in a win over Marion HS. Risher dropped 26 points on the Swamp Foxes in the road win. Risher a left-handed guard really likes to attack the basket and shot the ball at a high percentage. Risher averaged 7.3 ppg last season.</p> <p><strong>Michael Moody (2022) - Silver Bluff HS (Petticoat Junction) </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1074343" first="Khiree" last="Cummings"] (2021) - Silver Bluff HS (Petticoat Junction) </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>