3A Championship Preview: Crestwood vs Wren

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Well, something has to give in this game here on Friday at 2:00 P.M. in Aiken. One of these programs will be a State Champion. Prep Hoops will have you covered from USC-Aiken at the 3A State Championship all weekend long. The <strong><em>#RoadToAiken</em></strong> ends right here on Friday. Who will prevail the Knights or the Hurricanes? <strong><em>#RecruitThePalmettoState</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Crestwood HS (Dalzell) (23-4) </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Aric Samuel (56-29) 4th year at Crestwood HS - previously coach at Coker University, Hartsville HS 2006-2013 - Won 2 State Championships at Hartsville HS along with one at Hunter-Kinard -Tyler HS (2004) coaching girl's basketball. Samuel is looking to be the 2nd coach to guide three different programs to a State Championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Knights Road to Aiken:</em></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waccamaw HS 87-35 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dreher HS 70-56 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lower Richland HS (Hopkins) 68-49 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS 66-49 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1820497,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/E6D7034D-02FC-4B79-A523-AFA82E4632AA.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/E6D7034D-02FC-4B79-A523-AFA82E4632AA.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1820497" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UNSIGNED Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225775' first='Corean' last='Nelson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1366649' first='Justin' last='Rembert']</strong> make this offense go for the Knights. This duo plays off one another very well in the backcourt looking to create some CHAOS along the way. Nelson averages 15.4 ppg, 5.3 assists and 3 steals a game. Rembert averages 14.7 ppg and 4 assist a night for the Knights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1820500,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/71BFF976-B84D-415B-9F8C-9B639E102759.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/71BFF976-B84D-415B-9F8C-9B639E102759.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1820500" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1215474' first='Teon' last='Tindal']</strong> was exceptional in the Lower State Championship Game with his play. Tindal scored around the rim on several dunks and collected every rebound in sight at times it seemed. Teon a future Stock-Riser chimes in at 12 ppg, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks a outing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fellow Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215473' first='Shannon' last='Davis']</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1095297' first='Xazier' last='Johnson'] </strong>both have the ability to make shots from the mid-range for the Knights. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can the Knights win their 1st State Championship? Crestwood HS is the same high school NBA basketball player Ja Morant attended. This is the first time in school history they will be playing in the State Championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Wren HS (Piedmont) (23-7) </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Fran Campbell (683-356) 40th year </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Hurricanes Road to Aiken: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pendleton HS 58-44 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union County HS 66-50 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daniel HS (Central) 62-56 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Travelers Rest HS 63-41 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1495130,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/06B85840-0921-42F7-BBBB-8529BF00D7DD.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/06B85840-0921-42F7-BBBB-8529BF00D7DD.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1495130" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UNSIGNED Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1495098' first='Johnathan' last='Whysong']</strong> has had a big season for the Hurricanes. Whysong was voted Region Player of the Year along with being named All-State and a North-South All Star Game member. He's currently averaging 18.6 ppg, 10.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists this season. Johnathan a big wing has the ability to play inside-out on the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1626170,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/0C57A83A-5CA6-495F-9372-B144C1CB30E8-scaled.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/0C57A83A-5CA6-495F-9372-B144C1CB30E8-scaled.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1626170" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UNSIGNED Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1626155' first='Jacob' last='McQueen'] </strong>has made 62 three-pointers this season for the Hurricanes. McQueen a shooting guard averaged 13.3 ppg this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hurricanes will also show some trust in Junior<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1826853' first='Jeremiah' last='Campbell']</strong>. Campbell is averaging 10.1 ppg this season while connecting on 47 three-pointers from behind the arc. Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1543950' first='Brock' last='Cherry']</strong> 6.5 ppg and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1541103' first='Rhett' last='Warga']</strong> 5.7 ppg will also see good minutes today for the Hurricanes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the 3rd time the Hurricanes will be playing in a State Championship Game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->