Pepsi Carolina Classic: First Impressions-Youngsters

<p>Prep Hoops took the drive up to the Pee Dee area of the Palmetto State to attend the Pepsi Carolina Classic. The 34th Annual Pepsi Carolina Classic started today at South Florence HS with 8 teams in attendance. Let’s take a look at the results from the opening day of the event along with some of the Top Performers. </p> <p><em><strong>First Impressions:</strong></em> </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1356315" first="Elijah" last="Hall"] (2023) - North Augusta HS (pictured on front)</strong></p> <p>Hall was the catalyst all day long for the Yellow Jackets in the win over Lower Richland. Hall who finished with 14 points showed to have a great mid-range game pull-up which he showcased several times. Elijah was quite effective on everything he done today with his shot selection, pushing the tempo up the floor at the time and all-out hustle. Hall has a great frame and probably the only kid at North Augusta HS that doesn’t play football (Joking). </p> <p><em><strong>Young Lads Showing Out: </strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/7ABD321C-409E-49E8-86BE-742A956D33A8.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1356327" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/7ABD321C-409E-49E8-86BE-742A956D33A8-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1157438" first="Daron" last="Dunbar"] (2025) - North Augusta HS </strong></p> <p>Dunbar we first saw last spring on the Grassroots Circuit over in North Augusta playing. Daron was able to finish and score on contact on the way to the basket today. Dunbar can knockdown shots on the perimeter when needed and really plays the game quite mature for his age. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1356316" first="Karon" last="Brown"] (2025) - Lake City HS </strong></p> <p>Brown is a run-jump-athlete for the Panthers. Karon a long and slender forward really glides over the floor with his long wingspan. Brown certainly must get stronger down the road and work on those hands after fumbling a few today. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/25FB4150-8612-484F-8BAD-87EE1266F2AA.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1356355" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/25FB4150-8612-484F-8BAD-87EE1266F2AA-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149788" first="Jackson" last="Robinson"] (2025) and [player_tooltip player_id="1333159" first="Khristian" last="Bruce"] (2026) - South Florence HS </strong></p> <p>This duo has Bruins Head Coach Aaron Stevens smiling for years to come. Robinson recently came over to the Bruins from Trinity Collegiate. Robinson a post player will look to anchor the paint for the Bruins. </p> <p>Bruce already turning heads as an 8th grader plays the game with a great deal of confidence. Both of these players started for the Bruins on opening night at the 35th Annual Pepsi Carolina Classic. Khristian was able to score the ball at the cup on drives or knockdown a perimeter jumper. Bruce finished the game with 10 points in opening round win over Lake City HS. </p> <p><em><strong>Football Players Already Signed and Sealed: </strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/4C13A06F-1681-4221-A67A-7291B76F03F8.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1356356" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/4C13A06F-1681-4221-A67A-7291B76F03F8-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>Chase Tillman</strong>, <strong>Jamaurion Franklin</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1048143" first="Avion" last="McBride"]</strong> all will play NCAA D1 Football next season. Tillman will head off to Appalachian State, Franklin from Lake City HS is going to East Carolina University while McBride will play in the Sun Belt Conference at Georgia State University. </p>