Coaches Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops this past Saturday up in Sparkle City AKA Spartanburg. The Coaches Classic took place over at Spartanburg HS with 4 games on the docket. Let's dive into the coverage right here on your source for basketball news in the Palmetto State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridge View HS 64 Byrnes HS 55 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lancaster HS 59 Gaffney HS 50 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westwood HS 44 Spartanburg HS 43 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorman HS 57 Keenan HS 54 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Held Out of Action:</em></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036976' first='Grayson' last='Kirk']</strong> was wearing a walking boot today for the Bruins. According to Coach Jerron Cauthen look for him back later this month. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1032164' first='Will' last='Fowler']</strong> was using crutches and was sitting on the bench for the Byrnes HS Rebels. Fowler is just a junior and looks to be out for the rest of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1227983' first='Tynayius' last='Jacobs'] </strong>didn't play for the Spartanburg HS - coaching decision. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>First Impressions:</em> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1692287,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/D7942954-33ED-46CB-A977-DBFF5FD44701-crop-2825x1855-1670875955.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/D7942954-33ED-46CB-A977-DBFF5FD44701-crop-2825x1855-1670875955.jpeg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1692287" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1673589' first='Otis' last='Crawford']</strong> saw some really good minutes today for the Keenan HS Raiders. Crawford a UNSIGNED senior post forward transferred into Keenan HS this fall from nearby Swansea HS. Otis really ran the floor well, while posting up on the block from side to side. Crawford still a RAW talent did a good job of keeping the ball up after rebounding it and remaining active on the floor at all times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KJ Rowan</strong> an undersized shooting guard notched 11 points today in the Westwood HS Redhawks victory. Rowan was able to connect on a few shots from downtown with his quick shot release. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Youth Movement Being Set:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several names you will be hearing a lot more of down the road here in the Palmetto State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartanburg HS Vikings roster for Head Coach Caleb Gaither has 4 freshmen and an 8th grader on it. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679968' first='Zeke' last='Bell-Boyd']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1692174' first='Dyllan' last='Harris']</strong> both freshmen start for the Vikings. Bell-Boyd a point guard was able to drop a floater and show some shiftiness with the ball in his hands. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harris a shooting guard finished with 9 points this evening. Dyllan was able to connect on some mid-range jumpers and baseline jumpers today. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679972' first='J'sean' last='Sanders']</strong> (2027) is the son of former Vikings player Omar Sanders. Sanders is a very active post player who is just starting to figure out the game. J'sean has good length and reactions when it comes to rebounding the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679970' first='Yale' last='Davis']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1692243' first='Korie' last='Corbett']</strong> have both seen good minutes this season for the Ridge View HS Blazers already. Davis a left-handed point guard plays the game fearless at times and really looks to step-up to the challenge. Corbett a small forward is just another piece to a bright future in this Blazers program for Head Coach Josh Staley. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1692251,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/A99C6622-32DE-4C95-8132-3A4B1F369D36-crop-3226x2118-1670875444.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/A99C6622-32DE-4C95-8132-3A4B1F369D36-crop-3226x2118-1670875444.jpeg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1692251" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1489156' first='Rickey' last='Littlejohn III'] </strong>(2027) never seemed to leave the floor for the Gaffney HS Indians. Littlejohn a jet quick point guard finished with both at hands at the rim. Rickey plays very mature for his age just an 8th grader. He finished with 10 points in a loss to Lancaster HS. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Sparks off the Bench: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1691237,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/08C76D70-D59A-4C9F-BDC7-E0102E1702E8.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/08C76D70-D59A-4C9F-BDC7-E0102E1702E8.jpeg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1691237" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1692195' first='Markell' last='Hollis']</strong> came off the bench for the Gaffney HS Indians and provided some much-needed production at the time. Hollis a wing player really looked to stalk the baseline and times with his length. Markell was able to slash to the rack for a few baskets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1691223,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/F10F6CA2-4A8B-45BB-8ADF-1BC3006CED94.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/F10F6CA2-4A8B-45BB-8ADF-1BC3006CED94.jpeg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1691223" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578616' first='Jacarey' last='Ballard']</strong> came off the bench and made himself right at home on the floor. Jacarey finished with 11 points in the win for the Bruins. He made some timely plays along with some big buckets. Ballard was able to connect on the few three pointers tonight in the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Blazers Duo Comes Alive</em></strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1691228,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/00C291B9-2C22-42F0-A4BD-41EA2563B15B.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/00C291B9-2C22-42F0-A4BD-41EA2563B15B.jpeg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1691228" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1041182' first='Thomas' last='Perez']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1692194' first='Joshua' last='Smith']</strong> both put in big efforts today in helping the Blazers to a victory over Byrnes HS. Perez finished with 20 points while Smith found the basket in the second half scoring all of his 17 points then in the win. Perez and Smith provided some good scoring opportunities from the perimeter for the Blazers. Perez is a <strong><em>UNSIGNED</em></strong> Senior while Smith is a junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay tune for more coverage from the Coaches Classic as we look at some other Top Performers from the event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->